Linking a Dowling Stove with other heat sources

   With the rising prices of gas and oil, we’re getting a lot enquiries about linking one of our boiler stoves with gas or oil, or renewable sources like ground heat or solar. After researching the subject, we’re confident that we’ve come up with a system that can link almost any heat source, as well as making a dramatic improvement to the quality and amount of hot water that comes out of your taps.

    THERMAL STORES

A thermal store is simply a hot water cylinder that works in the opposite way to a conventional system. The water in the cylinder itself circulates directly from the boiler, and through the radiators (or under floor heating). The hot water to the house (hot taps, shower, bath) comes directly from the mains, heated as it runs through a coil in the cylinder itself.

Though well established on the continent, these systems are just becoming established in the UK. The advantages are numerous:

1. Mains pressure hot water ….. clean ‘drinkable’ hot water on demand …… fill a bath in two minutes instead of five
2. Power showers, with no pump required
3. Instant response for the central (or under floor) heating
4. Flow rates double those of a standard combi boiler
5. Energy efficient due to reduced boiler cycling
6. Easy to install, and low maintenance
7. And, most importantly for us, ability to link different heat sources, whether open, like a log boiler, or pressurized, like a gas combi boiler …… suits solar and ground heat sources particularly well

Because the water can be kept at a higher temperature (up to 90 degrees) than in an ordinary cylinder (about 55 degrees), it stores more heat, providing a more powerful ‘heat battery’ for the house. A mixing valve blends the hot water to the required temperature, and because the water is only heated as used, it is clean and drinkable. An ordinary cylinder stores the water you actually use at just the right temperature to encourage the growth of micro organisms such as legionella.

As well as being designed to suit various heat sources, the cylinder and coils can be made to suit both size of property, and degree of usage.

Because the system is vented, the onerous regulations of installation and service for pressurized systems do not apply ……. ‘simple and safe’! The extra cost incurred in the thermal storeis soon offset by simplifying a system, and allowing flexibility with the choice of fuels. We recommend incorporating an extra coil for solar panels, even if not required immediately …. Keep the options open!