Why Hydronic Heating?
Quiet Comfort
Hydronic heating systems offer superior comfort over alternative methods including forced air systems. Comfort is the primary consideration. Not only do hydronic systems provide superior comfort but they do it in complete silence.
Energy Efficient
Water is a better conductor than air.
Hydronic systems do not affect room air pressure like forced air systems can. Forcing air into the room can drive conditioned “air” through cracks or openings (windows/doors etc.) resulting in over 20% more heat loss when compared to a hydronic system. This alone can result in increased energy consumption of up to 30%.
Stratification in forced air systems is another efficiency pitfall. Warm air has a natural tendency to rise while cooler air settles to the floor level or occupied space resulting in greater heat loss. Hydronic systems transfer heat through radiation which reduces the potential for stratification and keeps the conditioned air in the occupied space.
Hydronic systems are easily customized by “zoning”. Zoning allows for custom control of each individual room (zone) and allows areas to be maintained at different temperatures. This is done through the use of zone valves and thermostats which are easily incorporated into a hydronic heating system.
Today’s high efficiency condensing boilers also are “outdoor reset” capable. Systems are now designed to use outdoor reset which adjusts the boiler supply water temperature relative to the outdoor reset temperature settings. As the temperature drops, the boilers automatically increase the supply water temperatures, as the temperature increases the boilers automatically decrease their supply water temperatures keeping the systems operating at peak efficiency.
Indoor Air Quality
Hydronic system heat emitters use natural conduction and radiation without the use of forced air distribution resulting in minimal movement of dust and other potential pollutants in the air resulting in a much cleaner environment especially for those with allergies or sensitivity to dust.
Application Flexibility
Modern residential hydronic systems now utilize ultra-high efficiency boilers with integrated domestic hot water heaters eliminating the need for a separate hot water storage tank. These space saving “combi” units now offer both space-heating and semi-instantaneous hot water supply in one small wall-hung packaged unit. Their small footprint and ease of installation allow for better use of your living space at minimal cost.