Hydronic vs Forced Air Heating and Cooling
Hydronic, or hot water, heating has been standard for years in many parts of the U.S. It is seeing a surge in popularity at present, mainly because of the increasing use of radiant floor heating, which is known for providing even, comfortable heat. Yet contrary to popular belief, not every home in the free world needs hydronic heat to achieve this level of comfort.
Apples to Oranges
Hydronic heat is sometimes touted as more comfortable than forced-air heat. But since the typical hydronic system is significantly more expensive than the typical hot-air system, especially if cooling is included, this is an apples-to-oranges comparison. Customers willing to invest in a quality hot-air system, rather than a bare-bones package at the lowest price, will find that forced hot air can be as comfortable as hydronic heating. Unfortunately, if the heating system is hot water and the home owner doesn't spend the extra up front to cool their home, their finished home may be still too expensive to add the cooling system later and probably imposable to even install without doing even more expensive and inconvenient remodeling to accommodate such an install. Or the homeowner may have to add a window air conditioner instead to each of the rooms in the home. Another system maybe a ductless system that is not as efficient as the central split system design on a standard forced air install.
The least expensive forced-air system usually includes a single-stage furnace with a single-speed blower motor. The entire house is ducted as a single zone, and therefore has just one thermostat. If the system is sized by a contractor who uses a rule-of-thumb formula to estimate heat loss and heat gain, the homeowner can end up paying higher-energy bills for a noisier, less efficient system that provides uneven temperatures from room to room.
A quality forced-air system would probably include a Coleman two-stage furnace with a variable-speed blower motor.
The house would be separated into several zones, I recommend Arzel Zoning Systems, with separate thermostats, and the air would be distributed through well-sealed, insulated ducts. In many cases, such an upgraded hot-air system will still cost less than a hydronic system.
About The Author
Daniel Gipe is President of Yours By Design Heating and Cooling, Inc. in Blaine, Minnesota. Website: www.ybdhc.com
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:08:09 GMT Couric getting a kick out of Web freedom - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - By Matea Gold | Tribune Newspapers NEW YORK—Katie Couric was listening to Declan McCullagh, CNet's chief political correspondent, explain Barack Obama's and John McCain's stances on Net neutrality. Survivors Enjoy Watching 'Stand Up To Cancer' Katie Couric teams with rival anchors to 'Stand Up to Cancer' Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:04:17 GMT Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88 - FOXSports.com FOXSports.com - by Elias Cepeda, InsideFighting.com Rashad Evans shot himself straight to the top of the long list of challengers in the UFC's light heavyweight division with a devastating knockout win over the sport of MMA's top name and former champion, ... Rashad Evans knocks out Chuck Liddell Liddell in need of a fresh approach Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:18:30 GMT In the neighborhood of a title once again - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - By Bud Collins Or should I say Herr Roger, as he is addressed in his hometown, Basel. He does better in this sector, the Flushing section of the New York borough of Queens, than he ever did in Switzerland, and Roger Federer says he feels "a little bit ... Video: Federer Beats Djokovic to Reach US Open Final Federer Storms Into Final Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:28:11 GMT Google Chrome Reflects A Desktop In Decline - InformationWeek
InformationWeek - After 10 years as a company, Google is making the Chrome browser key to the coming of age of cloud computing, or software as a service. Mozilla releases second Firefox 3.1 alpha Mozilla updates Firefox 3.1 with Alpha 2 build Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:46:03 GMT Tracing TV's bloodlines - Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod Times - By CAPE COD TIMES Vampires are big business, whether dominating the best-seller list in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series of books for three years or starring in an endless stream of movies that portray the mysterious bloodsuckers as scary, ... 'True Blood': Undead On Arrival 'True Blood' offers edgy inspection of tolerance Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:14:40 GMT Hurricane Ike Strengthens to Category 4, Raises Fears From ... - FOXNews
FOXNews - Sept. 6: This satellite image taken at 3:45 pm EDT shows a swirl of clouds north of Hispaniola associated with Hurricane Ike. Sept. Video: 'Dangerous' Ike Aims for Turks and Caicos Ike hits Turks and Caicos islands as Category 4 hurricane with ... Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:13:03 GMT EA's big bet on Spore - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Steve Johnson In unveiling their much-anticipated and long-delayed video game "Spore" in North America today, executives at Electronic Arts hope to counter critics who have faulted the Redwood City company for becoming fat and happy in recent years ... In the Beginning, Finally Sims creator hopes to soar with Spore Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:07:31 GMT RSS Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... There are many different types of light bulbs. Each has... Read More The cordless impact wrench is quickly gaining in popularity among... Read More Georgian Conservatories Georgian architecture was the style of the 18th... Read More Barbequing outdoors is a pleasure that anyone can partake in... Read More The traditional look of hardwood flooring is timeless; its beauty... Read More If you have come to a point in your life... Read More We get a great many requests to view the potential... Read More It's amazing -- some people manage to get a complete... Read More If you've always longed for hardwood floors, you're in good... Read More Razing the CottageWith new house plans and permits in hand,... Read More The health benefits of steam saunas have been recognized for... Read More The bed represents the beginning and ending of life. In... Read More When you think about an above ground pool do you... Read More Preparing a deck design for your backyard is all the... Read More A drill press, also known as a pillar drill, is... Read More Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the... Read More A major US corporation recently launched a new line of... Read More The modern look is a highly admired form of interior... Read More For those who may be thinking of building a new... Read More Any advice or guide on the interior design of a... Read More This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More Heat your pool with a Solar Pool Heater and save... Read More As we become more of a home-based society, many more... Read More If the decision of what type radiant heating system to... Read More If there is one way to throw a new light... Read More
Adsense
websites
Why Are There So Many Different Light Bulbs?
Cordless Impact Wrench - Not the Same Tool as Your Cordless Drill
Georgian And Victorian Style Conservatories
Natural Gas vs Charcoal Grills ? Which One Is Right For You?
Selecting a Laminate Floor to Suite Your Needs
If You?re Looking for Bedding, Think ?Pink?
Planning Permission Tips UK - Loft Conversions in UK Properties - Do They Add Value?
Kitchen Magic
Quick and Dirty Guide to Wood Flooring
Building Your Dream Home ? Part 2
Conventional Steam Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas
Design Psychology: Beds and Emotional Well-Being
You Get What You Pay for when it Comes to Above Ground Pools
Deck Design - Why Firm Foundations Are Essential
What to Look For in a Drill Press
Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter
5 Steps for Creating a Garage You Can Love ? and Use
Modern Rugs
Log Homes for Beginners - 10 Steps to Success
Bathroom Interior Design
Complete Home Rehab In 10 Days
Save Money with a Solar Pool Heater & Cover
Transform Your Home with Decorative Country Lighting
Electric Radiant and Floor Coverings
How Stained Glass Can Add Elegance To Your Home
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
The Solar Energy Industry Grew 67% Last Year: Are You Making the Best Decision for Your Future?
Are you considering using renewable energy resources to heat water... Read More
An Introduction to Air Compressors
Air compressors are widely used among American manufacturers, industries and... Read More
Portable Air Conditioners Ensure Economy And Convenience
Small is beautiful and convenient and so is the portable... Read More
Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the... Read More
How To Select Scraped//Distressed Hardwood Flooring
Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice... Read More
Can You Buy Luxury Home Brands Online and Save - Worry Free?
Are you frustrated with the high prices you've been quoted... Read More
Use Ladders Safely
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year more... Read More
Refining Your Area Rug Choice
As a Managing Partner of www.exquisiterugs.com, the question... Read More
Create a Luxurious Laundry Room
Give your home a luxurious feel with a beautiful laundry... Read More
Bring Out the Comforters for Back to School
If the weather is turning chilly it must time for... Read More
Inspecting your Swimming Pool
With the varied availability of swimming pool equipment and designs,... Read More
Door Hardware - the Focal Point of the Home
The door is the focal point of the home which... Read More
Sparkling, Clean Lighting Will Add The Perfect Touch To Your Home
When one thinks of the many factors that affect the... Read More
The Best Time to Inspect Your Home!
Home inspections conducted prior to a home being placed on... Read More
Remove Ink Stains From Carpet
One of the best solvents you can use to remove... Read More
Do You Make These Window Replacement Mistakes ?
Whether it's a misguided baseball, or storm damage, sooner or... Read More
Choosing Blinds For Damp Atmospheres
There are some important things to consider when choosing blinds... Read More
How to Get the Most Out of Your Home Theater ? Without Spending a Fortune
So you've scraped and saved, now you've finally gotten together... Read More
Deck Decorating
On my blog, I once wrote about life on the... Read More
Planning Permission Tips UK - Is Todays Popular Quest For Contemporary Design The New Bad Taste
Can you remember when people used to install slatted louvre... Read More
Laminate Flooring Basics
Laminate flooring resembles the look of hardwoods but offers easier... Read More
10 Things You Can Do Now To Prepare For Hurricane Season
The 2005 hurricane season is right around the corner and... Read More
Buyers Guide For Copper MailBoxes
Mailboxes crafted from copper give you traditional elegance and extraordinary... Read More
Your Candles Are Killing You and Your Furniture - Substitute It!
Even though most of the houses are well lighted with... Read More
5 Easy Steps to Protect Your Hardwood Floor From Disaster
Common knowledge states that hardwood floors are a great investment... Read More
Home Improvement |