Hydronic Heating. We will be building a new home soon and were looking at heating options. Any advice please?

Question

My wife and I are in the process of designing our new home and were looking at heating options. Has anyone got any advice on Hydronic heating or had any experience with it as an option. How does it compare with other forms of heating (pros and cons). We will be building on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria Australia soon which can get reasonably cold during winter. What forms of heating would you advise?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to make any expensive mistakes. Can anybody enlighten me with some options. Regards....

Answer 1

I have to say here please don't overlook ICF design homes.This system has been used in Europe for many years with great success.Also hot water floor radiant heat.

You can have a great heat design and lose it all in the building.I have a friend on the western slope of Colorado and he is simply amazed at the savings.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Hydronic heating is fairly efficient as heating choices go. you can improve efficiency by also using it to heat or pre heat your hot water. The out lay is high but that can be recovered over time.

Forced air is cheaper to install and you can add other components like air conditioning and electrostatic air cleaners.

Both these types use fuel for the heating and that may get more costly.

Geothermal is most expensive. For this you drill small wells and circulate glycol or some medium into the ground to pick up the heat that is then compressed to get to a more usable temp. The resulting heat is picked up and blown throughout the house. Reversing the system gives you cooling and electrostatic air cleaners can be installed in the duct work.

This type only uses power for the compressor and the fan unit and no fuel is needed. Bedrock won't work it should be deep (150ft) soil.