Heating and cooling systems

 We are installing hydronic in-slab heating in our house. What this means is that water pipes will be embedded into the concrete and hot water cycled through the piped during winter.  This in turn will heat the concrete and slowly release the heat throughout the evening and night keeping the house in an ambient temperature. Because the heat rises from the floor, the heat is more comfortable than ducted heating (which we are also installing).  The hydronic heating will be connected to the hot water system.  This will be driven by a solar system with an instant gas backup when the sun isn't shining. The hydronic heating will be throughout downstairs and under the upstairs bathroom.

 Rainer Brandmeier from Branco Boilers sat down with Firas and me and explained how the system will be laid out. He was kind enough to invite me to come out and have a look at another house he was setting up in Wright where I took these photos.

 At the heart of the system is this manifold which controls the flow rate of the hot water to each of the areas.  We will have twelve areas in the house. The red part is where the hot water goes out to the house and the blue is where the water returns after the heat is transferred into the concrete slab.

 Each room or area has the the hydronic rehau piping coming in a spiral into the middle and then spiraling out again back to the manifold.

The gas ducted heating will also be connected to a compressor to allow for cooling in summer.

  To top it off we couldn't not have a fireplace so selected the Coonara Grange built-in heater.