The Encyclopedia definition says, quote: “Hydronics is the use of water as a heat-transfer medium in a heating or cooling system”. The oldest and most common examples are hot water and steam radiators, but it can include chilled water and heated loops. Chilled water cooling towers/Boilers are used in large commercial and high rise buildings but smaller commercial & residential applications make use of the recent innovation known as the “chiller boiler system”. Hydronic Systems are split into two BASIC types:

  1. Steam/hot water
  2. Chilled water.

There are five distinct classifications:

  • Flow Generation: forced flow or gravity flow
  • Temperature: low medium, high
  • Pressurization: low, medium, high
  • Piping arrangement
  • Pumping Arrangement.

For example “Piping arrangements” can be single, two pipe, three pipe, four pipe, or series loop. Then if you want to get technical, you can include Geothermal units as well. So that’s a pretty lengthy description for something we all pretty well knew anyway so why bore you all?

Because I want to be sure you know that in the CIPH, (Canadian Hydronics Council News) January 2011 newsletter there is a HUGE push coming (and a lot of money being spent as well) on Hydronics. Beautiful Heat Marketing Strategy has been given the nod to proceed with advertising , marketing & promotion of the health and energy benefits of Hydronic Heating. The program is being supported by:

  • Armstrong
  • Bell & Gossett
  • Bradford-White
  • Grundfos
  • Honeywell
  • IBC Technologies
  • Laars
  • Raypak
  • Taco
  • Tekmar
  • Uponor
  • Viessmann
  • Watts Water Technologies
  • Weil-Mclain

(bet you recognized a couple of those names)

CIPH states that although 2010 was a flat sales year in the Hydronics Industry, 2011 seems to be indicating a rebound in the housing market and the Council is preparing to spend $5,000,000 over the next three years to promote and support Hydronic Sales. CHC (Canadian Hydronics Council) has spring training programs set in Ontario for February, March and April. Mohawk College is now offering programs for Certified Hydronics Designers & Installers.

All of this tells me that there is going to be renewed interest, and questions flying about Boilers, HW Heating, Geothermal Heating, Radiant Systems, etc. If we’re going to answer those questions and close those sales, we better know what we’re talking about. Oh and by the way – NRCan wants to enforce higher boiler efficiencies on Commercial boilers and the concern is that it will affect the availability and stability of Canadian manufacturers. That’s a wait & see proposal at the m o m e n t , b u t i t demonstrates where the Industry is being lead.