Hydronic heating is the use of hot water for heating purposes. This can be done several ways: Radiant, Baseboard and Forced-Draft System. Hydronic heating does not dry the air as most forced air heating systems. Therefore Hydronic heat allows you to use lower temperatures and feel comfortable, which saves energy. Hydronic heat is also healthier.
Radiant heating is a series of tubes conducting hot water throughout the floors of your home. Radiant heat allows for zone control, which is the ability to set the thermostat in each area of your home for optimum comfort and efficiency. Radiant heating is usually done during the construction of your home. Retrofitting an existing home for radiant floor heat is more expensive then installing during construction. If interested in retrofitting your home we recommend radiant baseboard or converting your forced air heating system.
Baseboard heating is setting baseboards around your home in various rooms. The baseboards carry hot water through them and warm the area. Baseboard heating is also available for zone control, heating each room or area as desired with a separate thermostat. Baseboard heating is ideal for those individuals who have an already established home and want to take advantage of a Hydronic heating system. Baseboard heaters come in different shapes and sizes.
Forced-Draft blows air over hot water coils placed in the duct work of your new or existing system. The standard forced-draft system does not allow you to take advantage of the zone control concept. A variation of the forced-draft that allows for use of the zone control is the placing of individual radiators with fans in each room, as desired. This variation also takes up less space than most baseboard heaters.
