MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS FOR HYDRONIC HEATING
There are several possible ways to deliver Hydronic Heating to the rooms and exterior of a home. In fact, the variety of delivery systems is one of the key assets of Hydronic Heating from the designer’s point of view. The most popular Hydronic Heating delivery systems are described below.
Hydronic Heating delivery systems. Please see below for a description of each type of delivery system.
Reproduced from the I=B=R Guide – Residential Hydronic Heating with permission from the Hydronics Institute Division of GAMA.
Baseboard Convector Heaters
(Please see rows 1 and 4 of above graphic)
With baseboard convector heating, hot water is typically circulated silently through copper pipes inside the baseboard unit. The unit is open at the bottom and top to allow gentle convection of air. With baseboard units, closely-spaced aluminum fins are attached to the pipe. Baseboards are placed where the floor meets the walls and can unobtrusively match the décor of the room. As with all Hydronic Heating units, baseboard may be set up for comfortable and efficient zone heating.
Radiators
(Please see row 4 of above graphic)
When there’s a radiator in the room, you are well aware of one of Hydronic Heating’s main advantages – the radiators stay warm long after the heating boiler stops firing. That’s because it takes a while for the hot water circulating through the radiator to cool down. So you continue to get soothing warmth even when the boiler isn’t firing– that translates into greater heating comfort and energy efficiency.
Radiant Heating
(Please see rows 2-4 of above graphic)
Many architects, engineers, and builders are interested in this form of Hydronic Heating because customers who are having homes built – especially high-end custom homes – are increasingly demanding radiant heat. With radiant heating, extremely durable tubing is embedded in or placed under the floors (and sometimes in the walls and ceilings) of a home. This type of heat is especially comfortable for homes with children playing on the floor and people who do not like having cold feet. Hot water flows through this tubing, gently radiating heat evenly throughout the room. An important advantage of radiant heat is that the radiant panel heats objects in the room, rather than heating the room space. Another advantage of radiant heating is that it can be used outside the home to melt snow on driveways and sidewalks for added safety and convenience.
Comparison of ideal floor-to-ceiling temperature profile with profile resulting from radiant floor heating.
Reproduced from the I=B=R Guide – Residential Hydronic Heating with permission from the Hydronics Institute Division of GAMA.
Indirect Water Heaters
(Please see bottom right of the graphic at the top of the page)
The indirect water heater is widely used to deliver plentiful and efficient domestic hot water throughout the home. Boiler water is circulated through a coil in the indirect water heater. This heater stores and then delivers the hot water to wherever it is needed. This is highly efficient because the indirect water heater uses the boiler for its heat and does not require a separate heating source.
Indirect water heater with circulator zoning.
Reproduced from the I=B=R Guide – Residential Hydronic Heating with permission from the Hydronics Institute Division of GAMA.
Hydronics and Air Conditioning
It is quick and easy to install a separate air conditioning (AC) system in a Hydronically Heated home to have both comfortable cooling and heating systems. The architect or engineer has a choice of AC options that are a good match with Hydronic Heating Systems.
- Existing AC Ductwork. If an existing home already has a central air conditioning ducted system, many architects and engineers find the most effective and efficient solution is to retain the separate AC ducted system along with a new Hydronic Heating system. The previous AC equipment may still be serviceable and using existing ducts considerably reduces construction time and costs. A hydronic fan coil in the ductwork may also offer an alternate solution to some specific heating needs.
- Ductless Split Systems. In this system, an outdoor unit containing a condenser and compressor is connected to compact air handlers in the home. Several different types of air handlers are available. Each air handler provides cooling for a specific zone, allowing the occupant to adjust the temperature for his or her comfort, or turn it off completely. The Ductless Split system can be controlled by either a standard wall thermostat or an infra-red hand held control. Ductless Split systems are more efficient and quieter than window air conditioners. What’s more, they do not block the room’s windows.
- High Velocity Systems. These systems have an outside compressor-condenser unit similar to standard ducted air conditioning systems, and may include a heating coil. Inside the home a high velocity fan in the air handler circulates conditioned air to each room. The air is routed through small flexible ducts that can be retrofitted into existing walls or installed during original construction. This is an ideal system for homes with Hydronic Heating systems.
- Other AC Options. Additional choices for air conditioning with Hydronic Heating include equipment using fan coils, valences, heat pumps, and even geothermal energy systems.
- Air Conditioning Systems Offered by HIA Members. To get the facts about specific air conditioning systems offered by members of the Hydronics Industry Alliance, click on the following links:
Crown Boiler Company
www.crownboiler.com
www.crownboiler.com/products/air_conditioners/index.asp
www.crownboiler.com/products /hydronic/index.aspECR International, Inc.
www.enviromaster.com
www.retroaire.com
www.olsenhvac.comHoneywell Corporation
customer.honeywell.comMestek, Inc.
www.spacepak.comPB Heat, LLC
www.pavilionair.com