Even in Florida, we are knee-deep in the wintertime. As recently as 2021, the temperature in Tampa went down to 42 degrees Fahrenheit in February, proving that indoor heating is also essential in the sunshine state. Cielo, a brand of Smart climate control products, posted a blog about hydronic heating systems, saying, “People living in areas with shorter heating seasons also use this system on a much smaller scale.”
Hydronic Heating and Hydronic Heating Systems
Hydronic heating refers to distributing heated liquid through tubes that radiate the heat throughout a building. The same blog post from Cielo’s website clearly describes hydronic heating systems: “These systems constitute a heat source and a network of tubes that transport the heated fluid to other parts of your home.” This heating system is often located in a building’s floors, radiators, walls, baseboards, and even towel bars.
How Hydronic Heating Works
Hydronic heating systems function through the processes of conduction and radiation. First, a boiler uses conduction to heat water or another liquid. Please read one of our previous posts to understand better how boilers work. Next, the liquid passes through the pipes of the system, warming up anything it touches, also through conduction. Finally, the heated liquid’s warmth spreads throughout the building’s interior spaces through radiation. For example, a blog posted to the website for InterCounty Supply, a heating, plumbing, and air-conditioning supply house, explains, “Not only will you have a warm room this way, but you can eliminate cold floors on chilly mornings. When the hot liquid reaches the radiator or hydronic baseboard heater, it then radiates the heat from the water throughout the room.”
The Pros and Cons of Hydronic Heating
The alternative to a hydronic heating system is a forced air furnace systems. An article on FirstSupply.com, a company that services the building community, describes how these furnaces work “by blowing heated air into a space to displace cooler air.” The pros of hydronic heating are:
- Reduces allergy symptoms
- Operates quietly
- Does not require adding ductwork, vents, or registers
- Controls different zones of the space more efficiently
- Consumes and uses less energy
- Does not lose heat while traveling through ductwork
- Does not require air filters
- Heats the floors
- Can be incorporated into any area
- Does not dry out the space
According to the InterCounty Supply blog post, “Hydronic heating is an energy-efficient way to provide clean, warm, and comfortable heat through your home.” However, hydronic heating systems do have some advantages. Its cons include:
- Takes longer to heat up
- Not ideal for setting heat back at night
- Baseboard convectors need space
- Costs more to install
- No ductwork for air conditioning
- Lack of ventilation
- Requires careful installation planning
- Involves removing the existing floor
- Not suitable for incorporating into an older structure under renovation
- Hard to access pipes if there is a problem
- Requires maintenance
For more details on the advantages and disadvantages discussed above, please visit the article on FirstSupply.com. Our energy experts will also point you toward the heating product that best fits your home or business. As for the disadvantages, Engineering Energy Equipment will take care of the maintenance and solutions to whatever heating system you choose.
References
https://www.currentresults.com/Yearly-Weather/USA/FL/Tampa/extreme-annual-tampa-low-temperature.php (not referenced, but used)
https://cielowigle.com/blog/hydronic-heating-system/
https://www.icsny.com/blog/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-hydronic-heating
https://www.firstsupply.com/pros-and-cons-of-hydronic-heating
