Understanding Hydronic Heating Systems and How They work

If you’re renovating your home or building a new one, you’ve probably heard of hydronic heating systems and how they’re so great. In this article, we will go through what a hydronic heating system is, how they work, and the pros vs cons.

What is a Hydronic Heating System?

To simplify, hydronic heating systems circulate hot water/glycol through pipes which can be installed and utilized for many applications. You can use the hydronic heating system to heat your floors, your driveway, your domestic water supply, your pool, your central hydronic heating, and more.

The system may seem complicated at first, but once you get the idea of how it works, it really makes sense.

How Does a Hydronic Heating System Work?

The hydronic heating system begins with a heat source, typically a natural gas boiler (or more recently air-to-water heat pumps), which heats the water to a set temperature. The heated water is then circulated through a network of pipes delivering radiant heating. The pipes are closed loops that keep the water/glycol heated ensuring continuous warmth.

The parts of the hydronic heating system vary depending on the application. The system can be used for heated floors, heated driveways, domestic water supply, pool heating, central hydronic heating, and any type of radiant hydronic heating. The hydronic heating system typically consists of one or multiple gas boilers, hydraulic separators, expansion tanks, copper pipes, PEX pipes, heat exchange, circulators/pumps, sensors, glycol and more.

Benefits of Hydronic Heating Systems

Hydronic heating provides many benefits including enhanced comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency. 

Radiant floor heating provides improved air quality and consistent warmth, eliminating cold spots in your home. Radiant floor heating is a common upgrade in newer homes, and can tremendously increase comfort in basements. 

Radiant heated driveways make all the difference during the winter season, especially in a place like Southern Ontario. The convenience of not having to shovel in the morning needs no explaining. The added benefit of keeping your driveway safe from salt and plowing, increasing your driveway’s lifetime is great too.

Beyond the benefits of comfort and convenience, the hydronic heating systems are also typically more efficient than traditional furnaces burning gas through a coil. 

Upfront Cost

The drawback of hydronic heating systems is typically the initial cost of the materials and installation. The system is more complex than your conventional furnace requiring more parts and labor. 

Hydronic Heating Systems

Hydronic heating systems may be more costly, but if you’re willing to spend the extra amount then it can tremendously increase your comfort. These systems are growing in popularity, especially in new constructions and renovations. If you’re looking to have a hydronic heating system installed it is important to pick a team of skilled contractors, as these systems are more complex than your typical HVAC installation. 

If you’re looking for a team of hydronic heating professionals to help you with the design and installation of your next project, get in touch with Eco Mechanical.