Hydronic Heating Systems

Hot-water heating under CSA B214, followed through an apprentice on a Hamilton high-rise boiler plant and a bungalow's switch to a heat pump and boiler hybrid: how hydronic systems move heat and flow sizing; room-by-room heat loss to CSA F280; condensing boilers, efficiency and venting; air-to-water heat pumps and hybrid changeover; circulators, pump curves and pipe head loss; series loops, zoning and primary-secondary piping; expansion tanks, air elimination and fill pressure; baseboard, panel radiators and fan coils at low water temperatures; radiant floor design and installation; thermostats, outdoor reset and temperature difference control; balancing, commissioning and water treatment; and service and troubleshooting.

PLB-310 12 lessons · 4 h 18 min ▶ Video lessons coming soon

Offered by HSM University · Plumbing

This is the Canadian version of this course. See the American version.

What you'll learn

Explain how a hydronic system moves heat, and size flow rates from heat load and temperature difference using the relationship between heat, mass flow, specific heat and temperature change.
Calculate room-by-room design heat loss through the building envelope and from air leakage, following the method of CSA F280, and use it to size equipment.
Compare cast iron, non-condensing and condensing boilers, and explain why return water temperature controls condensing efficiency.
Describe air-to-water heat pumps and hybrid systems, estimate COP, and choose a changeover strategy between a heat pump and a boiler.
Select a circulator by plotting the system curve against the pump curve, and calculate pipe head loss and velocity for hydronic piping.
Lay out series loop, one-pipe, two-pipe, zoned and primary-secondary piping, and explain the role of closely spaced tees, mixing valves and hydraulic separators.
Size and install expansion tanks, air separators, fill valves and relief valves, and set the cold fill pressure for a building's height.
Size radiators, baseboard and panel emitters at reduced water temperatures and evaluate existing emitters for a low-temperature retrofit.
Design radiant floor heating, including heat output, surface temperature limits, tube spacing, loop lengths, manifolds and installation methods.
Set up thermostats, zone controls, outdoor reset curves, temperature difference pump control, priority and staging for hydronic systems.
Flush, fill, purge, balance and commission a hydronic system, and manage water quality and glycol freeze protection.
Troubleshoot no-heat, low-flow, pressure, noise and condensate faults from readings, and plan preventive maintenance against a commissioning baseline.

Course content

12 lessons · 4 h 18 min total · final exam

1 How hydronic heating works 22 min · quiz
2 Heat loss and heating load calculations 21 min · quiz
3 Boilers: types, efficiency, condensing and venting 20 min · quiz
4 Heat pumps and other hydronic heat sources 21 min · quiz
5 Circulators and pump curves 22 min · quiz
6 Piping layouts: series loops, zoning and primary-secondary 22 min · quiz
7 Expansion tanks, air elimination and system pressure 22 min · quiz
8 Heat emitters: baseboard, panel radiators and fan coils 21 min · quiz
9 Radiant floor heating: design and installation 21 min · quiz
10 Controls: thermostats, outdoor reset and temperature difference 21 min · quiz
11 Balancing, commissioning and water treatment 22 min · quiz
12 Service and troubleshooting hydronic systems 23 min · quiz
E Final exam 20 questions

Requirements

PLB-220 Fixtures, Appliances and Water Heaters

Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.