THERMO 2000 BuffMax BUFF50-2NPT-HRZ-HC Buffer Tank (50 gallons)

One tank for winter hot water and summer chilled water

An air-to-water heat pump can heat a house in January and cool it in July, provided the water loop keeps up. The Thermo 2000 BuffMax BUFF50-2NPT-HRZ-HC buffer tank was designed for this dual use: its HC code means it accepts heating water as well as chilled water. With 50 US gallons, it gives the source a comfortable reserve and also acts as a hydraulic separator between the heat pump and the distribution.

Designed for an air-to-water heat pump that heats and cools

In a house heated with water, the fan coils, the radiant floor and the zones do not all need the same amount of water at the same time. The BUFF50 absorbs these differences. The heat pump fills the tank through two 2 in NPT connections on one side; the distribution draws water through the two connections on the other side. Thermo 2000 recommends the BuffMax for heat pump systems, low-mass boilers and multi-zone systems, three situations that come up often in projects converting to hot-water heating.

The same reasoning applies to an electric boiler that serves both a radiant floor and fan coils. The tank keeps the boiler from switching on for a few minutes every time a single zone calls for heat.

What to know about the location

The tank is 63 1/2 inches high and 22 inches in diameter. In a bungalow in Longueuil or a townhouse in Montreal, we first check the path to the mechanical room: door widths, the basement stairs, space around the side connections. The adjustable legs then level the tank on the concrete.

The 2-inch HFC-free polyurethane insulation limits heat loss to 1/2 °F per hour, according to the manufacturer. The tank accepts a maximum working pressure of 150 psi and a maximum temperature of 121 °C (250 °F). It comes with a 1/2 in ball valve and automatic air vent, a 2 1/2 in temperature and pressure indicator, an immersion well and a 3/4 in drain valve. It is never connected to drinking water or to an atmospheric system: it is a closed-loop tank.

With AirGreen, from estimate to commissioning

We install the BuffMax with electric boilers and air-to-water heat pumps, in Laval, on the South Shore, on the North Shore and throughout Greater Montreal. The on-site estimate is free and the quote is written. On installation day, we set the tank, connect the source side and the distribution side, place the sensor in the immersion well, then fill, purge and commission the loop. If the house later moves to chilled-water cooling, the tank stays in place.

AirGreen is a family business established in Montreal for more than 15 years, holding RBQ licence 5645-9605-01 (ventilation, refrigeration and electrical). Thermo 2000 warrants the tank for 5 years, including chilled-water use on the HC version, and the mechanical parts for 2 years, under its terms.

Let’s prepare your four-season loop

Tell us which air-to-water heat pump or electric boiler you have, or the one you are considering: we confirm whether the BUFF50 is the right size. Free estimate and financing available.