When people are researching anything for their home, cost understandably comes into the equation. With some items and services, the upfront price is where the financial commitment ends, yet with home climate control the initial investment is only the beginning.
After paying for the system, whichever you choose, there’s also the maintenance and running costs to consider, along with product life span. You also might want to be mindful of environmental and health impacts, which can result in costs that aren’t only financial.
In this article we are taking a look at hydronic heating and key considerations that will dictate the investment required for your initial set up, as well as the running costs. In this article we’ll look at:
- Set-up Costs
- Understanding Radiant Heat
- Boiler
- Heat Pump
- Insulation
- Zone Your Home
Set-Up Costs
The elements to take into account for set up costs for hydronic home heating will include the power source, for example heat pump or boiler and the products you decide to install. The most popular hydronic heating system products include:
The best way to determine what your initial set up costs will come to, is by discussing your property and home heating and cooling requirements with an experienced hydronic heating consultant. Our team are available to advise you on the best system and products to suit your needs.
Understanding Radiant Heat
One of the key differences between hydronic heating and other traditional ducted or gas heating methods, is the fact it generates what is known as ‘radiant heat’. This is where the temperature of a space is altered through the objects (including people) in a room warming up, as opposed to the air via fan force (as with ducted heating or blow heaters). This approach to heating means that when the products are turned off, the warmth remains for a considerable period of time compared to other heating systems, making it a great deal more cost effective to run.
Boiler
Your hydronic heating system will run at peak performance if it is supported by an efficient boiler. Having a suitable boiler for your system will ensure that your running costs are kept to a minimum. Most are natural gas boilers, but electric is amongst the options. If you take the electric route, you could reduce or eliminate the running cost of the boiler by pairing it with solar energy products. This is a great combination if you are planning on being in your property long term so you can receive the financial benefits of this combined investment.
Heat Pump
While they can be pricey to purchase and install upfront, heat pumps can in the longer term be a great saving on running costs. A boiler is 2-3 times cheaper to purchase than a pump, but a heat pump can end up costing you up to 40% less to run your system. Deciding which heat source is best for your property and needs is important.
Insulation
No matter your property type or heating system, decent insulation will reduce your running costs as you won’t need to have your system on as much with the heat being retained and not leaking through floor, door and window gaps.
Zone Your Home
One of the many benefits of hydronic home heating is the fact that it doesn’t need to be installed throughout the entire property to be effective and efficient. You can decide on which ‘zones’ you would most like to have heating, such as main living areas. Alternatively, you can install the system throughout your home and via thermostat, control which areas you want switched on and off at differing times to reflect your use of those spaces, so it isn’t running unnecessarily. This will provide a significant saving on running costs.
Ready for Energy Efficient Heating?
Contact the team or better still, visit one of our showrooms in Sydney or Melbourne to chat with an experienced consultant about your home climate control. Our team can look through plans and reports related to your new build or existing property to provide advice on the best solutions for heating and cooling your home with a hydronic system. Visiting a showroom will also give you the chance to see hydronic products in action and enable you to ask any questions you have about this sustainable heating approach.
