Hydronic Heating
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Hydronic Heating Edmonton
One of the products that Hinse Brothers Mechanical is very proud to offer their clients is hydronic heating.
While many people are quite familiar with forced air systems to heat and cool their homes, complete with furnaces, air conditioning units and a series of ducts and vents, hydronic heating uses water as a heat transfer medium, making it possible to heat individual rooms or entire homes quickly and efficiently without the use of forced air.
The reason why homeowners might want to install hydronic heating Edmonton in their home, is because the radiant heating is quiet – virtually noiseless, energy efficient which helps reduce your utility bills all while reducing your environmental impact. Because of these reasons, hydronic heating Edmonton is growing in popularity quite quickly, and Hinse Brothers Mechanical is your local expert in this area.
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How Hydronic Heating Works
Many people ask Hinse Brothers Mechanical how hydronic heating works. While many people understand how forced air systems work – they move warm or cool air into a room, which raises or lowers the temperature accordingly. But hydronic heating isn’t just another way to heat a home, it’s actually more effective than forced air systems. Combine that with being virtually silent, more effective and using less energy, and it’s a winning combination.
It works by circulating water around the home through a network of sealed pipes. The heated water then heats the room by radiating the heat through underfloor heating systems, wall mounted radiators or convectors. In residential applications, Hinse Brothers Mechanical usually recommend underfloor heating systems. Since the heat is radiant, instead of forced air that simply moves air around. Hydronic heating heats the objects in the room, and the end result is a balanced distribution of heat.
Types of Hydronic Heating Edmonton
This will be one of the first decisions to make, and the experts at Hinse Brothers Mechanical will explain each one to you, based on where you would like the system to be located. In Edmonton, one of the most popular types of hydronic heating is radiant floor heat – who likes stepping onto a cold floor from a warm bed? As well as outdoor hydronic heat, we will listen to your needs, and explain every step of the way.
The essential elements of hydronic heating systems can be broken down into:
- The Boiler – which is simply a way of heating the water.
- The Heat Transfer System – which can use any of these options: convectors, radiators, or underfloor heating systems. However, homeowners who are putting in their own system usually opt for the underfloor heating system as it is economical, and often, the easiest to install.
- The Pump – which is what disperses the heated water through the piping
- The Piping – made up of different types of materials, from plastic, to composite and even copper. A network of these joined pipes is built, joining up to the boiler, and going around to each room in the house, and then return to the boiler in order to be reheated. Most residential hydronic heating systems will have the piping built in the floor.
- The Thermostat – the way you can control the temperature in each room of the home. As you move the temperature dial to a warmer temperature, the boiler starts to heat the water, which will then disseminate to the room that needs additional heat, or to the entire house.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hydronic Heating Edmonton
Is Hydronic Heating Safe?
This is a common question, and everyone is excited to learn that hydronic heating is in fact a very safe way to heat your home. First, homeowners should keep in mind that the water used is heated well below boiling point, and all parts of the heating system is not hot enough to burn. Which puts the minds of parents with small children, or families who live with their elders at ease.
In addition to being very safe, it’s a hypoallergenic system, since it does not depend on forced air to heat or cool your home. Which means dust, pet dander, pollen, fungus, pollutants and other allergens or will also not be circulated throughout your home either. If you or other family members have allergies or sensitivities, it makes a lot of sense to upgrade to a hydronic heating system.
Is Hydronic Heating Efficient?
While there are benefits to both a forced air system and a hydronic heating system, hydronic heating is far more efficient than forced air efficiency. According to recent studies, hydronic systems can be 70 to 90% more efficient than forced air systems, simply because water is a better heat conductor than air. Therefore, you will achieve the temperature you prefer quicker, and the heat will last longer, helping you run your heating system less frequently and for a shorter period of time. It is also important to ensure your home is well insulated, as that will help the radiant heat last longer.
Is Hydronic Heating Cost Effective?
As mentioned above, since hydronic heating systems are more efficient than forced air systems, the boiler works less often to heat the water, and doesn’t have to work as long to bring the room to the preferred temperature. The result is lower utility bills. While there is a greater start up cost to hydronic heating compared to a forced air system, the savings you get in the long run with lower utility bills and a warmer home has so many homeowners making the switch, especially since Hinse Brothers Mechanical are not only experts in hydronic heating but in retrofitting the system in pre-existing builds already.
Can Hydronic Heating Be Used To Cool My Home As Well?
This is an extremely common question, since many people are so familiar with a furnace and air conditioner duo that heats and cools their home. But it’s great to know that hydronics can be used to cool the home as well. When it’s a hot day, and you want to cool off, where do you go? Just sitting by a pool or a lake can cool you off! And that’s precisely how hydronics can cool your home too. When cold water is piped through the system, heat is removed very efficiently from the space, whether you want to cool down one specific room, or the whole house.
Can I install Hydronic Heating Myself?
While the principals of hydronic heating Edmonton might be easy to understand, it takes a lot of skill to build a great system that is efficient and works perfectly. Not only do you need a fairly complex configuration of pipes going from the boiler, around to every room in the house, and then return back to the boiler. You must be diligent to ensure that every inch will not leak, the proper insulation needs to be in place in every room. While it may seem like a great DIY project, home owners should keep in mind that if they need to call in the experts to fix their project, it will cost more than it would to hire Hinse Brothers Mechanical in the first place.