Designers need more information on “nubbed” foam insulation panels.

Anyone who has worked on the technical side of the hydronics industry has used terminology such as: pressure, differential pressure, head and head loss. These terms all have legitimate and specific meanings.

John Pughe is a long-time colleague of mine and a true hydronics professional. He recently sent me an  “as installed” and “as corrected” schematic for a hydronic heating system with twin 200,000 Btu/hr mod/con boilers, and 15 zones, each powered by its own circulator.

Can you spot several details that will lead to problems? How would you design the system differently?

A knowledge of basic science reveals situations that seem too good to be true.

Stay above the dew point.

An unpressurized outdoor wood-fired heater is installed to supply heat to fin-tube baseboard install in a two-story home.

It’s energy cost savings that really matter.

An unpressurized outdoor wood-fired heater is installed to supply heat to fin-tube baseboard install in a two-story home.

What is the purpose of a check valve?