John Siegenthaler, P.E.

I’m sure everyone reading this column has heard the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  

Whenever a hydronic system is divided into several zones, it’s worth considering a buffer tank between the heat source and distribution system. 

A zone is any area of a building for which indoor air temperature is controlled by a single thermostat (or other type of temperature controller). 

In last month’s column, I presented a “template” for a system that provides space heating, cooling and domestic water heating using a cold climate air-to-water heat pump as the primary heat source, and the sole source of chilled water for cooling. 

Most buffer tanks used in hydronic systems are piped in a “4-pipe” configuration.

The versatility of modern hydronics technology allows designers to create systems that are “customized” to the needs — and constraints — of almost any building. 

Some hydronic system designers cling to certain system piping configurations — even when existing projects using those configurations have produced problems.

Anyone who says they wouldn’t change a thing on the hydronic systems they’ve designed or installed over the last decade is either so oblivious to changes in technology that they don’t know any better, so egotistical they can’t accept that improvement of their work is possible, or so foolish they don’t care what they’re missing out on.

Part of running any business is looking ahead and trying to read the “tea leaves” that are relevant to that business. 

Modern panel radiators are one of my favorite heat emitters.