What is an Indirect Fired Water Heater?

An indirect fired water heater (IW) is a type of water heater that is constructed with the intention of conserving energy rather than using it up like the direct fired variety. It operates on the principle that the hotter water is delivered through a smaller heating coil than the colder water, which also means that the total water consumption is lower. In an IW, a smaller coil is used in the condenser at the base of the unit. A fan is used to pull the warm air through this coil and the hot water is then sent into the tank. Since the IW is directly heated and pushed through the water distribution system, there is no need for a storage tank. These types of water heaters are extremely energy-efficient and can heat up to fifty gallons of water at one time.