Hello everyone,
I’ll try to keep this brief...
Starting point:
Semi-detached house built in 1965
Renovated to KFW 70 standard
130 sqm (1,400 sq ft) + unheated basement + unheated attic
Moved in in 2019
Pellet stove with water jacket (Oranier Carus Aqua), about 1.1 tons of pellets per winter
Solar thermal system
800-liter (210-gallon) buffer tank
Underfloor heating covers about 30% of the area, the rest is convector radiators
At the beginning of 2024, I’m installing 5.6 kWp solar panels with a 5 kWh storage system.
Overall, we are very satisfied with our setup… the ability to heat the house in just a few minutes is a dream, and the (existing) radiators are only used occasionally. The ratio of the pellet stove’s hot water production to space heating is quite balanced (we never have cold water and a warm house).
The problem is the following: When I call Oranier to order a spare part or arrange service, I always get the response, "How many hours has it run? The stove is meant as a supplement, not as a primary heating source." Well, for us, it's not just the primary heater—it’s the only way to generate heat during winter, both for space heating and hot water. From the beginning, it was clear that we needed a “backup solution.” The original plan was to install a 3 kW heating cartridge inside the 800-liter (210-gallon) tank (yes, 3 kW would be sufficient). But since the tank was placed too close to the basement wall, this is not possible, and now we are in our fourth winter with a constant "chill" feeling hanging over us like a Damocles sword.
My idea now is: “I already have two circuits supplying heat to the system; can I simply add a small instant water heater (around 5 kW) in parallel to the pellet stove’s circuit (using two 3-way ball valves)? Or even in series? Ideally, this device would rarely, if ever, be used…”
Is it possible, allowed, or advisable to do something like this? Thanks for your opinions and advice.
Best regards
Florian
I’ll try to keep this brief...
Starting point:
Semi-detached house built in 1965
Renovated to KFW 70 standard
130 sqm (1,400 sq ft) + unheated basement + unheated attic
Moved in in 2019
Pellet stove with water jacket (Oranier Carus Aqua), about 1.1 tons of pellets per winter
Solar thermal system
800-liter (210-gallon) buffer tank
Underfloor heating covers about 30% of the area, the rest is convector radiators
At the beginning of 2024, I’m installing 5.6 kWp solar panels with a 5 kWh storage system.
Overall, we are very satisfied with our setup… the ability to heat the house in just a few minutes is a dream, and the (existing) radiators are only used occasionally. The ratio of the pellet stove’s hot water production to space heating is quite balanced (we never have cold water and a warm house).
The problem is the following: When I call Oranier to order a spare part or arrange service, I always get the response, "How many hours has it run? The stove is meant as a supplement, not as a primary heating source." Well, for us, it's not just the primary heater—it’s the only way to generate heat during winter, both for space heating and hot water. From the beginning, it was clear that we needed a “backup solution.” The original plan was to install a 3 kW heating cartridge inside the 800-liter (210-gallon) tank (yes, 3 kW would be sufficient). But since the tank was placed too close to the basement wall, this is not possible, and now we are in our fourth winter with a constant "chill" feeling hanging over us like a Damocles sword.
My idea now is: “I already have two circuits supplying heat to the system; can I simply add a small instant water heater (around 5 kW) in parallel to the pellet stove’s circuit (using two 3-way ball valves)? Or even in series? Ideally, this device would rarely, if ever, be used…”
Is it possible, allowed, or advisable to do something like this? Thanks for your opinions and advice.
Best regards
Florian
Heating rods designed for heat pumps are also available as single elements for installation in the flow. For example, an "LG electric heating rod Therma V Monoblock 3 kW (3.3 kW)".
Normally, these are controlled via the heat pump’s regulation system, but if you have a universal controller for pellet boilers and solar thermal systems, you might be able to include them there as a heat source. Of course, there are also versions from other manufacturers and with higher power ratings. Alternatively, you could install an affordable Chinese heat pump or a Panasonic Geisha (5 kW, heating mode) in the return line and operate it separately in an emergency without the main system’s control—this would have to be installed as an outdoor unit, obviously outside. However, for a backup emergency solution, the heating rod should be sufficient.
Normally, these are controlled via the heat pump’s regulation system, but if you have a universal controller for pellet boilers and solar thermal systems, you might be able to include them there as a heat source. Of course, there are also versions from other manufacturers and with higher power ratings. Alternatively, you could install an affordable Chinese heat pump or a Panasonic Geisha (5 kW, heating mode) in the return line and operate it separately in an emergency without the main system’s control—this would have to be installed as an outdoor unit, obviously outside. However, for a backup emergency solution, the heating rod should be sufficient.
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