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

When troubleshooting a hydronic system, the piping layout is often confusing. To understand the system, I sometimes sketch the piping to help me visualize the flow of water. 

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.

The pool industry — or the aquatics industry as it’s referred to by insiders — shares many similarities with the hydronic heating industry. 

Whether designing a residential or commercial system, there are several lessons to be learned from Siegenthaler, a.k.a. “Siggy,” including thermal considerations, piping, heat pump technologies, panel radiators, slab heating, controls and ECM circulators in order to provide the ultimate goals: Comfort, high efficiency and a happy customer.

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

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A few years ago, an engineer who works with older New York City buildings started to email me with good questions, mostly about steam heating. 

Comfort is a funny thing. When we have it, we’re usually not aware of it. It’s just there