TOPIC: Aqua Therm heating system

I run into new stuff every day...

See my post yesterday?  Never had an outlet tester turn on a ceiling fan and light!

This site might help.  I run into a couple of these each week.  They're normally installed in condominium complexs with stacked units.  They mount in a shallow depth ceiling.  My current primary residence has this system.  It's pretty much an air handler with a coil.  A valve and pump system is used to divert and circulate hot water from the water heater to the system when heat is required.  A National Products split AC condenser is wall mounted at the exterior deck closet to complete the central air system. 

Problems:  Check the hot water flow at various faucet fixtures throughout the structure prior to testing the heating system.  If the check or back flow valve is bad at the system, you'll receive low temp water at the hot water faucets.  You'll notice the temp increase to the faucets when the heating side of the system is activated.  Pretty simple systems, fan motor, circulating pump normally at the water heater and the valve system.  Check for plumbing leaks off the coil and you're good to go.

www.firstco.com/products/aqua_therm.asp

That's the system, Will.  And you're right, I have only seen them in condo units.  Very popular in there.  Seems efficient.  I have never noticed the slow to heat faucets though.

When the system is functioning correctly it seems it would save money because there is only one gas-burning appliance.  I have no personal experience to prove that however.

one thing to note is these are usually a matched system, I ran into one where the HWT was leaking a slow drip. 7000.00 later as the newer tanks were not compatible, the whole system needed to be changed, opened my eyes on this setup.