Planning for a Future Heat Exchange Pump
Key Considerations for Hydronic Floor Heating and Future Heat Pump Integration
When planning a home heating system upgrade, many homeowners decide to install underfloor heating first and incorporate a heat exchange pump or create a hybrid heating system at a later date. This approach can stager the cost of the total investment while still ensuring the immediate comfort of floor heating. In new construction this is much easier to do than retrofitting an existing home. All too often we encounter clients that have the intention to upgrade to a heat exchange pump at a later date, only to abandon the plan when they encounter unforeseen issues. Here are a few basic considerations to make if you are intending to install hydronic floor heating that will eventually be combined with a heat exchange system.
Planning for a Future Heat Pump
Unlike conventional central heating, heat exchange systems can provide dual functionality, heat in the cold months and cooling in the hot months. If you intend to upgrade your hydronic floor heating to run on a heat exchange system in the future, here are few points you should consider:
Manifold Compatibility: The dual functionality of heat exchange systems (heating and cooling) can cause condensation to accumulate on the exterior surface of a steel floor heating manifold in the hot summer months. The persistent condensation will cause a steel manifold to rust over time. A composite (plastic) hydronic floor heat manifold should be installed if you intend to upgrade to a heat exchange system in the future. Planning to use a composite manifold in advance eliminates the need to buy and install a compatible manifold when the time comes to switch over.
Removable Manifold Pump: When a hydronic floor heating manifold is connected to a standard central heating boiler that supplies high temperature water, up to 70 degrees celsius, the manifold uses a pump to mix the water from the boiler with the water circulating in the floor so that the floor will not become uncomfortably warm. A normal water temperature in any floor heating system should not exceed 30 to 40 degrees celsius. When the central heating system is upgraded to a heat exchange system the pump on the floor heating manifold will need to be removed. The heat exchange system will supply hot water of 30 to 40 degrees celsius that can be pumped directly into the floor. There are very few composite manifolds on the market today that have a mixing pump that is easily removable. The manifold that we use has the option to replace the mixing pump with a piece of pipe. This modification changes the manifold from a closed system into an open system. The open system allows warm or cool water from the heat exchange pump to flow directly into the floor. A manifold without the option to remove the mixing pump will need to be replaced when you upgrade.
Number of Floor Heating Groups: The number of heating groups used in a standard hydronic floor heating system is recommended to be 1 group per 10 to 12 square meters of floor surface. The standard number of groups for floor heating with a heat exchange pump is 1 group per 8 to 9 square meters. If you are intending to upgrade your floor heating to a heat exchange system in the future make sure your floor heating contractor is aware of this when the floor heating layout is designed and installed.
Water Supply Pipes: The low operating temperatures of heat exchange pumps require a higher water flow rate than standard central heating systems. This means that larger diameter multi-layer plastic pipes will be needed directly from the heat exchange unit to the floor heating manifold. You should know where your future heat exchange unit will be installed and how it will connect to your floor heating manifold.
Other upgrades: When planning a heating upgrade it is always best if the whole house is compatible with the upgraded heat exchange system. If floor heating is not suitable for the upper floors and you intend to use low temperature radiators as an alternative, keep in mind that larger supply pipes will also be needed on the upper floors. This is especially important if you intend to use your low temperature radiators and heat exchange system for cooling.
These are some of the issues you should consider if you intend to install hydronic floor heating before you upgrade to a heat exchange system. Heat exchange pumps are a significant investment in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing your home’s carbon footprint. It is always advisable to consult a heating professional to ensure that your systems will integrate smoothly and to understand the technical requirements for combining these technologies. By considering these factors, you can make informed decisions that enhance your home’s comfort and efficiency today, while preparing for future improvements without having to abandon your future plans due to a misunderstanding or oversight.