# 4 - Versatility: Why a hydronic heating system is more versatile than forced air

In previous blog posts I've talked about how a hydronic heating system is more comfortable, more efficient and more reliable than a forced air system. Today's topic is versatility and this is where hydronics really shines.

There's no more versatile means of heat production, distribution or delivery than hydronics. This may be a bold statement considering all of the heating system choices available today, but let me offer this list as proof positive.

Heat production:

• Traditional cast iron boiler (gas, propane, and oil fired)
• Condensing boiler (gas, propane, and oil fired)
• Modulating/condensing boiler (gas and propane fired)
• Electric boiler
• Tankless combi-boiler (gas, propane and electric)
• Traditional tank-type water heater
• Biofuel boiler (wood, pellets, coal and other solid fuels)
• Solar thermal
• Ground source heat pump (geothermal)

Heat distribution:

• Adaptable to existing steel piping (such as an old gravity heating system)
• Copper tubing
• Pex or pex-al-pex tubing (types of cross-linked polyethylene tubing)
• Series loop, direct return and indirect return systems
• Manifold header system (fed from common source point)
• Home-run system (individual delivery to rooms or emitters)
• Unlimited zoning (zone valves or thermostatic radiator valves)
• Mini-tube (ability to supply heat to remote areas or outbuildings)

 Heat delivery:

• Cast iron standing radiators
• Cast iron baseboard radiators
• Copper finned-tube baseboard radiation
• Steel panel radiators
• Aluminum radiant panels
• Towel radiators
• In-floor radiant heating (tube and plate staple-up, above-floor panels, thin-floor pour (gypsum overpour) and slab radiant (concrete)
• Radiant ceilings and walls
• Hydro-air
• Domestic hot water production
• Snowmelt (for driveways and walkways)
• Pool and hot-tub heating

Hydronics can provide all of this versatility from a single heat source. There's no need to have multiple fuel-burning appliances to perform all of your heating needs. That can simplify the fuel supply, electrical supply, and flue gas venting (chimney) requirements for the entire system. And fewer appliances means less maintenance.

These are just some of the many ways hydronics can be used to make our homes (and lives) more comfortable, efficient and convenient. (I'll go into more detail about some of them in future blog posts.)

Next week I'll write about why a well-designed hydronic system is so quiet, compared to forced air heating.

Hydronically yours,

Wayne