The hydraulic stove: a practical and economical heating supplement

The hydraulic stove: a practical and economical heating supplement

The hydraulic stove allows you to complement a boiler to enjoy the comfort of central heating at a lower cost. It is a piece of equipment that appeals to wood heating enthusiasts as well as those looking to save energy.

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What is a hydraulic stove?

Hydro stoves are capable of transferring most of the heat produced to water. They can thus be integrated into a central heating system including radiators, underfloor heating, and even water heaters.

The hydraulic stove is an excellent compromise between using a traditional stove and installing a boiler. It is particularly appreciated in renovations in homes already equipped with a radiator network where it will complement a boiler or heat pump.

A traditional stove usually only heats the room where it is installed and possibly the adjoining rooms. With a hydraulic stove, it is possible to heat the entire house evenly.

It also adapts to ecological heating

This type of stove can be combined with other heating and domestic hot water production solutions: heat pump, solar, traditional boiler. It offers great flexibility and excellent short-term profitability.

Multi-energy use

By also installing a buffer tank, you benefit from great flexibility as this water reserve allows different energy sources to coexist.

As a backup and support for the boiler: for example, a boiler (oil or gas) but also a heat pump can be connected to the buffer tank to remain as a backup.

Thus, the hydro stove can take over in case of a breakdown or extreme cold and help you achieve substantial savings compared to other more expensive energy sources.

In addition to thermal solar panels: similarly, it is possible to complement the installation with thermal solar panels or connect to an existing installation, the heat transfer fluid from the panels will transfer its energy to the same buffer tank.

This solution is relevant in many ways. First, the system is very reliable and requires little maintenance. Secondly, it can cover up to 70% of heating and hot water needs depending on the size of the installation. This part of the bill will never again be subject to inflation due to the free nature of solar energy and the low cost of firewood.

The heating network

As you have understood, the hydro stove primarily heats the buffer tank, which then handles the distribution to the heating network.

Once the water in the buffer tank is hot, it needs to be redirected to the heat emitters. A hydro stove is compatible with all types of heating: underfloor heating, radiators, and domestic hot water. To do this, each circuit is controlled by a specific hydraulic group downstream of the buffer tank.

Radiators: A set of radiators can be managed by a so-called “mixed” group which consists of the following elements:

A pump to send hot water to the heaters. It can be controlled by a programmable thermostat to match usage.
A 3-way valve capable of varying the water’s departure temperature. It has a regulation that defines the most suitable temperature according to the indoor and/or outdoor temperatures.

Underfloor heating: The principle is exactly the same for underfloor heating, which will benefit from a specific hydraulic group because its operating temperature is different.

Installation of a hydraulic stove

As with sizing, the installation of hydro stoves is a demanding task that should be entrusted to a professional. Here are some points to consider.

The proper positioning of the hydro wood stove meets many constraints. It must be:

  • close to the smoke duct
  • close to an air inlet dedicated to the stove
  • connectable to the hydraulic network
  • easily accessible for maintenance
  • the space required for the buffer tank must also be considered.

A duct must be created to evacuate the smoke as well as an air inlet to ensure the supply of oxygen for optimal combustion.

Finally, plumbing skills are required. The hydraulic installation consists of functional elements such as pumps, control elements such as pressure gauges, and safety elements. Indeed, the installation must necessarily be equipped with an emergency cooling system.

Efficiency

Recent devices are very efficient and have an efficiency of around 75-85%. This is especially true here as the combustion of logs can be done at nominal power since most of the heat goes to the water. There is no temptation to close the primary air inlet to avoid overheating the living room.

Marques Confort accompanies you from A to Z

The study, sizing, and installation of a hydro stove require the expertise of a heating professional. With over 20 years of experience in heating and plumbing, we provide a complete service to find the best solution for your thermal comfort.

Today we offer a complete range of hydraulic stoves selected from renowned manufacturers in Europe (Germany, Switzerland, and Italy), both in terms of their designs and their energy performance.

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