Radiantec promotes a high-efficiency water heater as the heat source for their “open direct” RFH, as well as domestic hot water …
http://www.radiantec.com/opendirect.htm
http://www.radiantec.com/faq04.htm
… while Radiantdirect goes with using a high-efficiency “combo boiler” to accomplish the same things …
http://www.radiantdirect.com/page2.html
If it comes down to equipment cost, it seems that the “open direct” plan is way ahead. Am I missing something here? Is it a matter of BTU demand for heat, like a cut-off point where this system won’t handle the heating in a cold climate? Or are there other considerations?
Formerly BEMW at The High Desert Group LLC
Replies
I think that R,tec likes the simplicity of the water heater and the fact that it does not heat the water to hot and is happy running at the lower temps that work best with Rfh and hard wood. I don't think it would work if you had baseboard heat and infloor.