Heating my Domestic Hot Water with the Driveway (Running the Snowmelt in Reverse) - [5-21-2021]

In this video, I attempt to use the hot driveway to heat my domestic hot water, by running the snow melt system in reverse.
If you’re new to my channel and want to follow this project from the beginning (in order, regardless of upload date), you find my Heated Driveway / Snowmelt playlist here: • Heated Driveway / Snow...
The playlist will have all of my videos in the correct order form start to present, regardless of the date I uploaded them. It starts with how I designed the PEX and Snowmelt Loop Layout, shows the process of installing the actual heated concrete slab, demonstrates how I did the math to calculate the boiler and pump sizes, installation of all of the components, and ends with lots of time-lapse of the system melting snow. It also includes snowmelt system startup and shutdown videos, as well as walkthroughs of the mechanical room, continuous circulation design and electrical system.
Below are links to several of the products, tools, video equipment and channels that I used to build the system. I receive a small commission from these links.
Products I used to build the system:
-Takagi T-H3-DV-N Tankless Water Heaters (2): amzn.to/3Fe6nbu
-3" Diversitech Concentric Vent Kits (2): amzn.to/32ja8h2
-Taco 0013-SF3 Circulator Pump Stainless Steel (3): amzn.to/3yVwtOh
-Taco 006-ST4 Recirc Pump (2): amzn.to/3eyy432
-Taco VT2218 Variable Speed ECM Pump (2): amzn.to/3sKVL0f
-100 Plate Flat Plate Heat Exchanger 400,000 BTU's: amzn.to/3pbMlsE
-Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus Smart Light Switch with SimpleWire (2): amzn.to/3sj3p1G
-1 1/2" Epoxy Coated Copper Tube Split Ring Extension Hangers (10): amzn.to/3EalIZm
-1" Epoxy Coated Copper Tube Split Ring Extension Hangers (20): amzn.to/33Kkd7C
-1" Swing Check Valves (5): amzn.to/3pBg8Lo
-10"x8" ABS Plastic Dustproof Waterproof IP65 Junction Box: amzn.to/3FCfbrX
-Waterproof Dustproof IP67 Junction Box Gray 6.9 x 4.9 x 3.9 inch: amzn.to/3pynDmn
-Wayne PC4 1/2 HP Cast Iron Pump for Filling: amzn.to/32L4Xqk
-Ranco ETC-111000 Digital Temperature Controls (5): amzn.to/3HknvNj
-Rubber Washing Machine Fill Hoses, 3/4 inch FHT, 8 Ft: amzn.to/3mGUzXZ
Tools I used to build the system:
-12" Adjustable Wrenches (2): amzn.to/3HhAzTF
-Rectorseal No. 5 Pipe Thread Sealant: amzn.to/3HiR0Px
-Blue Monster 1/2" Blue Teflon Tape: amzn.to/3JnhqBF
-High Intensity Trigger Start Mapp Gas Torch Head: amzn.to/3z6l0LE
-14.1 oz Bernzomatic Pre-Filled MAP-Pro Gas Torch Style Cylinders (2): amzn.to/3EEA1FM
-Oatey 29025 Safe-Flo Wire Solder, 1 Lb Bulk, Solid, Gray, Silver: amzn.to/3z6PWLI
-9'' x 12'' Welding Pad Protector, Carbon Felt Torch Soldering Heat Shield, High Temp Flame--Resistant Fabric, Plumbers Pad: amzn.to/3Hk9y22
What I use to record my videos and time lapse videos:
-GoPro Hero 8: amzn.to/3qu6ppC
-Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit : amzn.to/3pClzde
-SanDisk 256GB Extreme microSDXC Memory Card: amzn.to/3zdZJjd
I will be uploading more videos of the system in action each winter, as well as several videos of the installation process, including soldering, filling with glycol, venting, etc. If there is something in particular you would like to see, please ask, and I will make a video of it.
If you enjoy my content, please consider subscribing to my channel by clicking the following link: / @deckerchristopherj
Here are some other channels, videos and websites that helped me learn to do all of this:
@stevenlavimoniere / stevenlavimoniere
@MyGarageBuild / mygaragebuild
@ToooBizzy • Floor Heat Boiler
#heateddriveway #snowmelt #buffalo

[@TheBoydClan]

This could be used to pre-heat the incoming water from the utility before going into the water heaters. Since your cold water comes in through the recirc pump on the lower end of the tank circuit, you could run the snow melt system to preheat that water as it passes through the heat exchanger and then into the tankless heater input. The caveat is that you would need to have the snow melt pump turn off or bypass the heat exchanger during tank recirc events so it isn't stealing heat from the recirc loop. This could mean short cycling of the snow melt system since it would only be needed for domestic hot water loads pulling street water into the system.
Great thoughts. I appreciate you recording it. I am preparing to build a snow melt system for my driveway rebuild in spring/summer, and I have reconsidered my design based on what you have here. Looks pretty efficient, and I really like energy efficiency. In another video, you mentioned a solar system. I have one installed, and I really love it; you won't regret it, I promise. However, if I can offer some advice, get a metal roof before putting the solar system on. It is more expensive, but it will be worth it from a lifespan perspective and a snow-clearing perspective.
Keep on tinkering!

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

Great suggestions John, thanks for the advice! I'm glad you enjoy the videos, too! I am looking forward to installing the solar panels. I will think about the metal roof, thanks!! 😊 -Chris

[@Pixelplanet5]

that system would be amazing running both ways if it was connected to a heatpump.

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

Hi Pixel! This is absolutely something I'll have to look into in the future. Perhaps when the tankless units fail in future years I can replace them with some sort of heat pump technology. It has already come a long way in the past 10 years, and I'd imagine it will be even better in another 10! If I do it, you'll see it here so stay tuned 😊. Thanks for the suggestion, and thanks for watching!

[@danielz722]

That's quite the mechanical room.

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

Thanks Daniel! You can see more of it including how I built it on my channel here if interested: ruclips.net/p/PLdWeMRuZcbQjekwiBk_uy39IS6JFWYORD Thanks for watching! 😊

[@charryverhage833]

waiting for you to turn on the snowmelt you should be getting some soon

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

Haha. You’re right, it’s coming, and they’re calling for FEET at my location. Of course I am right in the middle of re-wiring everything again, but I’m almost done. I’ll have it finished before Thursday night when it’s supposed to start. I‘ll release a video explaining the re-wire Sunday morning, and I’ll have the camera and driveway both running for the storm! 👍😉. Thanks for watching!!! 😁

[@JH-tc3yu]

@@DeckerChristopherJ dude i saw the news about your lake effect bands and immediately thought of you, can't wait to see if 400k btu's can keep up

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

Haha, thanks JH! So far so good, but I’m not in the bulls eye right now, it’s south of me. We got 6-8” fast early on last night before it shifted south. The driveway was completely covered, but it caught up overnight and I woke to it all clear just wet. It’s completely dry now. The GoPro is rolling, so I’ll be posting the video next weekend 👍👍. Thanks for thinking of me and coming back to comment!

[@GlenS123]

Your thinking correctly, heat is everywhere, can we capture it? In your case a second tank would be required to temper incoming cold water. Not worth the money. I'm in Milwaukee and for domestic water have a typical 40 gal. tank natural gas 70% eff. for family of 4. For all hot water usage, showers, dish washer, hands, ect. costs $0.85 a day. Can't justify putting in anything else until it dies. They make heat exchangers for house drain to capture heat from waste water. Ran numbers, would pay for itself in 44 years, I'll be dead.

[@jeepxj]

is it running?! are you in the big snow area today?

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

Hey jeepxj! It’s running! 😀 I turned it on around 8PM last night and it was quickly overwhelmed with 6-8” by 10:30PM. The band then shifted south of me and has stayed there all day. The driveway caught up overnight and was clear when I woke up this morning. I turned it off around noon since it was sunny and completely dry. I just turned it on again at 9 PM tonight, as we are told the band will be shifting north around midnight and could hit us with another foot. Nothing like the folks south of the city have been getting. The GoPro has been running the entire time, so look for the video next Sunday!! Thanks for coming back to comment and check in!

[@jeepxj]

@@DeckerChristopherJ your driveway is my dream. the right combo of hardware and nerdy. my end state is to have a wood boiler in the loop with NG backup. some day....

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

@@jeepxj Thanks man. You can do it, and a wood boiler with NG backup would be an amazing setup! When you do decide to move forward, let me know if you have any questions, I'd be glad to lend any advice I can. I just completely re-wired everything this past week before this storm, so if you like the techy stuff, you might like this Sundays video. BTW my first car was an XJ 😉 Thanks for watching and commenting, I really do appreciate you helping my channel grow!

[@joemizer]

Cool beans man, maybe if you had a pool or something

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

I know right, this would be a perfect way to heat a pool. Unfortunately we don't have one. 😕 I'll have to come up with another way to use this free source of energy. 🤔

[@TyrantOfHellsLand]

paint that nice concrete driveway black and you'll increase the collection efficiency :-)

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

Hahah! Absolutely! 😂👍

[@jeremiahchmielowiec2696]

I thought about heating up a pool the same way.

[@DeckerChristopherJ]

I think that would work well! I couldn’t get mine hot enough for domestic hot water, but I think it would be plenty hot enough to warm up a pool! Use a solar panel to run the pump and your operating cost to run it will be $0!

[@GlenS123]

Your thinking correct, heat is just sitting there. In your application all you could do is temper incoming city water in a seperate tank, not worth cost. I have family of 4 in Milw., WI with 70% nat. gas tank heater, costs $0.85 for all hot water use per day.

[@korykearney6497]

I'm was thinking the same thing, I have a concrete patio that I could use to heat the pool and in return, also cool that patio.