John Siegenthaler, P.E.

The finer points of applying a 2-pipe buffer tank

April 28, 2017

There are advantages to using this piping configuration in hydronic systems.

An installer decides to use a buffer tank between a mod/con boiler and a highly zoned distribution system.

What Difference Does It Make?

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

April 24, 2017

An installer decides to use a buffer tank between a mod/con boiler and a highly zoned distribution system.

How to properly size finned-tube baseboard heat emitters

Have a look at the rating tables for most finned-tube baseboard sold in North America and chances are you’ll see a footnote.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

March 29, 2017

Have a look at the rating tables for most finned-tube baseboard sold in North America and chances are you’ll see a footnote under the table that reads something like this: “Ratings are based on active fin length and include 15% heating effect factor.”

An installer is asked to provide a multi-zone floor heating system supplied from a single-stage non-modulating geothermal heat pump.

Geo shortfalls

The Glitch & The Fix, March 2017

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

March 20, 2017

An installer is asked to provide a multi-zone floor heating system supplied from a single-stage non-modulating geothermal heat pump.

John Siegenthaler: Renewable Heating Design

Injection mixing from thermal storage

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

February 27, 2017

An established technique that can be used in renewable energy systems.

Taking the easy path

The Glitch & The Fix, February 2017

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

February 27, 2017

An installer pipes up a two-zone, low-temperature radiant floor heating system to a conventional gas-fired boiler, as shown below.

Examining the effects of flow reversal in circulators

Unique design concepts sometimes require components to operate in non-standard conditions.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

February 17, 2017

There are hydronic design concepts in which flow must pass backward through a non-operating circulator, perhaps thousands of times over the life of the system.

When is flow reversal practical?

Increasing heat output.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

January 18, 2017

Flow reversal is possible in a P/S system, but is it practical?

12 things to look for in hydronic installations

The Black List.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

December 11, 2016

A ‘dirty dozen’ things that point to trouble ahead.

It represents the manufacturer’s recommendation for installing a two-zone system.

Following instructions for installing a two-zone system

The Glitch & The Fix, September 2016

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

November 17, 2016

A schematic, very similar to the one below, appears in a manufacturer’s installation manual. It represents the manufacturer’s recommendation for installing a two-zone system. Can you identify at least five things that could be changed to improve this system?