At the beginning of last winter, I had a brand new high efficiency oil burner installed in my basement. Along side it, I had a energy saving hot water heater installed. Before the installers left, I was given the following options.
Water heater off and heat and hot water supplied by the oil burner.
Water heater on and the boiler used strictly for baseboard heat.
Both water heater and boiler on supplying heat and hot water.
Since last April, I have shut down the boiler completely and used zero oil.
All hot water supplied by the heater.
When the heating season begins in October, what combination do I go for?
Thanks.
If the boiler can supply hot water, why install the water heater at all, unless it is a better option?
I’m not sure how your system is piped, but in general I would use the boiler for baseboard heat and the hot water heater for domestic hot water (cooking, cleaning, bathing).
Depends though. Does the oil burning boiler have a separate tank to keep the baseboard heating water and domestic water separate? You don’t want the two to mix.