text: DIY Heater Reusing A Broken Heater?
  Forum > Equipment - Build, Use, and Repair > Everything Else > DIY Heater Reusing A Broken Heater?
  Thread: DIY Heater Reusing A Broken Heater?
  08-19-2010, 12:18 PM #1
  I've got access to a friend's Heat Pump that's not working. I was thinking...would it be possible to steal some of the internals for a DIY heater? I'm assuming there's a stainless steel heat exchanger or stainless steel coils inside that thing that's would be $$$ to build or buy. If I can take that and use it in either an outdoor wood stove or in a grill or on top of burners (as seen in http://www.redneckpoolheater.com/ ) it would bring me 90% of the way toward a DIY pool heater.
  Now...I know that this type of heater design is ineffecient. But, I'd only probably use it a few times a year, just to give the water a jolt. And it's better than nothing and much cheaper than other options (other than solar). Long term I might not save money, but I'm ok with that.
  But...back to the main question...what's inside these heat pumps? If I open it up, will I find a reusable stainless steel heat exchanger (or coils) that I could use for this type of plan?
  Re: DIY Heater Reusing A Broken Heater?
  I doubt you'll find what you want. The tubes inside the heat pump are for the refrigerant, not the water. Probably too small for what you want.