Anyone ever see one of these?

[azasadny]

The apartment I'm staying in during the week (out of town on work assignment) has one of these furnaces. The water heater went out last night and when that happens, you lose hot water and heat, but they replaced the old water heater today and we're back in business. I've never seen one of these...


First Company Products - First Operations, LP - Product Brochures / Data Sheets


Aquatherm® Product

When a First Co. Aquatherm® "Combo Heater" (air handler) is connected to an adequately sized natural gas, LP, or oil fired water heater, the water heater becomes a dual function appliance that can provide comfortable, efficient space heating as well as hot water for domestic use.

First installed in California in 1974, there are now over a million Combo systems in operation from Canada to Florida and in both single and multi-family applications.

Contact First Co. for a list of Aquatherm® installations in your area.


Installation Instructions

PROBLEM

Gas heat costs more to install than electric systems.
SOLUTION

Combo Heaters can reduce gas installation costs by more than $250 (see note 1).
PROBLEM

In multi-family applications, gas furnaces take up more valuable floor space than electric systems.
SOLUTION

First Co. Aqua Therm® Combo Heaters can be used in any floor plan...and some models don't take up any floor space!
PROBLEM

Gas furnaces require flue venting and combustion air.
SOLUTION

Combo Heaters don't require furnace flue venting, combustion air, OR gas piping.
Water Heater Requirement

Any water heater sized large enough to accomplish both functions (space and water heating) will work...no special water heater is needed! Water heaters used for space heating will generally require extra gallon capacity and higher BTUH input. (See "Equipment Sizing")
Benefits:

• High Efficiency:

The recovery efficiency of today's natural gas water heaters ranges from 76 to 94%. As a general rule of thumb, the space heating efficiency of any water heater can be approximated by adding several percentage points to the water heater's recovery efficiency. The efficiency gained by these systems comes from the fact that:

1. Eliminating the gas furnace saves the energy that would normally be lost due to the furnace vent, gas pilot, and furnace cabinet.
2. Laboratory and field tests have proven that water heater standby losses are reduced when the water heater is operated more frequently.

• Low Maintenance:

Combo Heaters are simple and uncomplicated compared to heat pumps and high efficiency gas furnaces. The heating system has only five moving parts!

• Compatible Cooling Coils:

Cooling coils installed in First Co. Combo Heaters are completely compatible with major brands of condensing units. Two models ( HBQB and HBXB-HW Series) obtain efficiencies up to 14 SEER, depending on the outdoor unit.

To insure compatibility and to obtain efficiency information, contact your local distributor, or First Co., or click here for our product efficiency ratings page.

• Consistent, Comfortable Heat:

As long as hot water is available, Combo Heaters will provide warm air no matter what the temperature is outside. Homeowners report being much more comfortable with hydronic heat than with other space heating systems, such as heat pumps.

• Longer Water Heater Tank Life:

By circulating water through the water heater more frequently, sediment build-up is reduced, corrosion is minimized, and the life of the water heater tank is extended.

• Flexibility:

The First Co. product line includes a variety of different Aquatherm® Combo Heaters. Models are available to recess in a wall, install above the ceiling, in a closet, or in an attic. You can choose models for heating only or with cooling coils up to five tons. There's even a heating coil to add to your existing air handling unit.