Hot water heating system and related methods

A method of heating the atmosphere within a predefined area of a structure, comprising:

• providing a hybrid water heating and storage apparatus configured to store and heat water to a first temperature of at least about 140 degrees Fahrenheit including a heat pump and an electric heating tank in fluid communication, the electric heating tank configured to store the heated water, and the heat pump configured to draw the water stored in the electric heating tank from a lower portion of the electric heating tank, heat the water drawn from the lower portion of the electric heating tank, and return the heated water to the lower portion of the electric heating tank;
• selectively drawing an output flow of the heated water from the electric heating tank, passing the heated water through a first heat exchange fixture positioned within a first predefined area to heat the atmosphere therein, and directing the water back to the electric heating tank as a cold input flow via a first recirculating pump;
• electrically coupling a first thermostat to the first recirculating pump that is positioned within the first predefined area and configured to sense the temperature therein;
• selectively drawing an output flow of the heated water from the electric heating tank, passing the heated water through a second heat exchange fixture positioned within a second predefined area to heat the atmosphere therein, and directing the water back to the electric heating tank as the cold input flow via a second recirculating pump;
• electrically coupling a second thermostat to the second recirculating pump that is positioned within the second predefined area and configured to sense the temperature therein;
• heating the water when the temperature of the water decreases from the first temperature to a second temperature that is colder than the first temperature via the heat pump and the electric heating tank,
• wherein selectively drawing an output flow of the heated water from the electric heating tank and passing the heated water through a first heat exchange fixture comprises selectively operating the first recirculating pump based on its sensed temperature and a user selected temperature via the first thermostat, and wherein selectively drawing an output flow of the heated water from the electric heating tank and passing the heated water through a second heat exchange fixture comprises selectively operating the second recirculating pump based on its sensed temperature and a user selected temperature via the second thermostat.

A method of installing a hot water heating system for heating the atmosphere within at least one predefined area of a structure, comprising:

• fluidly coupling a water supply to a hybrid water heating and storage apparatus configured to store and heat water to a first temperature of at least about 140 degrees Fahrenheit including a heat pump and an electric heating tank in fluid communication, the electric heating tank storing the heated water, the heat pump configured to draw the water stored in the tank from a lower portion of the tank, heat the water drawn from the lower portion of the tank, and return the heated water to the lower portion of the tank;
• fluidly coupling at least one recirculating pump between an outlet and at least one heat exchange fixture positioned in at least one corresponding predefined area within the structure, the at least one recirculating pump configured to selectively draw at least one output flow of the heated water from the electric heating tank via the outlet, pass the heated water through at least one heat exchange fixture positioned within the at least one predefined area to heat the atmosphere therein, and direct the water back to the electric heating tank as a cold input flow;
• electrically coupling at least one thermostat to the at least one recirculating pump that is positioned within the at least one predefined area and configured to sense the temperature of the atmosphere within the at least one predefined area;
• configuring the at least one thermostat to control operation of the at least one recirculating pump based on at least one sensed temperature and at least one user selected temperature;
• and
• configuring the apparatus to heat the water within the tank via the heat pump and the electric heating tank when the temperature of the water decreases from the first temperature to a second temperature that is colder than the first temperature.