Hydronic Floor Cooling

Here radiation causes energy to move between individuals and a given cooling surface which in this case is the floor.

Hydronic floor cooling.

Radiant floor cooling one of the most often overlooked areas of a hydronic air to water heat pump is the ability to cool as well as heat. A hydronic radiant system takes advantage of the superior heat transfer properties of water to absorb heat energy while air based cooling efficiently removes excess humidity. This works by circulating cooled water through the underfloor pipes which then absorbs the heat from the rooms. Radiant cooling slabs use similar design and sizing principles as a hydronic radiant floor system using the same types of pex pipes manifolds and pumps as in heating.

There are many ways to use radiant cooling in a home. But mackay writes that he is building in climate zone 6a where humidity ranges between 20 and 35. Hydronic hot water heating and chilled water cooling systems are the most efficient and comfortable way to heat and or cool a structure. In areas with high summer humidity water vapor can condense on cold water lines.

Durable cost effective solution using uponor pex a piping and propex connections for hydronic heating and cooling systems offers a durable cost effective solution for transporting water to terminal units such as chilled beams and fan coil units. Hydronic underfloor heating and cooling systems use the principle of radiant heating to provide comfort in a given space. Chilled water between 55f to 58f is circulated through the pipes which are embedded in either floor or ceiling. We can use ceiling panels to cool the ceiling or walls we can use the existing radiant heated floors to circulate cold water in the summer we can use hydronic air handlers in traditional forced air systems to heat or cool the home.

If you re tired of cold feet and colder rooms in the winter months consider what adding hydronic floor heating to your home could achieve. Hydronic cooling through a slab is normally delivered through the floor although can also be delivered through the ceiling. Similarly water can accumulate on flooring cooled by a radiant floor cooling system. Because there are no fans or vents the result is an even distribution of temperature and no drafts.

For floor slab cooling it makes sense to incorporate any hydronic slab underfloor heating and to then cool the water to provide a cooling system there are however benefits to installing hydronic slab cooling in the ceiling. Hydronic floor heating is comfortable quiet and efficient. Most home owners are familiar with the advantage of radiant floor heating versus centralized forced air heat but most home owners including builders have no idea that radiant floor cooling is possible and can be very cost effective for those building a home with hydronic heat.