Stoves for Hot Water
Have you ever heard of hydro stoves? They are heat generators that, instead of heating the air, heat water and then channel it to the existing heating system. By installing these pellet stoves for radiators, you can significantly cut your gas bill, as they can replace traditional boilers, increasing comfort and reducing heating costs. Let’s see how they work.
WHAT IS A HYDRO STOVE
A hydro stove is a pellet-fueled generator that produces heat and hot water economically. It doesn’t require fossil fuels like traditional gas boilers but uses the heat produced by burning a natural resource — pellet — to heat water that is circulated through the heating system. This makes it a truly advantageous and sustainable solution for heating your home.
What’s special about a hydro stove?
It works just like a standard pellet stove but includes a heat exchanger inside the unit. This device recovers the heat from the combustion and transfers it to the water.
Aesthetically, hydro stoves look like regular pellet stoves. They suit any design preference and fit well into various home spaces.
The best hydro stoves feature refined designs that complement different interior styles. Advanced models can be connected to thermostats and controlled remotely via smartphone apps, allowing you to turn the stove on or off with a single click.
PELLET STOVES FOR RADIATORS AND UNDERFLOOR HEATING: HOW THEY WORK
Installing a hydro stove requires a professional, who will connect the stove to the water system via a hydraulic manifold. The domestic water is then heated by the stove and pumped back into the circuit, reaching either wall-mounted radiators or underfloor heating pipes.
This means you can continue using your existing heating system by simply replacing the heat generator, without needing major renovations or invasive work.
And there's more.
With a pellet stove for radiators, you save on fuel costs, since pellet is cheaper than methane or diesel and is a renewable resource.
The primary function of a hydro stove is to produce hot water for the heating system. However, a small part of the heat not used for water heating is released into the surrounding environment.
So if you install it in your living room, you can enjoy its radiant heat directly — no need for extra heaters.
As a multifunction appliance, it’s important to evaluate each model’s technical specifications and ensure your system is properly sized. That’s why professional advice is crucial.
A TIP
Depending on the stove model, you can also include a thermal storage tank (buffer), which stores excess hot water and releases it gradually into the radiators when needed. This allows you to turn off the stove while continuing to heat your home — saving even more on energy bills.
CAN A HYDRO STOVE ALSO PRODUCE DOMESTIC HOT WATER?
Yes! Some hydro stoves — especially those over 24 kW — come with an integrated DHW kit (Domestic Hot Water), allowing them to produce hot water for domestic use directly from the pellet combustion heat.
Alternatively, all hydro stoves can be connected to a buffer tank, which manages both heating water and domestic water (for showers and taps), offering a more flexible and efficient solution.
A great convenience, don’t you think?
Does a hydro stove sound like the right solution for you?
