All About Hydronic Heating Systems for Your Home

Have you ever been to a home where there was a noticeable difference in the warmth of the floor as opposed to the home that you now live in?   If you have, you  may not have known it , but that particular home probably had radiant hydronic heat.

When you think of radiant heat,  (that is- a heating system within the flooring), you might think of what the electric  conductors that run through the flooring creating that cozy  warmth, but more efficient systems exist and they are "hydronic".

Hydronic systems use a boiler to heat hot water, and a pump to circulate that hot water in flexible plastic tubing installed the floor. Hydronic systems no longer need to be installed ONLY in concrete floors- technology has come a long way.  The pipes, embedded in the floor, carry heated water that conduct warmth to the surface of the floor where it transfers the heat into the room.

The single best  benefit of radiant heating, is that it  provides an outstanding level of comfort due to teh entire floor radiating heat upwards  from the ground in an even and consistent manner.

Properly designed hydronic systems control the surface temperature and air temperature  of a room to maintain optimal comfort.  Hydronic heat emitters, such as radiant floors raise the average surface temperature of these rooms, and since the human body is especially responsive to radiant heat loss, this type of heat significantly enhances comfort.

Low Heat Loss:

Buildings can have significantly different rates of heat loss based on the types of heating systems installed. Buildings with hydronic heating systems have consistently shown lower heating energy use than equivalent structures with forced-air heating systems.
Hydronic systems do not affect room air pressure while operating, but changes  in room air pressure occur when the blower of a forced-air heating system is operating. The increased air pressure in the room most often comes from the lack of an adequate return from the rooms back to the furnace. This condition drives heated air out through every small crack, hole, or other opening in the exterior surfaces of the room.

Cost of Installation will vary  for the size of the home, and its stage of construction- whether or not the home is already built and must be retro-fitted,  in building stages, or just a blueprint on paper. This type of heating system, should be considered as a long term investment, as it is costly.

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