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[kommandokenny]

We have a 4400 and this is our second winter with it.
Works great once you get the boil overs from air leaks figured out.
Extremely happy with it .

One problem ,,,
It is supposed to heat our hot water in the HWT. Via some pex and a heat exchanger.
We get luke warm water out of it, not hot enough to take a shower really.
We lived with it last year and turned on the electrics when we had company.
I now find out that we should be getting hot, not warm, water out of the system.
The installer says it’s plumbed right, as he’s done 200 of them.
We are waiting for him to come out and have a look[ 3 weeks]
We are on a well with 40 psi pressure at the tank.
The water gets good and hot with the electrics on.
But luke warm otherwise.[Trying to post some pics ]
Anybody else run into this?
Any ideas?
O ya the fan goes off at 170 and kicks on at 160 .
Is this too low???

Thanks
kenny

[AirForcePOL]

How exactly is your water heated?  What kind of heat exchanger are you using? 

[kommandokenny]

I'm trying to figure out how to upload pictures into my post.

Anyway, there is a metal box on the side of my HWT with a red pex going in and a blue return going back to the 4400.
There are also 2 more blue lines coming out of the metal box [exchanger]
One goes to the top of the HWT the other to the bottom.
The 4400 manual shows these lines reversed in comparison to the way my guy hooked them up.
He says it won't mater which way they go??
The exchanger is just screwed to the side of the HWT.
The exchanger is 5x 8 inches
Thanks for your help
KK

[AirForcePOL]

Sounds like you have a plate exchanger one of these http://www.outdoorfurnacesupply.com/bp5x12-20-1.html?CAWELAID=520011210000000003&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=520011210000000001&cadevice=m&gclid=Cj0KEQiAzb-kBRDe49qh9s75m-wBEiQATOxgwWQkConiDCLL133zfXKW6n84VMMNq9VMQB6C3d5CqwUaAvLP8P8HAQ   

Your boiler water will go in one end and come out of the other side.  Your water going into your water heater should go into the plate exchanger on the side where your boiler water is coming out.  So basically the water should flow in opposite directions of each other.  I have a 20 plate and my water is too hot.  It sounds like yours is smaller than that. You might need a bigger exchanger.   I'm not familiar with how yours is hooked up.  From my understanding, the cold water going into your water heater on the top should first go through the exchanger and then directly into the tank so it's heating the water before it even goes into your water heater.  Does that make sense?

[kommandokenny]

Yes thanks .
What your saying is similar to what another member told me off line.
I was able to send him some pictures of my set up.
My setup sends well water to the HWT tank first .
IT goes in through the bottom and then out the bottom side and into the exchanger BESIDE stove input  [redpex].
It then goes through the exchanger and goes into the top of the HWT. It's warm at this point but not hot.

Is it possible to post pictures some how on this site.

I think the way it is plumbed is similar to what you guys are suggesting.
I either need a bigger exchanger or just use it to off set my hot water electric bill, rather than eliminate it.
I will try email you the pics as I did with Bill

Thanks
KK

[kommandokenny]

This is the exchanger I have
http://www.sunsourceproducts.com/catalog/productdetail.asp?cat=SX&part=0490

Any input appreciated
KK

[kommandokenny]

Trying to load some pictures here

[CountryBoyJohn]

Post a picture to a third party website and post the link on here.  There are instructions on how to do this in the "Testing" room at the bottom of the main page.

[kommandokenny]

HERE GOES

[kommandokenny]

Got the pics on finally
The 4400 manual shoes this setup,,, with the 2 blue pex for the HWT , REVERSED??
My guy says this works better??

[Roger2561]

Got the pics on finally
The 4400 manual shoes this setup,,, with the 2 blue pex for the HWT , REVERSED??
My guy says this works better??

The experts will chime in soon because I'm no expert whatsoever but, what would it hurt if you reversed it like the manual says knowing this setup is not working that well?  Just my $0.02 worth.  Roger   

[kommandokenny]

Thanks Roger
I ran that by the installer and he got a little upset.
He said he had done hundreds of them his way, with complete satisfaction.
I may change it around, but would like more input.


Water from the OWB is hot in and out,,, but not to the HWT

It may not be capable of heating the cold water from the well

I think the problem with this setup is the exchanger is too small???
Thanks again
kk

[slimjim]

Thanks for sticking with it on the pictures, Your issue is, first you should really have a small recirc pump on the domestic side of the exchanger, second, tell the installer he's smoking something illegal, all heat exchangers should be set up with counter current flow and third you should have an air vent at the top of your domestic line going back into the tank. Your exchanger size is fine!

[CountryBoyJohn]

Is it just me, or does this look like it is a plate exchange plumbed in like a sidearm??

This is not how I would plumb a plate in. You don't need a circ pump if you change your plumbing around a bit.

Am I wrong Slim?

[slimjim]

I don't see it working with a plate exchanger without a recirc pump on the domestic, I don't think there would be enough thermal convection to ever heat the tank