Boilers Logo

"Keep the head cool

and the feet warm"

as the Japanese proverb goes couldn't be closer to the truth when applied to heating your home or work space.

gas logo

Hydronic heating otherwise known as underfloor heating or radiator heating warms the home or office from the floor up providing the best heating available.
Water is heated by a gas boiler or a heat pump and is circulated through a network of underfloor hose coils, in floor convectors or wall hung radiators which in turn radiate that warmth into the surrounding slab creating a thermal mass or onto furniture and from there into the surrounding space.


Because the warmth is efficiently distributed to where it is most needed hydronic heating is affordable to run. Once the system has switched off the heat left in the floor or radiators still rise into the room and are therefore not lost.
Hydronic heating has kept Europe and Asia warm for generations.


Hydronic heating is also the heating of choice for many nursing homes, office blocks, schools, government buildings and homes because it provides a healthy and comfortable living or working atmosphere.
Because the heat is dry mould, fungi and house dust mite will not habitate the area.

Furthermore dust and germs are not recirculated from room to room because there is no ducting. This makes hydronic heating a healthy choice.

A dry home is a healthy home.


Radiators

Hydronic heating cangenerally be installed in three ways.
The most popular and effective way is in the concrete slab, or better still, on the concrete slab with insulation mats covered by screed. This is known as underfloor heating or in-slab heating. Underfloor heating heats the concrete providing a thermal mass, which in turn keeps the area above it warm for some time.
Because this network of piping is encased in concrete I generally use REHAU cross linked pex pipe. It is high quality A class pipe that has withstood the test of time for over thirty years.

Floor convectors are commonly used to catch the cold as it sinks down off large panels of glass, such as sliding doors or floor to ceiling windows. This cold air is then sucked up through the convector fins and pushed back up alongside the glass forming a curtain of warm air that prevents the cold from penetrating into the room, and the warmth from escaping outside. This same principle applies to radiator heating. Both radiators and convectors can also be fan assisted.


convector box


If the building has already been constructed then radiant panels otherwise known as radiators could be the answer. Radiators work the same way as floor convectors work but instead of being in the floor they are hung on the wall providing the advantage of radiant warmth as well as convective heating.


All three forms of heating use the principles of convection or radiation as the main form of distributing the heat throughout the area.

Radiators use radiant heat and convective heat, convectors use, as the name implies, convection to distribute the warmth and underfloor heating radiates the warmth directly to above. Radiant warmth is the warmth one feels when standing near a fireplace.

Radiant warmth is also appreciated in a bathroom to warm towels or to stand near after bathing. It is a direct form of heating. Convective heat is created when cool air is sucked in from beneath two panels and rises out above. It then circulates warming the whole area unlike radiant heat which heats only the surfaces facing it.



heat distribution


Green or sustainable building is becoming increasingly popular and is encouraged by the government through the Building Code of Australia.
Location, design, insulation and ventilation and are carefully considered so as to make the most of seasonal factors to keep a building at a comfortable and constant temperature and to reduce our reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.
Ideally any form of mechanical heating or cooling should be looked at as secondary or boosted heating or cooling, leaving innovative building designs to generate the primary source of warmth or cooling.


Running Costs of hydronic heating compared with traditional forms of heating.
The following table is made available by the Victorian Government and has therefore been subjected to a cooler winter and different energy tariffs; however the proportion remains the same.

The red bars are labelled "zoned" on the left hand and "whole house" on the right side.

When each room or space is individually zoned the running costs are greatly improved because those areas that are not used do not need to be heated. In addition some areas may be heated at a lower temperature than other areas. If each room is thermostatically controlled then the desired temperature is automatically monitored.


When considering the running cost the effect of the heating should also be taken into consideration. I have included an article "Heating and Wellbeing" in which there is a diagramme showing the effects of different sources of heating on a person.


heating running costs


To be read with this table

  • NatHERS Thermal Simulation Program for a typical new home with R2.5 ceiling insulation and R1.0 wall insulation in Melbourne
  • 24 hours heating to 18ºC for in-slab heating; 8 hours heating to 21ºC for all others
  • Tariffs current at April 2001-GD 13.0c/kWh, natural gas 0.95c/MJ, LPG 70.0c/lt, wood $175/tonne. Supply charges not included.
  • Costs for reverse cycle air-conditioners based on average GD electricity tariff.
  • For an energy smart home reduce costs by 30%
  • For every 1ºC increase in operating temperature, increase costs by 15%; for 24 hour heating, double these costs (except in-slab)


In areas where there is no Natural Gas great improvements have been
made to gas boilers and heat pumps to minimise running costs.
Whether your choice is for underfloor heating, convective heating or radiant panels it is comforting to know that your hydronic heating investment will remain compatible with the ever changing fuel sources.



For all service or repairs to existing hydronic

heating, gas or hot water units and installations

as well as any general plumbing jobs:

maintenance@adelaidehydronicheating.com.au

To learn more about the installation of new gas, hot

water or hydronic heating units and systems:

queries@adelaidehydronicheating.com.au

Tel Number: 04 3293 7069
Please note this is a South Australian based business.


Rehau

About Adelaide Hydronic Heating


me


Welcome to Adelaide Hydronic Heating.
My name is Gavin Vermeulen.

I first learnt about hydronic heating when I immigrated to Holland in my early 20s, 18 years ago.
Because hydronic heating is the standard for heating in Holland it formed an integral part of my plumbing, gas and hydronic heating apprenticeship. After completing my apprenticeship I complemented my career by specializing in hydronic heating.


Upon arriving in beautiful Adelaide I was fortunate enough to work for a reputable hydronic heating company until I could bear the itch no longer and start for myself.


I am excited about the present climate of change regarding renewable energy and the growing demand for hydronic heating.

Should you wish to learn more about the content of this site please send me an email?

queries@adelaidehydronicheating.com.au


About this website


The first question one should ask when considering heating their home is:
1)"once I've put the warmth into my space, how can I keep it there for as long as possible"
The second question is: 2)"how can I distribute and control this warmth effectively throughout my home"
and the final question is 3)"how can I efficiently generate this warmth."

The purpose of this website is to discuss these key issues, provide resources for those who wish to learn more,
and to advertise my skills as an installer of hydronic heating and hot water systems.

In the right hand columns I have written the following articles:


Heating and Wellbeing

Insulation

Draughts and Ventilation

6 Star Homes and Buildings

Whilst they fall outside the scope of my business they influence the results I aim to achieve.

In the process of writing these articles I have had to source much information.
I have tried my best to give as much credit to the publishers as I can. Should you wish to access any of the tables, charts, photos or illustrations that I have included, you only have to click on it.
If I can improve on any of the information given here please let me know.

queries@adelaidehydronicheating.com.au


For Further Reading


Choosing radiator designs
Choosing a heating system


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