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[mlappin]

Whether or not the water heater is working is moot if the exchanger is set up, my water heater has both the gas turned off to it and is unplugged.

I like Willies idea, plumb a flat plate ahead of the water heater, use the water heater as a storage buffer tank, if the boiler should go out the water heater will kick in and take over.

[shepherd boy]

Amen mlappin, Amen Willie,  Flate plate ahead of the water heater, cold side, problem solved!

[hrc200x]

Whether or not the water heater is working is moot if the exchanger is set up, my water heater has both the gas turned off to it and is unplugged.

I like Willies idea, plumb a flat plate ahead of the water heater, use the water heater as a storage buffer tank, if the boiler should go out the water heater will kick in and take over.

And keep the side arm or take it out?

[GUSWHIT]

the problem with setting up the water heater as a storage tank after the exchanger is unless you have a tempering valve installed also you could heat the water too hot which if you have a gas water heater would fry you ignition valve.  All of the newer water heaters have a factory safety built into the valve that if the temperature rises too much it makes it kills the switch and renders the heater useless except for a storage tank.  Ask me how I know!

[RSI]

Sidearm will heat the water in the tank hotter than a flat plate on the inlet.

[shepherd boy]

RSI is right, we've done 100's preheating the water heater, never heard of doing damage to the heater. Water temps coming out usually run from 130 to 150 mostly 135-140. Did have a high limit on a couple of electric units that tripped.GUSWIT,I asking what happened? A sidearm will make the tank hotter and recovery slower than a flate plate and you need to deal with air locks and sediment. However we do install a tempering valve in front of on demand water heaters.