[Xringer]

Originally Posted by vtec-e

Xringer, you may find this helpful:recuperator
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry...pdfs/38852.pdf
Recuperator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I'm dying to try this out and am currently on a search mission for suitable materials to make this. Maybe you have easier access to scrap and a fully functional workshop??

ollie

I've considered using heat-pipes into my boiler exhaust, but was a bit worried
that if I take out too much heat, will I have enough draft in the chimney?

Anyways, I just saw this AirTap Heat pump thing the other day and found it very
interesting.
Energy Saving Electric Water Heater | Airgenerate.com | Adaptive Energy Solutions

It uses the scavenger method just to pull the heat out of the warm
air floating around in your basement. (and acts as a dehumidifier).

AND then, I read somewhere that the guts of the AirTap is basically a lot like
the guts inside my $79 Walmart window AC unit...

Wait just a second! Yeah, it's a heat pump! How hard would it be to
build one like the AirTap to get hot water, if you already had a 5000 BTU AC unit??
How hard would it be to make a chimney scavenger work with the DIY heat pump..
(Instead of using the geo-thermo of your 50 degree basement)..

It would exhaust a blast of cold air.. which you might not want in the winter.
But, that might be useful in the summer..
Selective venting would work..