Choosing the Right Boiler For
Your Radiant Heat System!
Over the past fifteen years, boiler and water heater construction has dramatically
changed. Today, they are much more efficient than in the past.
A well-designed radiant heating system can reduce energy usage by as much as 40%, because
the radiant heat supply operates between the temperatures 90F to 140F whereas a conventional
heating supply is between 160F to 200F.
Hydronic radiant heating is ideal for new home construction, retrofitting and remodeling,
and it works well with other heating systems.
People have been using boilers as a heat source for several years. From cast iron
radiators to baseboard boilers with a combined circulator, they only need a continuous flow
of hot water to travel through them in order to maintain their efficiency.
With a radiant heat system that uses water from a domestic water heater you
wouldn’t have a need for a boiler during the winter months, thus cutting your heating
bills down substantially.
If installing a radiant heat system you will need a boiler designed for that particular
application. Models that have a flow of less than a gallon per minute will shorten the life
of any boiler and will reduce its efficiency to less than 50%.
Combo-heaters are ideal for a radiant heat application. Combo-heaters have a dual
purpose, to heat your home as well as all the hot water you will need. Best of all, with
Combo-heaters you can adjust the flow to your desired efficiency rate.
Here are three common types of water heaters recommended for a radiant heat system:
Bock Combo Oil/ Gas Heaters
The Bock TURBOFLUE® is considered one of the most superior heat exchangers on the
market. It has a patented, multi-finned heat exchanger, which makes the utmost use of heat,
then shifts it to water for even greater efficiency and advanced energy savings.
The Bock heater provides elevated firing rates, reduced jacket temperatures as well as
inhibited tank expansion and contraction. The Bock is easy to clean and maintain.
On the Bock you’ll find a premium porcelain enamel lining that surpasses industry
standards by around 53%. Each heater has two (sometimes more) large magnesium anode
rods.
If you are heating with oil, then Bock is a viable choice. Bock uses the domestic hot
water which stops what is called short cycling. This waste a lot energy and also keeps the
boiler from overheating.
There are quite a few sizes available. A small Bock heater can easily heat living spaces
up to 4,000 square feet with enough left over to supply all the water you’ll need.
Bock has a rating of 84% thermal efficiency.
Polaris® Combo Heater
The Polaris® is the most efficient open system on the market and its stainless steel
construction offers the longest life of any open system.
Polaris® is recommended because it is affordably prices and takes up very little
space. The Polaris® stainless steel heat exchanger and tank are highly efficient. It has
a simple design and a 10-year limited tank warranty. Polaris® is a system that is easy
to troubleshoot, simple to purge. Repair parts are extremely easy to find.
One small Polaris can easily heat a 4,000 square feet home and still supply all the hot
water you will need. With a thermal efficiency rating of rated at 95%, and there are
several sizes and capacities to choose from.
The TrinityCombo/Condensing Boiler
The Trinity is an high-efficiency boiler that is ultra-compact, and water heater that can
use natural gas or propane.
The Trinity boiler is a completely sealed combustion system. Its combustion air is
gathered from outside the unit, used for combustion and then purged. It has a system that
gets rid of the need for fresh air intake, thus diminishing heating costs. All mechanical
components and sophisticated controls are conveniently located and accessible by simply
unsnapping access panels.
The Trinity has a high-tech sealed combustion system with a hot surface ignition, and its
pioneering condensing heat exchanger provides definitive efficiencies.
The Trinity condenser doesn’t use aluminum; it is constructed from stainless steel.
The Trinity’s unique case design cuts down on costly standby losses, while practically
eliminating all combustion noise.
The Trinity is not an immediate water heater. It’s stainless steel, 94%+
efficient and hangs on the wall. The modulating burner can easily heat anywhere from 25,000
Btu’s to 200,000 Btu's.
The TRINITY will circulate about 5.5 (US) gallons of water every minute at a stable
temperature of 110ºF. The Trinity T-200 model will generally heat up a 8,000 square
foot home and still supply all the water you’ll need. It has a 94% thermal efficiency
rating. For smaller applications there is always the Trinity T-150.
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