Why Hydronic Central Heating?

Hydronic heating is the most pleasant form of central heating, which as the name suggests, works on re-circulating heated hot water.
 

The water is circulated from the boiler into radiators, underfloor pipework or convectors located appropriately throughout the house. 
 

The size and type of radiators and/or convectors determine the amount of heat required.

  
There are many reasons for the popularity of hydronic systems:

Pleasant - Hydronic heating provides warmth the way nature does by natural convection and radiation and does not dry out the air by burning or cause unpleasant draughts, hot spots and noise.

Efficient - Water is a very low cost effective heat exchange medium. Correctly adjusted, boilers achieve high efficiency in both combustion and delivery of heat to the area it is wanted.

Non-allergenic - It is non-allergenic. With radiators, underfloor and natural convectors there is no forced air circulation that can accumulate dust and allergens and distribute them throughout the house.

Safe - Hydronic heating is safe for all, there is no danger of a burn or scald as the system is fully enclosed with radiator temperatures well below boiling point.

Control - Each radiator, convector or floor zone can be individually controlled, providing the ultimate in comfort for every room. Living areas can be warmer than bedrooms. Unused rooms can be switched off or kept at a lower temperature by just turning a knob.

Silent - One of the nicest features of hydronic heating is its silence. Anyone used to the noise of wall heaters, space heaters, heat pumps and some fan forced ducted units will be amazed and delighted by the silence. The boiler is away from the room, so there is no blast of hot air or fan noise. From the time you turn it on, there is no sound, just pleasant warmth.

Domestic Hot Water - Boundless hot water for bathing and laundering reducing the need for other external energy sources.

Flexible  - Warmth carried by water can be delivered to the heated space by radiators (old and new), floors (in floor pipework), overhead panels and fan convectors, plus supply heated pools, spas, green houses and more. Zone control uses thermostats and valves to separate the home into individually controlled areas. This provides cost savings by not having to heat the entire house and allows the flexibility of differing comfort levels throughout the home.

Hydronic heating is also modular. Once a boiler of appropriate size is installed, you are able to add more heated areas as required. If you build an extension, or renovate, you simply plumb in the new components.

Heat Storage - Energy contained in hot water is easy to store then access.

Reliable - Hydronic heating is very reliable, beside the pump and a few components within the boiler there are no moving parts. Boilers and pumps are designed to withstand the ravages of time. Properly treated a closed system should far outlast most other forms of heating.

Compared to ducted warm air systems, circulated hot water heating

• Gives a more efficient and more economical performance, 1kg of air carries a quarter of the heat and occupies over 800 times the volume of 1kg of water. 
   
• Provides a more even, less fluctuating temperature than warm-air systems. 
   
• Will not dry out the interior air as much. 
   
• Will not introduce any dust, pollen, allergens, mould, or (in the case of a faulty heat exchanger) combustion by-products into the living space.

Additional advantages over refrigeration cycle systems (heat-pumps) include:

• Optimum performance whatever the outside temperature.
   
• Silent operation of within the living space.
   
• Lower initial and servicing costs.