Well, Alik and Rick really excelled themselves this last week...
For the first time in almost a year since the gas hot water heater broke we now have lovely hot water in the house.... and the best, bestest... thing is its free....
The system is so simple its wonderful, it looks a tad 'Heath Robinson style' at the moment as our bathroom is not staying where it is so we didnt want it made too permanent... this way we can keep the same system and move the pipes and tank at will..
The basic way it works is this...
Alik & the lovely Jan brought with them from UK an old central heating radiator, painted black.
Rick and Alik then moved out my log fired kitchen range and fitted the rad to the wall directly behind it, we knew how hot it got as during the winter the whole stone wall heats up during the day and keeps the kitchen toasty at night by giving off the heat all night...
They attached copper pipe each end, one for cold water flowing in, one for hot flowing out... the pipes go up through the ceiling to a converted plastic water barrel, which is the hot water tank, which is connected to a cut down plastic barrel that acts as a header tank... its all connected to the bathroom... wonderful... we also have a hot water tap downstairs now at the sink to be used during water as a 'run off point' for excess hot water when the range is lit all day...
There should be pictures here ....
The black rad goes up to the house
The range cooker lays down while the rad is fitted to the stone wall
The rad fits perfectly in the cooker gap... and the pipes are fitted.
The header tank is prepared
The connections go on the top of the hot water tank... converted plastic barrel...
The connections on the bottom of the water tank..
The complete barrel
The cooker back in place and the hot water flowing....
The prototype of the next project... hopefully will power our lights...
