A smart heating system – efficient hot water generation with fireplace ambiance

FAQ Water-bearing fireplaces

• What is the difference between a water-bearing system stove and a water-bearing system fireplace?

  Water-bearing system fireplaces feature large viewing windows and emit plenty of radiant heat directly into the room. They heat up quickly and create a strong fire atmosphere – ideal for larger living spaces or new builds, where excess heat is transferred to the heating system.

  Water-bearing system stoves, on the other hand, focus on heating water generation. Up to 70% of the heat is transferred into the heating system – perfect when the stove is intended to actively contribute to heating the building and relieve the central heating system.

• How can water-bearing fireplaces be combined smartly?

  BRUNNER heating systems don’t just work on their own – they also perform excellently as a team. With our unique BRUNNER Heating Centre (BHZ), it is possible to integrate all energy producers and consumers into one system. This makes it easy – and highly efficient – to combine a water-bearing fireplace, for example, with a wood boiler, a gas boiler or an oil heating system.

  A particularly effective combination is a water-bearing fireplace together with a heat pump. While the latter tends to deliver less performance on very cold days, a water-bearing fireplace can provide the necessary balance. Working as a team, it helps the home’s heat pump compensate for weak phases and ensures maximum efficiency.

• How does the legislator assess water-bearing fireplaces and wood-burning appliances?

  In all European countries except Germany, water-bearing heating systems are welcomed as CO₂-reducing heating solutions and in some cases are heavily subsidized. In Germany, however, the rule is that water-bearing fireplaces and tiled stoves are considered secondary systems. This means that a conventional heat source such as oil, gas, a heat pump or electricity must be present and operated together with a water-bearing single-room appliance. If a water-bearing fireplace or tiled stove is installed as the sole heating system, it is classified as central heating rather than as a single-room appliance. As a result, it becomes subject to repeated inspection requirements by the chimney sweep.

  For combinations with a larger thermal or photovoltaic solar system, separate calculation certificates are required in order for the system to be classified as a “main heating system.” User behavior is generally not taken into account by the legislator. These regulations apply only to new installations, not to existing water-bearing fireplaces and tiled stoves. During the initial inspection, the chimney sweep verifies compliance with the requirements. We therefore recommend clarifying your construction project with the chimney sweep in advance, since the interpretation of the 1st BImSchV can vary between federal states.

• Water-bearing fireplace or water-bearing stove?

  This is essentially a simple decision, based on personal taste and the desired type of heat, and it should be made right at the beginning.

  • A water-bearing fireplace is chosen when large glass formats and classic fireplace atmosphere are desired.
  • If the appliance is intended to heat the installation room with pleasant radiant warmth (“tiled stove effect”), then water-bearing tiled stoves are the solution.

  Only in the second step is the heating insert selected. Here, the building’s heating requirements and the size of the installation room are key decision criteria for the planner. BRUNNER’s wide range of water-bearing heating inserts ensures that the ideal solution can almost always be found—whether with a fireplace or a tiled stove.

• How can I benefit from a water-bearing system?

  For the user, the process is exactly the same: you light your fireplace and enjoy quick, comforting warmth along with a spectacular fire. At the same time, the energy that is produced anyway is fed into the domestic hot water system and used as efficiently as possible. Light the fire once and benefit twice: enjoy the fire’s atmosphere and save real money. Especially in the transitional seasons, one or two burns per day are often enough to supply the heating system with sufficient hot water—without the need for the main heating system.

• What is a water-bearing fireplace?

  A fireplace is the modern alternative to an open fire when it comes to heating as efficiently as possible while still creating an attractive atmosphere. A water-bearing fireplace, also called a fireplace boiler, takes this a step further – the wood fire at home becomes part of the heating system. Highly engineered components ensure that the fireplace’s energy is used to produce hot water.