November 14, 2016
What is hydronics?
Hydronics, in simple terms, refers to a central heating system that utilizes hot water to heat your home. It is the most comfortable, versatile, economical and effective heating option available.
These systems are used extensively in Europe where the high cost and limited availability of fuel require homeowners to seek the most economical and effective heating options. The installation of hydronic heating systems is increasing dramatically in North America, as homeowners here realize how comfortable and cost-efficient they can be.
How it works
An efficient gas or oil boiler is used to heat water, which is an excellent conductor of heat. The heated water is circulated throughout the home using your choice of underfloor tubing, slim baseboard radiators, or decorative wall panels that deliver the heat evenly to each room in your home. The water is then returned to the boiler to be re-heated and re-circulated. Because of its physical properties, water releases heat gradually when passed through the radiator in each room. This creates a very comfortable living environment where heat distribution is even and controllable, as there are no fans blowing high volumes of air creating hot and cold spots.
The water loses only a fraction of its warmth as it travels throughout your home, and requires less fuel to reheat it to circulation temperature. With a hydronic system you’ll reduce your fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent. Weather responsive controls, computer sensors and individual room thermostats ensure that your system operates efficiently and provides you with warmth and comfort unmatched by conventional furnaces.
Hydronics offers a number of unique benefits
The same boiler that heats your home can also meet all your family’s domestic hot water requirements.The boiler with tankless coils can accommodate a wide range of domestic hot water needs, from single-family dwellings to various commercial and industrial applications. Optional high-efficiency water heating systems are available for applications that require unusually large amounts of hot water, such as hot tubs and whirlpools. The noiseless operation, underfloor tubes, slim radiators and compact boilers mean the only things you’ll notice about your hydronic system are the comfort and cost savings.
No chimney
Today’s advanced heating equipment is designed to operate with a conventional chimney, or a sidewall venter. Sidewall venting utilizes a quiet mechanical fan to vent the combustion gasses through any convenient exterior wall. These vents provide extremely quiet and reliable operation for years of heating comfort. Sidewall venting is becoming more popular due to its cost savings and installation flexibility.
Virtually limitless domestic hot water
NTI’s oil boilers with tankless coils provide domestic hot water more efficiently than any available separate hot water heaters.
This results in energy savings without the additional capital cost and space for a separate hot water heater. By combining heating loads such as heating and domestic hot water, you effectively reduce the amount of off-cycle losses, thus increasing the system’s overall efficiency.