Providing heat, comfort, and energy efficiency can be achieved if we rethink the micro-zoning of the past and open our minds to balancing flow rates. Cody Mack explains why balancing should be part of every hydronic contractor’s skill set.

Remember that you can learn from others’ mistakes when on a service job. The hydronic system may work as installed, but that doesn’t mean it is installed correctly. Read on to learn about three instances where the author learned valuable lessons about hydronics — and working with customers.

Plumbing and heating contractors are passionate about the methods to zone residential and light commercial hydronic systems — some are in the circulator camp, while others prefer zone valves. Is one method better than the other? It depends; read on to find out why.

It’s not uncommon to see multiple boilers piped together on certain jobs. You may be trying to accomplish a number of things by doing this. 

Filling the hydronic system is the last step needed to complete an installation. But what’s the best way to do it without leaks? 

Every person I’ve spoken to in this trade can tell you horror stories ranging from plugged piping to failed boiler heat exchangers.

In my part of the country, hydronics in residential and light commercial applications has a tendency to take a back seat to forced air.

High-efficiency boilers thrive on low return water temperatures. These low return temperatures allow the combustion gases to condense, extracting as much latent heat as possible.