Hydronic heating is the most comfortable, cost efficient heating choice used in homes and buildings today. It’s versatile, comfortable, and economical. it can be incorporated into any and every style of home, utilising any fuel source. Hydronic heating systems use water as a heat transfer medium and circulate it through tubing in the floors or pipes to radiators and convectors along the walls, to warm the surfaces within the home.
When compared to air, there are many advantages to heating your home using water to experience the ultimate in comfort.
- Surfaces within the space are heated rather than the air itself.
- People feel more comfortable as heat is evenly distributed within each space avoiding hot or cold zones.
- There is less circulation of dust and particles that can cause allergies.
- With no need for duct work, fan noises and stop/start sounds are reduced to promote clean & quiet living.
- It is easy to create zones within your home or building to control the temperature differently according to how you use the space.
- You can control the temperature of your floors to set your optimal level of comfort with radiant floor heating.
- Controls / Thermostats are available, which are designed to keep the temperature at your preferred setting no matter what the outdoor conditions are like. By intelligently adjusting the heating system operation to compensate for indoor and outdoor temperature changes, temperature fluctuations are eliminated. These types of controls enhance the systems ENERGY EFFICIENT status.
HEALTHY
There are no fans blowing around air with Hydronic Heating. This means that this is the best form of heating for allergy sufferers and people who suffer asthma. Hydronic heating heats the surfaces in the room in a passive way, so 24 hours a day you will be able to remain warm and cosy.
SILENT & SAFE
The water flowing through the heating system is between 50C to 80C, which means that they can be safely touched, and in areas frequented by children or elderly persons this temperature can be lowered further. There are no electrical connections or exposed flames, so leaving a child in front of a heater is as safe as it could be.
How does hydronic heating work?
A Hydronic heating system consists of five components:
- The boiler heats water to a thermostatically controlled temperature. Boilers can use natural gas, LPG, Off Peak Electricity or can be wood fired.
- The piping, usually made of copper/plastic or multilayer and carries the heated water from the boiler to radiators/convectors, and back again for reheating.
- A pump circulates the water through the piping.
- Radiators or convectors transfer the heat into the room. (Several types are available).
- A programmable wall thermostats ideally controls the heat levels (or room temperature) to optimise comfort throughout the house.
I have an existing house, is it possible to add hydronic heating?
Yes, most houses can have hydronic heating at any time, however, houses on a concrete slab are more difficult due to lack of access for pipe work.
Is Hydronic heating safe?
Hydronic Heating is safe for elderly people (as it’s radiant heat, it heats people and objects and is perfect heating for those who are not particularly mobile), children and pets (no circulation of dust and allergens). There is no danger of burns or scalding as the system is fully enclosed with radiator temperatures well below boiling point. The surface temperature of a radiator can be quite hot to touch however, so care should be taken with any individual who may not be able to adequately feel surface temperature and react when coming into contact with the radiator. The surface temperature of natural convectors is pleasantly warm to touch not ever achieving the much higher surface temperature of a radiator and is, therefore, a safe alternative if required.
How much does it cost to install hydronic heating?
To install Hydronic heating with radiators the approximate cost is currently around $1,000.00 – $1,300.00 per radiator fully installed including the cost of a boiler in an average size home (variance depends on the difficulty of installation, individual specifications and size of each home). To install Hydronic slab heating the approximate cost is currently around $56.00 per square metre single pour not including the cost of the boiler. $100.00 per square metre for a double pour (structural pour then screed poured) not including the cost of the boiler.
What makes hydronic heating so economical to operate?
A high efficiency boiler is used to heat water which is then circulated throughout the system by a small pump. Each area can be individually controlled so only the amount of heat needed is used.
Is there any benefit to insulation?
As with all heating, insulation improves the effectiveness by reducing heat loss through walls and ceilings. The boiler is not running as often for a given output, thus saving fuel bills.
What is the EN442 standard? Why is it so important?
WHY THE REFERENCE STANDARD EN442? This measuring standard puts an end to the large number of different values that have previously been used, and provides an accurate reference for comparing different appliances. The 75/65/20 system has been chosen for this reference value. This is a realistic starting point for choosing an appliance that provides sufficient heat with a low water temperature. On exceptionally cold days the water temperature may increase slightly, but for most of the heating season it will be much lower. Obviously this fixed reference level is not always used in practice. Therefore, we are also continuing to give the values for the traditional 90/70/20 system, obviously calculated according to the guidelines of the new EN442 standard.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: This highlights the inconsistencies between different manufacturer’s radiator outputs (based on DELTA T 60°C) not being the same, or even close to the same. IE: (radiators not manufactured and measured to EN442 standard but manufactured and measured under the old out-dated DIN standard, will show inflated outputs by comparison). If radiators are not manufactured and measured to the new EN442 standard the outputs claimed can only be misleading and inflated. Don’t be fooled – as the old saying goes “compare apples with apples”.
REST ASSURED: All radiators brought into Australia and sold by Australian Hydronic Supplies are manufactured to the new EN442 standard in keeping with our commitment to supply only the best quality designed and manufactured products.