How to Install a Sidearm Heat Exchanger

This article will help you install a sidearm heat exchanging unit. These exchangers work by heating domestic hot water. When water flows into a sidearm heat exchanger, the coldest water drops to the bottom. As this water warms, it rises to the top. Sidearms can cause problems if you don’t install them. Fortunately, you can easily solve this problem by installing a sidearm heat exchanger.

First, connect the hot water outlet from the sidearm heat exchanger to the top port. This will allow for twice the domestic water flow than the bottom. To speed up the recovery process, you may connect a small circulation pumps. A thermal snap disc or strap-on thermostat will allow you to control the pump. Connect the domestic side hookups to both the drain and pressure relief ports on the water heater. The water line will thermally siphon and the exchanger won’t work if it isn’t.

The fin-enhanced sidearm heat exchanger is another type. This type of sidearm heat exchanger increases its efficiency by using a finned tube in the internal portion. The finned tube has a surface area five to eight times larger than the bare tube, creating great turbulence. This heat exchanger has a greater capacity than the traditional sidearm. It is also more efficient than its counterparts, which allows for faster heating or cooling.