BRADFORD WHITE SS-40-L Indirect Water Heater (38 gallons) | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore & North Shore

A compact stainless steel indirect tank that draws your hot water from the electric boiler

If your home is heated by an electric boiler that feeds radiators or a radiant floor, that same boiler can also produce your domestic hot water. The Bradford White SS-40-L indirect water heater is designed for exactly that: its 38 US gallon (31 imperial gallon, 142 L) tank contains a stainless steel coil through which the boiler water flows. The potable water warms up in contact with the coil, without ever mixing with the heating water. AirGreen installs and connects this tank in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the South Shore and on the North Shore.

It is the most compact of the Bradford White SS indirect tanks we offer. At 38 1/4 in. tall and 91 lb empty, it easily finds a place next to a wall-hung boiler, in a small mechanical room or in the utility closet of a townhouse.

How an indirect water heater works

An indirect water heater has no electric element and no heat source of its own. When the tank sensor calls for heat, the boiler sends its hot water through the internal coil; the heat passes through the stainless steel wall and warms the domestic water around it. Once the set point is reached, the boiler goes back to its heating zones. In most installations, domestic hot water gets priority over space heating during these short periods, which allows a quick recovery after heavy use.

This operation gives the SS-40-L a particular trait: its first-hour rating far exceeds its volume, because the boiler recharges the reserve while you are drawing water. A small indirect tank can therefore keep up with a demand that an electric tank of similar size would struggle to sustain, provided the boiler has the required output.

Which homes this size is designed for

The SS-40-L suits a couple or a small family living in a house, a semi-detached home or a townhouse already equipped with an electric boiler. It is also useful when space is tight: a finished basement where the mechanical room has been kept to a minimum, or a townhouse-style condo with just a utility closet. For a larger family or several bathrooms used at the same time, we compare it with the larger SS sizes before making a recommendation.

Manufacturer data

• Capacity: 38 US gallons, 31 imperial gallons, 142 L.
• First-hour rating (AHRI): 237 gal/h (897 L/h), with boiler water at 180 °F (82 °C).
• Continuous draw: 209 gal/h at 135 °F (791 L/h at 57 °C).
• Standby heat loss: 0.6 °F/h (0.33 °C/h).
• Minimum heat source input for these ratings: 135,000 BTU/h.
• Minimum heat source flow: 14.0 gal/min (53.0 L/min).
• Maximum boiler supply temperature: 240 °F (116 °C).
• Heat exchanger: single-wall stainless steel coil, 1 in. (25 mm) outside diameter.
• Connections: potable water in 3/4 in. NPT; boiler through 1 in. (25 mm) female NPT fittings at the front, supply and return.
• Dimensions and weight: height of 38 1/4 in. (972 mm), diameter of 24 in. (610 mm), 91 lb (41 kg).

Reading these ratings with an electric boiler

Bradford White specifies that these ratings were obtained with the stated heat source input and flow, and with boiler water at 180 °F (82 °C). The manufacturer adds that different conditions produce different results. This is an important point in an electrically heated home: many residential electric boilers have an output below 135,000 BTU/h. The tank then works very well, but the actual first-hour rating and continuous draw are lower than the published values. During the assessment, we look at your boiler's output, its set point and its winter heating load to give you a realistic expectation rather than a catalogue figure.

444 stainless steel: no lining to protect

The tank and heat exchanger of the SS-40-L are made of 444 ferritic stainless steel, a chromium, molybdenum and titanium alloy. There is therefore no glass lining inside: the steel itself resists corrosion. The low-restriction brass drain valve, with a tamper-resistant design, makes maintenance flushing easier. The model's performance ratings are AHRI certified.

Integration with the heating system

The 1 in. NPT boiler connections are located at the front of the tank, which simplifies the piping when the unit sits next to the boiler. The manufacturer allows boiler water up to 240 °F (116 °C), a limit well above the usual working temperatures of a residential electric boiler. Because the coil is single-wall, the fluid circulating in the heating loop must meet the applicable plumbing requirements; if your system contains antifreeze, we check its compatibility before connecting the tank. The SS-40-L is connected to a dedicated zone, with its own circulator or zone valve depending on how your system is set up.

A reserve that holds its heat

The published standby heat loss of the SS-40-L is 0.6 °F per hour (0.33 °C/h). When nobody is using hot water, the reserve temperature therefore drops slowly, and the boiler does not need to restart often to maintain it. In a cool basement, we also insulate the accessible hot water piping to limit losses on the way to the taps.

Manufacturer's warranty

Bradford White sets different warranty terms depending on whether the unit is installed in a residence or in a commercial application. We tell you in writing, with the quote, which coverage applies to your installation.

Installation of the SS-40-L with your electric boiler, by AirGreen

AirGreen is a family-owned heating and cooling company established in Montreal, active for more than fifteen years and holding RBQ licence 5645-9605-01 (ventilation, refrigeration and electrical). After a free on-site estimate, we give you a written quote. Installation includes:

• assessing the existing boiler: output, set point, zones and circulators;
• choosing the location near the boiler and checking the service clearance;
• draining and removing the old water heater, where applicable;
• connecting the coil to the boiler, supply and return in 1 in. NPT, with the required zone components;
• connecting the domestic cold and hot water in 3/4 in. NPT and installing the relief valve with its discharge line;
• wiring the zone control and setting hot water priority;
• commissioning, purging air from the loop and setting the temperature;
• maintenance advice for the tank and the boiler.

Simple maintenance

A stainless steel indirect tank needs little maintenance. A partial flush once a year, through the brass drain valve, removes the sediment that settles at the bottom. We also check the operation of the relief valve, the tightness of the fittings and the set temperature. Since the tank depends on the boiler, the boiler's annual maintenance is done during the same appointment.

Service area

We work in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Châteauguay, Sainte-Julie, Boisbriand, Saint-Eustache and everywhere on the South Shore and the North Shore. The project can be paid in instalments through our financing.

Request your free estimate for the Bradford White SS-40-L. A photo of your boiler, its nameplate and the available space helps us prepare the visit.