Using cookers as hot water heater

BigBarry · 03-05-2011, 04:30 PM

Folks,

I just thought of this and maybe it's a bad idea, maybe a good one. What say you all?

Since we have so many different types of cookers out there, has anyone ever though of putting hose fittings (male and female) through opposite walls of their cooker and running some pipe (copper?) over the coals/fireboxes/around or inside the chimney (coiled?) to use the heat to make hot water.

I am no greenie but in theory it sounds like a way to make use of a heat source and may help regulate the cooker temps.

Discuss...

ammoore · 03-05-2011, 05:53 PM

I have a stumps clone that my brother built.
The fire chute is a 6 inch pipe. We talked about putting a copper coil around the tube to generate instant hot water.
Never did it though....I was kind of afraid that I would get instant steam and scald myself.

Gerrit_Boys · 03-05-2011, 06:22 PM

I think that sounds like an awesome idea. I've heard those portable on demand water heaters suck.

5-0 BBQ · 03-05-2011, 07:00 PM

We have sinks installed on our rig. The radiant heat from my rig will bring the water to a high heat. Last year a health inspector went to check my hand wash station and lets say she pulled her hand back quick. I thought about running more tubing along the rig but I was worried about the water to hot.

Here are some plumbing pics and my 3 sink.

El Lobo · 03-05-2011, 07:03 PM

How would you regulate how hot the water gets? Pressure builds... it's gotta go somewhere.

Now if you have an open system (instead of closed pipe) the water would just boil off. But having an open system you risk getting stuff in the water.

Sawdustguy · 03-06-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Lobo

How would you regulate how hot the water gets? Pressure builds... it's gotta go somewhere.

Now if you have an open system (instead of closed pipe) the water would just boil off. But having an open system you risk getting stuff in the water.

That is an excellent point. If the water runs through a 225* smoker it will try to boil. I wonder how much pressure can build up before the copper pipe gives up the ghost and becomes a schrapnel bomb, someone gets a steam burn or gets scalded.

crd26a · 03-06-2011, 05:09 PM

Check out some of the ones that are on Klose's trailers. I know he's had the cylinders mounted against the smokers, but usually away from the main heat and further along the smoker. My guess is consideration overall for getting too much heat. The other option is to just install a pressure valve in the line / system somewhere that would release too much built up pressure.

barbefunkoramaque · 03-06-2011, 07:46 PM

Post 12.. heee hee

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...heat+exchanger

barbefunkoramaque · 03-06-2011, 07:51 PM

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...heat+exchanger

also- a more serious description in post 12 of my old "Perserverance" smoker which had one hell of a heat exchanger. I ran it through a water heater they use on a mobile home or boat ... one that uses engine heat to heat water aside from electric of gas. This was from a thread where a guy wanted to wind round the smokestack

ZILLA · 03-06-2011, 08:20 PM

Why would you want to heat hot water? I usually heat cold water myself.

03-05-2011, 04:30 PM	#1
BigBarry is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-06-06 Location: West Islip, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Using cookers as hot water heater Folks, I just thought of this and maybe it's a bad idea, maybe a good one. What say you all? Since we have so many different types of cookers out there, has anyone ever though of putting hose fittings (male and female) through opposite walls of their cooker and running some pipe (copper?) over the coals/fireboxes/around or inside the chimney (coiled?) to use the heat to make hot water. I am no greenie but in theory it sounds like a way to make use of a heat source and may help regulate the cooker temps. Discuss... __________________ Greg Head Cook - Team BigBarryQ KCBS Member Webers: Smokey Mountains (2 18.5" and a 22.5") - Performer 22" Silver - Go AnyWhere Charcoal - Smokey Joe Platinum - Craigslist Silver Gasser BBQ - Bring Beer Quick! In the Land of the Pig, the Butcher is King!

03-05-2011, 06:22 PM	#3
Gerrit_Boys Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-29-08 Location: Huron, SD Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I think that sounds like an awesome idea. I've heard those portable on demand water heaters suck. __________________ Trevor

03-05-2011, 07:00 PM	#4
5-0 BBQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-27-10 Location: Hampstead, MD Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We have sinks installed on our rig. The radiant heat from my rig will bring the water to a high heat. Last year a health inspector went to check my hand wash station and lets say she pulled her hand back quick. I thought about running more tubing along the rig but I was worried about the water to hot. Here are some plumbing pics and my 3 sink. __________________ Steve Rogers 5-0 BBQ Competition Team Facebook Owner The BBQ Equipment Store www.bbqequipmentstore.com Proud 2013 Sponsor of Degüello BBQ, Christmas City BBQ, Lo'-N-Slo BBQ, Bar-B-Que Mayham, Uncle Bucks, Finns Finest, Pigheaded, Simply Q and Little Lukes BBQ No Thermapen Here, I have a Water & Shock Resistant Backlit Maverick PT-100BBQ 500 Gal Stickburner - Backwoods Gator, Red Kamado Joe, Primo Oval XL, Maverick Competition Smoker CS-55 and Many Others

03-06-2011, 05:09 PM	#7
crd26a Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-16-09 Location: Olathe, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Check out some of the ones that are on Klose's trailers. I know he's had the cylinders mounted against the smokers, but usually away from the main heat and further along the smoker. My guess is consideration overall for getting too much heat. The other option is to just install a pressure valve in the line / system somewhere that would release too much built up pressure. __________________ Border War Smokers - "BBQ worth killin' your neighbor for"

03-06-2011, 07:46 PM	#8
barbefunkoramaque Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-11-07 Location: Gone Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Post 12.. heee hee http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...heat+exchanger __________________ Popdaddy is Dead - 1933-2011 - Pitmaster T is a free agent

03-05-2011, 05:53 PM	#2
ammoore On the road to being a farker Join Date: 06-10-08 Location: Troy, IL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have a stumps clone that my brother built. The fire chute is a 6 inch pipe. We talked about putting a copper coil around the tube to generate instant hot water. Never did it though....I was kind of afraid that I would get instant steam and scald myself.

03-05-2011, 07:03 PM	#5
El Lobo is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-18-11 Location: Great White North Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	How would you regulate how hot the water gets? Pressure builds... it's gotta go somewhere. Now if you have an open system (instead of closed pipe) the water would just boil off. But having an open system you risk getting stuff in the water.

03-06-2011, 07:51 PM	#9
barbefunkoramaque Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-11-07 Location: Gone Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...heat+exchanger also- a more serious description in post 12 of my old "Perserverance" smoker which had one hell of a heat exchanger. I ran it through a water heater they use on a mobile home or boat ... one that uses engine heat to heat water aside from electric of gas. This was from a thread where a guy wanted to wind round the smokestack __________________ Popdaddy is Dead - 1933-2011 - Pitmaster T is a free agent

03-06-2011, 08:20 PM	#10
ZILLA is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 12-01-05 Location: Universal City, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Why would you want to heat hot water? I usually heat cold water myself.

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