Hot Water Heating System
True hot water heat control comes with
multi-zone systems, which operate as loops off of the main pipes to deliver
heat to selected radiators in the home. When heat is not called for in that
zone, the zone is bypassed and blocked from receiving hot water backflow
by a spring-loaded check valve. This prevents unnecessary heat loss along
the way and unnecessary heat gain in rooms that don't need it.
Baseboard Heat
The most common type of hot water heat in the United States is finned-tube
baseboard heat. Located close to the floor, finned-tube emitters are usually
housed in metal enclosures that have reflective material behind them to encourage
heat transfer from the fins or slats to the air passing over them, rather
than being lost via conductivity through the cold wall behind it. The hot
water pipes emerge from the floor and run directly behind the enclosure with
thin, metal slats or fins, placed close together all along the pipe. Heat
is transferred from the water to the pipe and ultimately to each of these
fins. The fins serve as multiple heat emitters, warming the cold air from
below. Enclosures must be located at least one to two inches above the finished
floor to allow for adequate air circulation and heat transfer