Radiant & Hydronics

RSS

Last week, we did a simple oil to gas steam boiler replacement. The customer (Mike) has been a family friend of my parents for more than 60 years. Mike’s grandfather built the house back in the 1920s. The home is currently occupied by Mike’s daughter and her two teenage grandchildren.

Heating contractors attended the event to learn about high-efficiency heating equipment, including the Ambient Air-to-Water Heat Pump, Citadel commercial condensing boiler, Alta self-adaptive boiler, and the Ambient electric boiler.  

The award is presented every two years to a nominee with attributes including technical mastery and a passion for hydronic technologies, demonstrated leadership as an educator and mentor, and an aptitude for cultivating fundraising opportunities for industry causes.

In 1986, I installed a 1.5-ton geothermal heat pump in my home using two 500-foot horizontal HDPE earth loops. After digging a trench, I connected the loops to the pump and opted for a 2 HP swimming pool pump to fill and flush the system, as a garden hose couldn't provide the needed flow rate.

A project needs medium- and low-temperature radiant floor panels. The installer proposes using a mod/con boiler with a 1-inch tempering valve for lower temperatures and plans to pipe the entire system with 1-inch tubing. What potential issues could arise from this design?

This second edition of the Radiant & Hydronics All Stars eBook showcases the latest technology and design trends in the radiant and hydronic markets. It features insights from our All Star Roundtable on low-temperature systems and upcoming efficiency standards for circulator pumps by 2028, along with design trends for residential and commercial applications.

Always assume the old boiler was installed wrong. This principle has served me well in my career by finding problems before we own the system.

Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke moderates a discussion on all things radiant with our incredible panel of Radiant All-Stars.

In 2024, the North American air-to-water heat pump market saw significant expansion, with nine new offerings introduced at the January AHR show by companies new to this category. By year's end, at least 18 companies either have or plan to offer these pumps in the U.S. Read the list of these companies as of mid-2024.

The two photos below were from the same project. Flow is upward through the vertical pipe in Figure 1. Without any more details being described, can you spot at least two problems in each photo?