According to the hydronic heat association you would need a 10 x 18 forced hot air heat duct to carry the same amount of heat that can be transported by a 1 diameter hydronic heat pipe.
Forced hot water heating system.
Boiler radiator systems can be fueled by natural gas liquid propane fuel oil or electricity.
Hot water heating might be less popular to modern builders than forced air heating but it will keep your home feeling cozier all winter long.
A gravity hot water heating system is the oldest and simplest system to heat homes.
This type of system has a boiler for a heat source and heats the water inside the boiler.
The heated water is sent up pipes throughout the house by either circulator pumps or zone valves.
There are two types of hot water systems.
In a gravity system the circulation of water is due primarily to thermal and density differences between hot and cold water.
Hydronic heating is efficient and comfortable because it uses water to transfer heat throughout the building and water can hold more heat than air.
As water heats it expands displacing the cooler and less dense cooler water throughout the system.
It is also the least efficient.
When a furnace shuts off the warmth disappears and you re more likely to feel drafts.
Hot water heating systems need a little maintenance like venting the radiators and draining the boiler to keep things running efficiently.
Hot water heating systems can be powered by gas oil or electricity.
Hot water radiator systems are very common in europe.
Gravity and hot water furnaces are not often installed in new homes today but similar systems with the old cast iron radiators throughout the house were fixtures in homes built around 1900 and some of.
Because water retains heat it is used to store and distribute heat in home systems.
The hot water releases its heat at the radiator and the cooled water returns to the boiler for more heating.
The pros of hot water heating.