Hydronic heating systems use water to spread heat throughout your home. This is the system underlying some radiant floor heating systems, but they can also be used to heat pools, towel racks, and any other part of your home. Discover how these systems work, their benefits, and how they compare to other heating systems.
How Does a Hydronic Heating System Work?
Hydronic heating systems rely on boilers to start. A high-efficiency boiler will add heat to water. Then, the system will run that hot water through a series of pipes. Those pipes might run beneath your floorboards, in your walls, in your pool, or in your towel holder. Whatever space the water runs through, the heat is released into it. In floors, the heat will naturally rise up and heat the rest of the home. The same principle can be used to heat your whole pool or just the towels on top of the towel rack.
Water holds heat better than air, which helps make this system more efficient. It also makes it smaller, as you need less water than air to hold the same amount of heat, so your hydronic water pipes can be much smaller than your air ducts.
What are the Benefits of a Hydronic Heating System?
There are several advantages of a hydronic heating system:
- Efficiency: Boilers are a highly efficient means of generating heat that doesn’t waste energy.
- No air: Forced-air systems spread allergens, pollutants and dust. Hydronic systems don’t.
- Customizable: A hydronic system can heat a huge range of household things and can be completely personalized to heat the spaces you want.
- Space-saving: Hydronic systems can be built into walls and floors, instead of taking up any of your square footage.
- Hot water: A hydronic system can also supply hot water to your home. As it has a huge capacity, that hot water is almost endless.
- Inexpensive: As they are highly efficient, and don’t require much maintenance, hydronic heating systems are inexpensive to operate.
That said, there are some disadvantages of hydronic systems. Some flooring materials are not suitable for hydronic heating systems, so you must get them replaced. Hydronic systems may require a big investment upfront, as you may need to tear up parts of your home to install the piping.
How Does it Compare to Other Heating Systems?
Compared to most other heating systems, hydronic heating systems are reliable, energy-efficient, space-saving, and convenient. They are also quieter and cleaner because they do not rely on forced air to move the heat through your home. Compared to other heating systems, hydronic heating has huge advantages, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for every home.
Install Hydronic Heating With RB Heating
Are you looking for an alternative method of heating and cooling your home? A hydronic system may work for you and your family. Contact us today to learn more and how this solution may work for you.
Article Updated, 2023.
