John Siegenthaler, P.E.

An installer who is used to boiler replacements may view the mechanical room aspects of changing from a boiler to a geothermal heat pump the same as a boiler changeout; just swapping out one “box” for another. Unfortunately, this can lead to some significant operating problems.

An installer pipes up a system using a conventional gas-fired boiler to supply heat to a low-temperature radiant panel system.

Due to the high price of fuel oil, a contractor is hired by a building owner to install a wood-gasification boiler to supplement the oil boiler. The building’s distribution system consists of a three-zoned air handler with hot water coils.

Hydronic cooling also works in smaller buildings.

How an Upstate NY school now heats with locally produced wood chips.

Just as the solar thermal industry had its ups and downs over the last four decades, the American public’s interest in wood-based heating has fluctuated with the price of conventional fuel.

Radiant floor heating is by far the biggest part of the radiant panel market.