Frequently Asked Questions about Hydronic Heating

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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hydronic Heating?
Why is consumer interest in Hydronic Heating rapidly growing?
What is the advantage in using plastic tubing in Hydronic installations?
How do I get training for installing Hydronic equipment?
Where do I find out how to service a specific piece of Hydronic equipment?
How can a customer with tile floors in the bathroom and kitchen have warm floors in winter?
How does radiant heating work?
What is a “Radiant-Ready” house?
Can Hydronic Heating be used outside the house?
What about air conditioning in a hydronically-heated home?
How do high-efficiency condensing boilers work?
What are the advantages of acquiring NATE Certification?
Where do I find the sizing specifications for Hydronic equipment?
Is Hydronic Heating more expensive to install than other heating systems?
For what types and sizes of buildings is Hydronic Heating best suited?
Can Hydronic Heating be used in a home that also has other types of heating systems?


Q.
What is Hydronic Heating?
A.
Hydronic Heating systems use a boiler to heat water that is used as the heat transfer medium. The heated water is then circulated to heat distributors located throughout the home. These heat distributors can be radiators, finned tube baseboard, radiant tubing, towel warmers and kick space heaters. The boiler can also be used to indirectly heat domestic water and whirlpool baths and can be used for ice and snow melting on sidewalks and driveways.



Q.
Why is consumer interest in Hydronic Heating rapidly growing?
A.
The reason is that homeowners are demanding comfortable and efficient heating for their homes. Hydronic Heating provides draft-free, quiet, and environmentally clean heat with no hot or cold spots. Furthermore, Hydronic Heating allows each room or area of the home to be zoned separately for substantial energy savings. Hydronic Heating is also energy efficient because it is delivered through completely sealed heat distribution systems with minimal loss of heat.


Q.
What is the advantage in using plastic tubing in Hydronic installations?
A.
The advantage for both the installer and the homeowner is that plastic tubing is easy to install. Tubing is small and flexible, so it can quickly snake between walls, above ceilings, and under floors to the heating distribution points throughout the house. The placement of tubing can be done at the same time the boiler is being installed, making the entire job more speedy and efficient. Only plastic tubing designed and rated for heating applications should be used for hydronic installations.



Q.
How do I get training for installing Hydronic equipment?
A.
Click here for educational opportunities for Hydronic equipment installers, including installation of baseboard, radiator, and radiant heating systems.



Q.
Where do I find out how to service a specific piece of Hydronic equipment?
A.
For servicing specific Hydronic equipment, contact the manufacturer directly. Click here for Hydronic equipment manufacturers that are members of the Hydronics Industry Alliance.



Q.
How can a customer with tile floors in the bathroom and kitchen have warm floors in winter?
A.
Radiant heating is the answer for warm floors in the bathroom, kitchen, and throughout a home. This is a form of Hydronic Heating that sends warm water through extremely durable tubing that is installed in or underneath floors, as well as in walls and ceilings. This luxurious heating comfort dates back to the ancient Romans, who used radiant heating to warm their stone and marble tile floors. Radiant heating is widely used throughout the world and is one of America’s fastest growing forms of home heating.



Q.
How does radiant heating work?
A.
Radiant heating systems circulate warm water through tubing that is installed in floors, walls, or ceilings. This form of Hydronic Heating warms people and objects and not air. Heat flows through the room gently and completely without breezes, hot spots, or cold spots. So radiant heating is not only very comfortable but it is also very efficient. Energy dollars are not wasted to heat empty air space. We can feel nature’s radiant heat on cool days that are sunny. When you walk from the shade into the sunlight, you are immediately warmed by radiant heating from the sun. Radiant heating systems are ideal for new or retrofit applications ranging from single-family homes to large warehouses.



Q.
What is a “Radiant-Ready” house?
A.
The most economical time to include radiant heating is when the house is being built. Many builders today install radiant tubing in the floors, sidewalks, and driveways of homes they are building even if the home buyer does not ask that the radiant heating be hooked up. This makes it a simple and cost-effective matter to switch to the radiant heating system whenever the homeowner wishes.



Q.
Can Hydronic Heating be used outside the house?
A.
Yes. Hydronic Heating can be used for heating swimming pools and whirlpool spas by use of a boiler or pool heater and a heat exchanger. In addition, durable tubing can also be installed in sidewalks and driveways for automatic snow and ice melting, making the area around your home safer, especially for seniors, and eliminating the need for shoveling snow.



Q.
What about air conditioning in a hydronically-heated home?
A.
There are several air conditioning (AC) systems that work well with Hydronic Heating:
High Velocity Mini Duct System: This system transfers air to small (2" inner diameter), round outlets in each room of the home through flexible tubing that weaves in between spaces in the walls, ceilings, or floors. Installation is easy, economical, and nearly unobtrusive.
Split-System Central Air Conditioner: In this system, a condensing unit is installed outside the home and a matching indoor air handler unit or furnace with coil is inside the home. Ductwork transfers the cooled air throughout the home.
Separate Standard Air Conditioning System: Many homeowners choose to install a separate AC system along with their Hydronic Heating system. In a typical installation, a rooftop AC unit sends cool air to the home through small flexible tubing (similar to a High-Velocity AC System), distributed by small vents in the ceilings of each room of the home.



Q.
How do high-efficiency condensing boilers work?
A.
Condensing boilers achieve very high efficiencies by capturing and using heat from the combustion process that would otherwise be wasted. The boiler’s heat exchanger uses the exhaust gases from the combustion process to preheat water as it enters the boiler. In addition, the water vapor produced in the combustion process condenses back into water and also releases heat that is then re-used. Together, these two processes create the high efficiencies associated with condensing boilers. Just as important as the efficiency of the condensing boiler is the efficiency and proper installation of the overall heating system to which the boiler is a component. To achieve maximum efficiency, a total heating system approach is required.

Q.
What are the advantages of acquiring NATE Certification?
A.
North American Technician Excellence, Inc. (NATE) is the leading certification program for technicians in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry and is the only testing process supported by the entire industry. According to NATE, a recent survey from Service Roundtable shows that NATE-certified technicians have fewer callbacks than technicians who aren’t NATE-certified. In addition, when on a warranty call, their expenses are about 30% lower than non-certified technicians—and their billing efficiency is also higher than technicians who aren’t NATE-certified. For details about NATE Certification, click here.



Q.
Where do I find the sizing specifications for Hydronic equipment?
A.
Sizing specifications are available on Hydronic equipment manufacturers’ websites. Click here for Hydronic equipment manufacturers who are members of the Hydronics Industry Alliance. For training on sizing hydronic equipment, click here.



Q.
Is Hydronic Heating more expensive to install than other heating systems?
A.
It may be slightly more expensive to install than other systems. But the high efficiency, extensive zoning capabilities, and unsurpassed comfort of Hydronic systems far outweigh the possible higher initial cost. Hydronic Heating radiant distribution systems are completely sealed, which minimizes loss of heating dollars as the heat is being distributed throughout the home. In addition, Hydronic baseboards, radiators, and radiant tubing can be programmed to continue to deliver heat even when the boiler is not firing. Properly installed radiant flooring systems can deliver superb total-room comfort with a water temperature of as low as 120 degrees F. Homeowners with Hydronic systems report energy cost savings of 30% and more on their heating bills.



Q.
For what types and sizes of buildings is Hydronic Heating best suited?
A.
Hydronic Heating is ideal for any residential home or building. For larger homes, two smaller boilers may be used in sequence, with the second boiler only operating when it’s needed. Larger buildings, such as schools and hospitals, may install multiple boilers operating in sequence.



Q.
Can Hydronic Heating be used in a home that also has other types of heating systems?
A.
Yes. There are Hydronic Heating solutions for converting or supplementing existing warm air or heat pump systems. Installers seeking expert training on these types of installations can click here for training opportunities.