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I own a condominium in NY State with electric heat pump heating and AC. The heating is outrageously expensive due to temperature extremes and local electricity costs. I have read about a hydronic forced air conversion whereby a natural gas water heater is retrofitted to the system and a coil is located in the forced air system ductwork (supplied by the hot water heater) to heat the air. The heat pump works as before, but now it is augmented with the heat from the coil. Does anyone have any experience with this type of system, or can refer me to somewhere with more info? I recall reading an article about it at one time, but cannot locate it.
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Ken,
I don't know about a "kit" that would do what you want but it is a good idea. Heating with gas is almost always cheaper than heating with electricity. Do you currently have a gas water heater? Some have taps that provide for a circuit that is not mixed with the potable water side. To work right, the system will have a hot water coil sized to meet the demand, space available and water temp available, a circulating pump and some controls, either a three way valve or a relay to to start the pump when the space calls for heat in conjunction with the blower starting. Whether or not this conversion would be economically a better choice than replacing the heat pump fan coil unit with a gas fired furnace depends on what you have in a DWH.
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I own a condominium in NY State with electric heat pump heating and AC. The heating is outrageously expensive due to temperature extremes and local electricity costs. I have read about a hydronic forced air conversion whereby a natural gas water heater is retrofitted to the system and a coil is located in the forced air system ductwork (supplied by the hot water heater) to heat the air. The heat pump works as before, but now it is augmented with the heat from the coil. Does anyone have any experience with this type of system, or can refer me to somewhere with more info? I recall reading an article about it at one time, but cannot locate it.