Hydronic

• Letters

  Bootleg grounds, leaky ridge vents, stiff tile subfloor

   

• Focus on Energy: Reclaiming Heat From Boilers (Subscriber content)

  Strap-on aquastat saves energy in hydronic systems

   

• Heating System Tuneups (Subscriber content)

  Most furnaces and boilers more than five years old can benefit from modifications that will improve performance. A seasoned hvac contractor explains which upgrades will be most cost-effective for gas- and oil-fired systems.

   

• For What It's Worth

  Voice mail for small businesses, retrofit zone thermostat for hydronic heat, new I-joist rim board

   

• Focus on Energy: Adding a Floor Heating Loop (Subscriber content)

  Adding a radiant loop

   

• Focus On Energy: Euro-Hydronics (Subscriber content)

  European hydronic heat technology

   

• Radiant Slab on a Tight Budget (Subscriber content)

  Depending on availability, proprietary gypsum-based thin slabs can be expensive. A hydronic engineer describes an innovative, cost-effective approach to pouring a radiant slab.

   

• Piping Layouts for Hydronic Heat (Subscriber content)

  The design of hydronic heat distribution piping affects overall comfort levels, regardless of boiler efficiency. An engineer describes the pros and cons of four piping layouts for hot-water heat.

   

• Builder's Library

  Residential hvac primer, field guide to house styles

   

• Ground-Source Heat Pumps (Subscriber content)

  Capturing the earth’s energy with underground heat-exchange loops can cut heating and cooling costs — if it’s done right. An hvac contractor tells what he’s learned from 15 years of installing geothermal heat pumps.