Advantages of Installing Hydronic Heating in Home

With the increased awareness of wide range of benefits, these days the Hydronic heating systems are extensively used for new and self-build projects, extensions, dwellings, or buildings. Water is one of the most crucial aspects for heating in this process. Hence, it can be linked to any heat source from a regular, operating boiler or one of the new, sustainable technologies like solar thermal energy and heat pumps. The system is laid under the floor coverings and is nicely concealed. One of the primary advantages of this system is that it does not take up a lot of floor space. This type of heating solution is suitable for all kinds of floor finishes like ceramic, engineered and solid wood, laminate, stone and vinyl.

Hydronic Heating

Choosing the Hydronic heating system

The choice of the type of the hydronic heating system is based on two main factors: The subfloor type and the finished flooring you have chosen.

The subfloors are typically divided into three major types:

• Timber Suspended & Battened Floors
• Floating Floors
• Screed & Concrete Floors, including structural concrete floors

Almost any type of flooring can be fixed above the hydronic heating system, but it is definitely better to check with the manufacturer of the floor in order to understand the probability of the heating system. If the house is made up of tiles, a rigid base to prevent the cracking of the tiles should be used. A concrete-based subfloor can withstand any kind of system; however, if you use timber flooring then extra layers of subfloors need to be used in order to ensure rigidity.

The advantages are listed below under the types of hydronic heating used across the world.

1. In-slab, ‘Kiwi’, Hydronic heating

• This is the most commonly used central heating systems across the homes. On polystyrene, pipes are laid or the same pipes are attached to a reinforcing mesh and insulation. These slabs are made of concrete that come in 100-150mm in thickness.

• Advantages

• This heating system is easy to install and relatively inexpensive to maintain as well.
• These heating systems come with a large thermal mass which enables them to retain large amounts of heat.
   

2. European screed Hydronic heating

• This type of hydronic heating system is typically 50mm thick and contains a lower thermal mass when compared to the In-slab system.

• Advantages

• This system is insulated from outside of the building and the rest of the building can operate with high efficiency, low losses, and quicker response to controls.
•  This system can be retrofitted if the existing floor is very strong and the elevated level of the floor is satisfactory.

3. Metal plate timber floor system

• Plates made up of alloys are placed under timber floor panels or floor boards. Since the pipes clipped onto the plates, the heat flows away from the pipes; the plates facilitate this flow. Insulation is placed under the pipes and plates.
• Advantages
• The primary advantage of this system is that this system heats the timber floors without elevating floor level in new or existing buildings.

Hydronic Heating

Can hydronic heating be used with radiators on the same system? 

Hydronic heating and radiators are often used in the same system. These kinds of systems are typically seen in the bedrooms with radiators, living areas, kitchens, and bathrooms.

This can be easily accomplished with the help of a boiler as this can raise the temperature by supplying hot water to the radiators. The temperature of the floor can be raised through the thermostatic valve and lower the temperature of the water flowing into the floor.

Hydronic Heating

If a heat pump needs to be used, it needs to be with specification that can run at a lower temperature or two heat pumps need to be used, one for the high temperature model for the radiators and one to run at a lower temperature.

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