Hydronics

hydronic adj. of, relating to, or being a system of heating or cooling that involves transfer of heat by a circulating fluid (as water or vapor) in a closed system of pipes.

Tired of paying increasingly high costs for gas, electric or oil heat? There is a better alternative. Hydronic heating systems meet a variety of heating needs economically and efficiently.

Added comfort with the addition of radiant floor heating.

Radiant floor heating: Comfortable, economical, clean, quiet and efficient.

Key Benefits

• - Consistent, even warmth from all sides, without drafts or cold spots.
• - Heated air is not blown up to the ceiling.
• - The ideal way to heat the human body.
• - No allergens, dust or other pollutants blown around by a furnace fan.

With a hydronic radiant floor heating system, hot water is pumped through small, flexible pipes located under the surface of the floor. Heat radiates from the water, through the piping and flooring material and into the air. As a result, the entire floor area is heated. The heat in your home is consistent and even. Drafts caused by forced air furnaces are eliminated. Unlike forced air systems that blow all the heat to the ceiling, leaving you with cold feet and hat air to breathe, hydronic radiant floor heating systems give you "inverted heat stratification." This means the floor is warmer than the ceiling.

Inverted heat stratification is the ideal way to heat the human body: Your feet are warm, so you feel comfortable and because the air near the ceiling is slightly cooler, it feels fresher to breathe. You feel better and more energetic; everybody loves it.

Radiant floor heating can be installed in almost any new floor and most existing floors.

There are three basic installation types: Slab-on-grade systems: Heating pipes are laid within a newly-poured concrete slab Thin-slab systems: Heating pipes are laid within a light concrete or gypsum-based flooring material which is poured over an existing floor Dry systems: Heating pipes can either be stapled under an existing floor, between the floor joists, or between a sub-floor and a finish floor, using plywood "sleepers" to separate the finish floor and the sub-floor, creating a space to lay the piping.

When installed correctly, all three installation types create a heating system that is much more efficient and comfortable than a conventional forced air furnace system.

Experience the difference radiant floor heating can make. You'll be glad you did.

More economical than standard gas, electric or oil heating systems using Forced Air Systems The prices of electricity, fuel oil and especially natural gas, are rising at an alarming rate and all indications are that this trend will continue in the future.

Comparing Heating Cost

When buying heating material for buildings, it is important to remember that regardless of the type of fuel being used, what you are really paying for is heat. Heat is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). Each type of fuel produces different amounts of heat when burned, but the amount of heat needed for a building remains constant.

Homeowners in a town or city consume, on average, 200,000,000 BTU's every year to heat their house and hot water. Farms with a heated shop use an average of 300,000,000 BTU's per year. About 25% of the average heating bill goes toward the heating of hot water. Again, these are average amounts. Some people use less heat, while others use more. Based on a total annual requirement of 300,000,000 BTUs on a farm, the following chart will help you compare the annual costs of heating with various fuels.

For a farm house & shop, the average use of heat is: 300,000,000 BTU's / yr.

Natural gas puts out 35,301 BTUs/m3. This means the average farm uses 8,500 m3 per year. At 32.92¢/m3, the yearly cost is $2,798.

Electricity creates 3,413 BTUs/kWh. At 87,900 kWh per year, at a cost of 7.78¢ per kW and Saskatchewan's flat rate of $25.40 per month, the yearly cost is $7,143.

Fuel Oil puts out 36,300 BTUs/L. This means using 8,264L per year. At 59.9¢ per litre, the yearly cost is $4,950. Propane provides 24,200 BTUs/L. Yearly, an average farm uses 12,400L. With a price of 56.9¢ per litre, the yearly price is $7,056.

Dry Stoker Coal's heat output is about 18,440,000 BTUs/ton. To create 300,000,000 BTUs, a farm would need about about 16.3 tons. Delivered to Prince Albert, coal sells for $41.00/ton. This means the yearly price would be about: $668.

Poplar wood puts out about 17,000,000 BTUs/cord. At this output, the usage is 18 cords a year. The price for a cord varies, but at $90.00(highest local price known) per cord, the price is: $1620.

These prices were current as of November 2004 and are for comparison purposes only. Energy prices change and will vary from region to region. Contact your local energy company for current prices.

Except for coal, the above comparison does not include taxes or delivery charges. Obviously, the higher a heating bill is, the higher the taxes on that bill will be. Natural Gas also may also have distribution costs.

Many people who burn wood, enjoy the physical activity of cutting their own wood. So, other than the time it takes to cut, wood can be virtually free.

The following information was obtained from Heat Innovations, makers of the Coalman™ coal-fired outdoor furnace. The information was originally published in 1999. Note the difference in the current prices obtained in Saskatchewan in November, 2004. Prices are indeed on the rise...

Natural Gas A cubic meter of natural gas yields 35,301 BTU's. To produce 200,000,000 BTU's in town it will take 5,666 m/3 at a cost that will range from $642.52 in Alberta to $834.60 in Saskatchewan to $1069.17 in Manitoba. On the farm you'll need 8,500 m3 at a cost ranging from $963.90 in Alberta to $1252.02 Saskatchewan to $1603.95 in Manitoba.

Electricity A Kilowatt Hours (kWh) of electricity yields 3,413 BTU's. In town you'll need to buy 58,600 kWh to produce the 200,000,000 BTU's. On the prairies the cost will range from about $2700 to $4300. On the farm you'll need to buy 87,900 kWh at a cost that will range from $4000 to $5000. If you live in north western Ontario, where electrical costs are considerably higher, heating costs go right out of sight.

No. 2 Fuel Oil Fuel oil yields 36,300 BTU's per litre. In town you'll need 5510 litres and 8264 on the farm. Yearly costs will range from $1700 to $2900.

Propane Yields 24,200 BTU's per litre. In town you'll need 8264 litres for the year and on the farm 12,400 litres. With propane prices ranging from 26 cents per litre in Alberta to 30 and 31 cents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan it will cost from $2148 to $2561 to heat with propane in town and from #3224 to $3844 on the farm.

Wood One cord of poplar yields 17,000,000 BTU's. To produce 200,000,000 BTU's of heat requires 12 cords and to produce 300,000,000 BTU's for a farm requires 18 cords. Poplar is an excellent fuel. It doesn't smoke or throw sparks and it is one of the easiest to cut. Poplar is better than white birch which produces more creosote. Both spruce and fir produce a lot more creosote and less heat than poplar. Oak produces the most heat per cord, but is hard to cut.

Coal One ton of coal from the Bienfait Mine near Estevan, Saskatchewan yields 14,000,000 BTU's. In town you'll use 15 tons per year and it will cost $270. On the farm you'll use 22 tons of coal worth a total of $396. Coal from Hanna, Alberta costs more but it also produces more heat. To the cost of the coal you'll have to add trucking, but you can have coal trucked a long way and still save hundreds of thousands on heat.

Pellets The heating value of pellets is almost identical to coal. The costs do vary with the type of pellet - screening, straw or wood. Depending on your distance to the coal mine or pellet plant the costs of pellets are usually competitive with coal.

As you can see, hydronic heating with wood or coal can save you several hundred, even several thousand dollars per year!

Versatile

Hydronic heating meets many needs Hydronic heating systems can easily connect to an outdoor furnace burning wood, coal, pellets, etc. It can also be connected to a natural gas, propane or electric heat source. A geoexchange system can even extract heat directly from the constant heat source located in the ground in your own back yard.

You can heat your house, garage, workshop, barn, greenhouse, tool shed, domestic hot water, swimming pool, hot tub and more, all hydronically!

Key Benefits

• Safe - No fire hazard or dangerous flue gasses in your home or shop.
• Clean - No mess of having a wood or coal burning furnace in your home or shop.
• Economical - Hydronic heating can save you from 30% to 80% in heating costs.  

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