If you have ever spent a winter in Canada, you will be all too familiar with sub-zero temperatures. While the summers are quite mild, the winters can be long, dark and cold. When the mercury drops below a certain level, there is nothing else for it but to switch on the heating system and ride it out.
But while central heating systems do a good job of heating your living space to a comfortable temperature, it does have some limitations. It is not very energy-efficient, does not provide much control in terms of zoning and can be noisy to run. If these drawbacks turn you off, you may want to consider a new option: hydronic heating.
In this article, we take you through the A-to-Z of hydronic heating and why it might be a suitable choice for your home.
What Is Hydronic Heating?
Hydronic heating systems are quite different from traditional central heating. Instead of heating air and circulating it through a building, they heat the house using water that is transported through a network of pipes. While these pipes are usually laid under the floor, they can also be installed in wall cavities or in ceilings. The scope for different piping configurations is essentially endless.
Hydronic heating systems usually use a one or several tank-type water heaters which are connected to loops of flexible plastic tubing. When heated water is pumped through the piping to strategically-placed heat emitters, it transmits heat, warming up the indoor environment of a building or room. In many cases, a hydronic heating system can be fitted so that it uses the same boiler that is used to service the household’s other hot water requirements.
The Benefits of Hydronic Heating
Eco-Friendly and Energy-Efficient
It is a fact that water retains heat much more efficiently than air. Since hydronic heating focuses on heating water in underfloor pipes rather than constantly churning out warm air, it tends to hold some serious energy-efficiency benefits over conventional central heating systems. In fact, hydronic systems are so efficient that you can bank on them saving you up to 70 percent of the cost of heating your home. This is not only friendly on your wallet, but it is also good news for the planet too.
Superior Comfort
One of the biggest benefits of hydronic heating is that it provides a superior level of comfort over conventional central heating. This is because hydronic systems not only effectively heat the air, but they also work to heat up the furniture and surfaces of objects in a room from the ground up. This makes for a much more natural-feeling of warmth and coziness, and also cuts down on drafts and chills. Why continue to put up with cold bathroom tiles – with hydronic heating, your tiles will always be pleasantly warm underfoot.
Zoning Possibilities
Central heating systems are designed to keep all areas of a home at a constant temperature, not leaving much scope for flexibility. One the other hand, hydronic heating systems offer a far greater degree of control. Using a series of remotely controlled valves that can be opened and closed at the press of a button, they give the option of changing the temperatures of the different areas and rooms of the house. This can be useful, for example, in cases where some of the inhabitants like to sleep in temperatures that are warmer than others. This increased control can also be used to lower the temperatures in rooms that are unoccupied to save energy.
Low-Profile and Discreet
Anybody who has had a furnace-powered central heating system will know that they can be quite noisy. While many people get used to the noise, others miss the sound of silence. This is where hydronic systems are great – they are completely silent! Not only this, but other than the slightly surprising warmth that you will feel underfoot if you walk around barefoot, you will not even notice that the house has a heating system. No vents, no ductwork, no nothing!
Design Flexibility
Since the tubing used in hydronic heating systems is flexible, it can be installed in a wide variety of places. As well as under floorboards and sunken into concrete or under tiled flooring, the pipes can also be installed in walls and even in ceilings – the list of options are endless. We have seen some installations where the same system used in the hydronic heating is routed to the pool and the tiles around the pool to heat them up as well!
Clean
One of the major complaints that people have with central air conditioning comes when the air that they produce causes dry throats or carries an unpleasant odor with it. In addition to this, the ductwork used to transport warm air around the building is prone to collecting dust, pet hair and other particles that are known to set off allergies or cause asthma when not cleaned regularly. With a hydronic heating system, you will not have to deal with any of these issues.
Reliable
Hydronic heating systems represent an extremely reliable means of heating a home. When installed correctly with quality materials and components, they tend to break down far more infrequently than central heating systems that depend on a furnace. Not only this, but they also require a lot less maintenance. You will not have to change filters or worry about the pilot flame going out. Once installed, there are so few things that can go wrong that the system will be capable of heating your house for many years without the need for servicing.
Whether you are looking for a hydronic heating system, a new boiler or a tankless water heater near Vernon BC, Auger Plumbing & Heating has the service you need. Contact us today for a free no-obligation consultation.
