Items Tagged with 'hydronic heating'

When only the air handler is operating the heat pump is able to supply the 120 ºF water. However, when the floor heating zone and the air handler are operating at the same time and the outdoor air temperature is below 24 ºF the fluid temperature leaving the heat pump can’t climb above 103 ºF. Why is this happening, and what can be done?

A recent design approach for air-to-water and water-to-water heat pumps is "direct-to-load" piping. This method utilizes an inverter-driven scroll compressor, which operates across a wide range of speeds and can handle on/off cycling without the high inrush current typically seen in fixed-speed compressors.

A few weeks back, I received a call from an acquaintance named Jack, whom I hadn't talked to in a while. He mentioned a job opportunity and mentioned the radiators in the house have burst. We discussed the details and arranged for me to visit the location.

Most heat pumps in North America extract heat from outside air to warm interiors, which is why we call them "air-to-air" heat pumps. However, this term is incomplete, as heat pumps can also provide comfort without relying on forced air delivery.

Last month's column discussed piping for air-to-water heat pumps. A 2-pipe system allows staging but not simultaneous heating and cooling, while a 4-pipe system with motorized valves enables both modes of operation.

Last month, we started with an air-to-water heat pump for space heating and added an auxiliary heat source and chilled water cooling. This month, we’re adding domestic water heating, similar to last month’s setup.

We tackled issues at a 1953 apartment complex with a failing steam system, repairing pumps and leaks. This year, we discovered significant deterioration in the 6-inch steel steam main while preparing for its replacement, highlighting the poor condition of the aging infrastructure.

Air-to-water heat pumps, especially for larger systems, can be used in stages for efficient temperature control and flexibility, utilizing variable-speed compressors and specific piping setups to manage heating and cooling loads.

Keefer Rader of Outlaw Mechanical integrated hydronic heat pumps into a solar-powered home, using a dual-fuel system with U.S. Boiler Co.'s products to manage temperature needs and isolating oxygenated radiant loops with a heat exchanger, completing the retrofit in five days.

Standardized piping layouts for air-to-water heat pumps can improve acceptance by facilitating a basic heating system that uses a monobloc heat pump with a 30% propylene glycol solution for freeze protection.