Most hydronic heating systems that have renewable energy heat sources, such as solar thermal collectors, an air-to-water or geothermal heat pump, or a biomass boiler, also have an auxiliary boiler. Many of these systems also have one or more thermal…
Every year the impending winter season prompts Canadians to prepare for winter. Safely storing summer gear, closing the pool or cottage, putting snow tires on our vehicles are things we know we have do before old man winter arrives with…
Baxi S.p.A is extending its operations in Canada. The Italian company announced plans to transfer all North American business and support to its North American factory operations. Baxi North America, headquartered in Utica, NY, will now be exclusively distributed through…
The Ampex Insulated PEX Panel is designed for a cost-effective installation of hydronic radiant in-floor heating systems. The panel is a combination of EPS molded to a high impact polystyrene film resulting in a stronger, resilient interlocking panel. It is…
Radiant heating systems can now be installed in Alberta without adhering to former insulation requirements set forth in section 9.36 of the National Model Energy Code for Buildings. The provincial building administrator and provincial plumbing/gas administrator have developed a Standata…
Controls play an integral role in ensuring today’s hydronic radiant systems operate as energy efficiently as possible while still providing ultimate comfort to the consumer. Every system should, at the very least, be employed using outdoor weather compensating controllers or…
When it comes to thermal storage tanks, there are many shapes, sizes and pressure ratings available, ranging from tanks that resemble (or are) domestic water heaters to larger ASME-certified pressure vessels. In most hydronic thermal storage applications, it is desirable…
Viega has rolled out its trades education program, a supplement to school curriculum on the design, installation and function of plumbing and hydronic systems. The Viega Trades Education Network (VTEN) program offers complete tooling packages, access to LoopCAD radiant heating…
Several manufacturers have introduced new balancing valve technologies into the market. Familiarity with these new valves, as well as traditional balancing valves, will assist you in selecting the correct one for specific hydronic and plumbing system applications. MANUAL BALANCING VALVES…
The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating Exposition (CIPHEX) West will return to Calgary, AB, on November 7 and 8, 2018. The trade show features more than 250 global exhibitors. It will focus on plumbing, hydronics, HVAC/R and water treatment.…
One of the biggest thieves of efficiency in boiler operations is the accumulation of soot and/or scale on heat exchanger surfaces. It does not take long for soot to start causing significant loss of energy efficiency. In a matter of…
Over time the hydronic industry has changed the approach to system piping designs and temperature control as equipment efficiency and technology has evolved. In the late 1960s and early 1970s out-door air reset was utilized. This allowed for better temperature…
It is not uncommon for contractors, and sometimes consumers, to call me to complain about the performance of a hydronic system. Many of these times, if it is not system settings related, it is because the consumer is expecting different…
There is currently a lot of attention being devoted to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings. One of the primary methods that governments are using to meet their goals is to tighten up building codes to require super-insulated and…
Many hydronic heating professionals like to promote that the modern boilers they install are capable of operating with thermal efficiencies in the range of 95 +/- per cent. Professionals who install geothermal heat pumps often boast that their equipment is…
Sound complaints are the number one indoor environmental quality problem in buildings today, surpassing thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ) and lighting quality in the hierarchy of occupant discomfort. Objections can be anything from chatter in offices, to the neighbour’s…
The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) is hosting a webinar on hydronic snow and ice melting systems, intended for mechanical engineers, designers, contractors, building owners, facility managers and architects. Held in conjunction with its education partner RedVector, the first webinar…
ASHRAE has announced a call for papers for its 2019 annual conference Abstract submissions are due August 21, 2018. If accepted, final papers will be due November 30, 2018. Technical papers – 30-pages maximum, to be published in ASHRAE Transactions…
Etobicoke, ON-based Desco Plumbing and Heating Supply is the latest distributor for Aquatherm polypropylene-radom pipe. Desco, part of Deschênes Group, is a wholesale distributor of plumbing, hydronic and HVAC Products with 17 locations in central and southwestern Ontario. “We are…
Noble held its 25th Anniversary customer appreciation BBQ and tradeshow June 22 at its head office on Jane Street in Toronto, ON. The event attracted about 1000 contractors and other Noble customers. Jim Anderson, Noble’s general manager, along with local…
Heat pumps are destined to carve out an increasing percentage of future residential and light commercial HVAC market. This trend is based on the convergence of market drivers such as increasing electrical generation by utility scale photovoltaics and wind turbines,…
Are thermostatic mixing valves for plumbing or hydronic heating? Well it turns out they are for both. The same valve can be found in the domestic hot water supply system, as well as the control valve for a hydronic heating…
I believe a good chunk of the architectural, building and HVAC industry is unaware that a few years ago California’s Center for the Built Environment (CBE, UC Berkeley) got a big cheque to carry out extensive research on radiant cooling…
As noted in Part I and Part II of this series (see HPAC February and March 2018), control systems are often blamed when something is not operating as expected. More often than not, if control systems do not perform as…
Equipment change out impacted by space, venting and timing issues. Friends of mine were recently faced with a decision when their combination boiler/DHW heater refused to provide either. Now this should not have come as a complete surprise as the…
Over the course of your career you have probably used a number of strategies to compete for projects. Maybe your choice de jour was to do battle using a lowest price model. Maybe you got tired of dealing with headaches…
As it was noted in Part I of this series (see HPAC February 2018), control systems are often blamed when something is not operating as expected. More often than not, if control systems do not perform as needed, something…
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What characteristic do solar thermal collectors, hydronic heat pumps and thermal storage tanks supplied by biomass boilers have in common? Answer: They all perform best when coupled to distribution systems that operate at low supply water temperatures. But that is…
Controls are often blamed when hydronic systems are not operating properly. While that may sometimes be the case, always look at what else may be influencing performance. While control systems are not flawless, consider that they are developed in a…
