Nick wrote:

Thanks Jim,

What I really need is a small unit for an over the garage apartment to
provide heat and enough water for a quick shower and to do the dishes.
If you could spare a few minutes to check if the unit below might work
I'd be very greatful.
The other thing I need to decide is under floor heating or baseboard
heaters? Right now the underside of the floor is open so it would be
easy to staple up the plastic pipe but I'm a little concerned as to
how well this system would work.


For a small area, a gas-fired hot water heater can be employed.
For example, a 40 Gallon, self-contained water heater. The
common heater is vented thru a chimney but if none is available
a "power vent" heater can exhaust thru the wall.
http://www.ho****er.com/resident/gsidewa.htm

If electric rates are low, an electrically-heated tank could be
used as well.

The heated water is circulated on demand by a small circulating pump.
The same water is also available at the tap under pressure.
As long as care is taken to use materials suitable for potable
water, there is no objection to this arrangement.

Jim