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Hydronic heating
Hydronic heating uses hot water to provide whole home heating.

What is hydronic heating?

Hydronic heating uses hot water to provide whole home heating. If used wisely, it can be an economical and highly effective form of central heating. In most hydronic systems, the water is heated in a boiler, and then pumped through piping to panel radiators or convectors positioned in each room. Heat is transferred directly from these to the room air. In-slab (floor coil) systems are also available. In these, the heated water is pumped through piping laid in a concrete slab floor during its construction. Heat is released into the slab, and subsequently into the room. Details of these systems are outlined in the following pages.

How does it work?

A hydronic system consists of four components: 1. The boiler heats water to a thermostaticallycontrolled temperature. Boilers use natural gas, LPG, off-peak electricity or solid fuel*. 2. The piping, usually made of copper (occasionally plastic), carries the heated water from the boiler to radiators/convectors or into the slab, and back again for reheating. 3. A pump circulates the water through the piping. 4. Radiators or convectors transfer heat to the room. Several types are available.
* Some solid fuel-fired boilers may use natural gas or LPG as a back-up.
panel radiator

What are the advantages?

Benefits of hydronic heating include: Individual control valves to each panel allow individual rooms or zones* to be heated independently, enabling running costs to be substantially lowered. Panel radiators can provide effective heating for rooms with higher ceilings (details on which radiator types are suitable for areas with high and low ceilings are discussed over the page). There is no dust circulation and air movement with silent radiant heat distribution (unless using fan convectors). Flexibility as further radiators or convectors can be added to a system as required, provided there is adequate boiler capacity. Response time is generally good, and you will feel warm within 30 minutes. Low maintenance requirements. The proven effectiveness of hydronic heatingit has been widely used in Europe for almost a century.
* A zone is a group of rooms used for a similar purpose. For instancethe kitchen, living, dining and family rooms constitute the living zone; bedrooms the sleeping zone; and bathrooms, toilet and laundry the service zone in typical homes.

boiler pump
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Components of a hydronic heating system

Panel radiators
Panel radiators are generally made of pressed steel or cast iron panels mounted on walls, through which the water is circulated. Heat is given off to room air by natural convection and direct radiation. The panels can be installed in both new homes and existing homes with timber floors. Individual panels can be controlled independently, so you can heat individual rooms or the whole house. Panels should last indefinitely if maintained and serviced according to manufacturers instructions.

Features to look for

Skirting board convectors
Skirting board convectors are long, low units, installed in place of conventional skirting boards. Heat is given off primarily by natural convection, as cooler air enters near the base of the unit, is warmed, and rises out through a top opening. Skirting board convectors may be useful where wall space is limited, or if panels are considered incompatible with the decor. Units with individual control valves should be installed to maximise comfort and efficiency. They are unsuitable for use in rooms with high ceilings, or in draughty areas. To ensure even heat distribution, skirting convectors should only be installed on external wallsnever on internal walls. If using a gas-fired system, choose a low water content boiler. Storage boilers have slightly higher running costs due to continual standing heat loss from their tanks. Low water content boilers should be manufactured from a lightweight metal such as steel or copper. Avoid cast iron or similar heavyweight materials. Choose panels with a low water content. This improves response time and reduces energy use. Response timepressed steel panels have a faster response time than cast iron panels, and are around 1015 minutes quicker in heating a room. All piping should be well insulated to guard against heat loss. Materials such as Armaflex, Bradflex or Insulzip of at least 10 mm thickness should be usedordinary pre-lagged copper pipe is insufficient.
A thermostat should be installed in the main living area (usually the family room). This should be located on an internal wall in an area free of draughts, and away from sources of direct heat, such as system panels or direct sunlight. Programmable thermostats give a higher degree of control than conventional types. Skirting board convector

Fan convectors
Fan convectors are installed on a wall. These units incorporate a fan to blow hot air into the room. As they are smaller than panel radiators, they are especially suitable where wall space is limited, but should only be used in well-insulated rooms with low to moderate ceiling heights. Fan convectors should be fitted with a temperature-limiting valve to enable heat output to be controlled.

Panels in other rooms should have individual valves, allowing rooms to be heated independently. Individual room heating can substantially lower running costs. Thermostatic valves are generally recommended, especially in rooms that gain heat from other sources such as direct sunlight. Increased comfort levels are achieved as desired temperatures are maintained. Consider mounting an insulating board on any uninsulated walls behind panels to reduce heat loss. Up to 30% of heat produced can be lost through such walls. Thin foil board or foil alone is practical and economical.

Good overall system design is critical and should be done by a professional with experience in designing hydronic systems. Only heat the rooms you are in or will immediately use and not your whole house unless necessary. At night, turn the system off or set the thermostat to less than 12C. Maintain the thermostat on the lowest comfortable temperature (1820C in living areas). Bedrooms, studies, halls and other infrequently-used areas should be heated to a maximum of 1618C.

The approximate proportions of radiant and convective heat from the different types of panels are as follows:
Diagram No. Type of panel Radiant output (%) Convective output (%)

Single panel radiator Double panel radiator Triple panel radiator Convector panel

70

30

50

50

What type of panels?

Although known as panel radiators, panels provide both radiant and convective heat output. Radiant heat is emitted from hot surfaces and heats objects in a room directly, but does not directly warm the room air. Convective heat comes from air being warmed and circulated around a room. In general, consider maximising the amount of radiant heat output if you have higher ceilings (3.0 metres or above). A higher proportion of radiant heat also tends to maximise the comfort of room occupants. The following diagram shows the different types of hydronic panels which are available:

30

70

100

What fuel should I use?

If you live in an urban area, the cheapest fuel is natural gas. Solid fuel is an option, but is only more economical if it is available at little or no cost ($60 per tonne or less). If natural gas is not available, the cheapest fuel is generally solid fuel. However, intensive labour is required to keep the boiler operating effectively. LPG is an option in areas without natural gas, but is more than two and a half times more expensive, depending on where you live.

Types of hydronic panels

Can I use my hydronic heating system to supply domestic hot water?

Many hydronic heating boilers are also able to provide domestic hot water. These are often referred to as combination boilers. Generally, providing hot water will add approximately $400 $500 to the cost of a low water content boiler and up to $900 to the cost of a storage boiler. Hydronic systems provide instantaneous domestic hot water, similar to that produced by continuous flow hot water systems, but are generally less efficient for this purpose than most domestic hot water systems.

What about solar?

Solar hot water systems can be used to provide hot water for your hydronic system. These combination systems are now commercially available. Solar power is also the most environmentally-friendly fuel source as it does not contribute to greenhouse pollution.

The information in this document is derived from various sources and is understood to be correct at the time of publication. However, the information may not be error free and may not be appropriate for a particular purpose. The Sustainable Energy Authority accepts no liability whatsoever to any person for any injury, loss or damage that may arise in connection with any use or reliance on the information. June 2004