22 minute read
HYDRONICS Looking up your radiant options
Looking up your
radiant options
Iwould challenge you to find a more comfortable heating emitter than a radiant panel – assuming, of course, that the system was properly designed, installed and dialed in. And while visions of cast iron radiators may come to mind when thinking about residential hydronics, when it comes to radiant, today’s systems offer a wide array of heat emitter options for buildings of all kinds. With the introduction of flexible plastic tubing to North America in the late 1980s, it did not take long for creative designers, plumbers and heating aficionados to come up with new ideas for radiant panels. Radiant floors were no-brainers. Concrete slabs lend themselves nicely to radiant heat transfer. The large surface area becomes a radiator by circulating a warm fluid, generally water, through a network of tubing encased in the concrete pour, but not every home or building involves a concrete slab. So, then what? Gypsum-based floor coverings had been developed for fire and sound protection in commercial buildings like hotels, and this gave the radiant artists another palate. Installing tube in a 1-1/2” overpour on a framed floor is considered a medium-mass installation, and will react more quickly to change than high-mass slabs. Numerous methods have been developed to put tubing below wood subfloors, or in a buildup on top of the subflooring – what we call “dry” systems. These applications, being even lower mass, can be ramped up or down much more quickly compared to the higher mass systems. This application works nicely in climates that see frequent and wide temperature swings throughout the heating season. My home in Missouri is a classic example of wide winter time temperature swings. In some cases, it is not possible or affordable to install retrofit radiant floors, but fear not, radiant aficionados have a solution for that, too. Knowing that heat travels in any direction, from a radiant panel to a surface it sees, some have started to look up, and build radiant ceilings. Options include tubing or even
electric heat cable, and anyone who has stood below a radiant ceiling has experienced warmth that seems to simply wash over you. Radiant ceilings provide a nice, unencumbered area to build the radiant panel, too, without restrictive coverings or furniture to be concerned with or designed around. Higher BTU/square foot output is also possible. We can run surface temperatures a bit higher, since no bare feet are contacting the ceiling – at least not in most cases. There is yet one more surface that we can easily turn into a radiant panel. What about the walls that surround us?
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Walls can often be one of the easiest surfaces to retrofit, or build new, so in the history of radiant, it didn’t take long for savvy plumbers to offer heated shower walls. Nothing beats a skin-temperature-warm tiled shower wall. Some clever designers also put heated walls in rooms to dry or warm clothes, basically turning the wall into a large panel radiator. In some cases, heating just the lower three feet of wall space is adequate to cover the loads. This also keeps tubing out of the areas where a nail may be driven to hang a picture, just inform your customers to avoid nails if they have plans for wainscoting.
START AT THE BEGINNING
The desired and successful outcome of any heating or “comfort” system is directly related to the front-end work. This should include load calculations, getting the building envelop as efficient as possible, and eliminating drafts, for example. A drafty home or building, regardless of the type of heat emitters, tends to be an uncomfortable home or space. If you are outside, the air movement across bare skin is referred to as chill factor; inside, we call it a draft. It is the same mechanism that is at play, and it can cause discomfort.
The best of all worlds
Sharing in the sunshine
When we talk about radiant panels, or radiant surfaces, the transfer mechanism for the heat energy is thermal radiation. This method of heat transfer travels from a source, in a straight line at 186,000 miles per second. Sunshine is a good analogy. When you step out of the shade on a cold sunny winter day and face into the sun, within seconds you will experience radiant heat. Aside from the short trip through Earth’s atmosphere, the space through which the energy travels is below 0° from the sun to your body. The air is not heated by this energy, but surfaces are. The bonfire at a winter carnival is another “teachable” example of how radiant energy transfers. (Just remember, don’t turn your back to the fire, unless you need to warm your butt occasionally.) There is no reason you couldn’t blend various radiant panels, like a nice mix of walls, ceilings and floors. Or even blend a wall, floor or ceiling with other heat emitters like panel radiators, fin-tube, towel racks, you name it.
Take a look at Graph 1, showing the BTU output difference between various radiant surface installations. Radiant floors in residential applications are limited by surface temperature. Elevating the surface much above skin temperature will cause comfort issues and complaints. The trick is to ensure that it is comfortable to walk barefoot on, and that your customer’s feet don’t sweat when in contact with the floor. When that happens, it is no longer a comfort system. Commercial and industrial slabs can sometimes run higher surface temperature and output, as occupants are usually (hopefully) wearing socks and footwear. It’s critical to cover the heat load of the space with the lowest possible supply temperature. This opens the door to all sorts of heat generators. Boilers, solar thermal and heat pumps all increase in efficiency as operating temperatures are lowered. It’s nice to have options.
Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years. A longtime columnist and trainer, he is manager of training and education with Caleffi North America. You can reach Hot Rod at bob.rohr@caleffi.com.
DIDYOU KNOW?
There are examples of radiant heat dating back to 350 B.C. Fires built in underground tunnels, hypocausts, would supply the heat energy to the lucky occupants above. The word hypocaust comes from the Greek origin hypo, meaning under, and caust, meaning burnt or caustic. Examples of hypocausts have been found in Italy, England, France, Switzerland, Germany and Africa.
PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DILEMMA
Sometimes you come across a hydronic job and wonder, , “How does this run?” Of course, the owner or installer says, “It ays, “It works fine,” but getting heat out of a boiler and having it work t work are really two different things. Looking at this system, the same seven three-speed pumps are mps are all running on high speed, and have been running and providing providing heat for two years. To simplify the discussion, all loads are equal, re equal, which shows that you can do everything wrong and still get heat. get heat. In reality all six zones are different sized loads, but the pumps are umps are all set to high, as is the boiler pump. So, all seven pumps have s have to overcome exactly the same pressure loss. I think I will take my take my chances on a lottery ticket.
1. How did this arrangement actually deliver heat?
A) Sometimes you get lucky. B) If you oversize and over pump, you will get heat. C) Do the math. D) Depends on how many zones are calling at one time.
2. Is this piping arrangement primary/secondary piping? A) Yes. B) No.
3. What is happening to the flow and head in the system if one or more zones are calling?
A) Head is increasing and flow is about the same. B) Flow and head are increasing. C) Nothing. It is delivering heat. D) Head is decreasing but flow is increasing.
Email your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com. Please include your name and daytime phone number.
Looking for the May/June answers?
If you need the answers to last edition’s quiz, you’ll find them on our home on the web, www.mechanicalbusiness.com. Just click “Find the Fix Answers” under the More tab on our homepage. 4. The boiler pump is pulling the water out of the boiler and then it hits a T. Which direction is it going to go?
A) It will split and go both ways. B) It has to go right, toward all the other pumps. C) The path of least resistance is toward the left and back to the boiler (shortest piping). D) Since the pumps are all in the same hydraulic zone, they are running in series. There is heat, so some flow must be going back to the boiler.
WIN! For non-contact investigations
Send us your answers and you could win yourself the FLIR C3 compact thermal image camera with Wi-Fi. The professional-grade tool is perfect for inspections, maintenance and repairs while you practise social distancing. Send your answers to us by September 1 for your chance to win.
ROAD WARRIOR Terry Bertram
The current work ride: Brand new Ford F-150 extended cab with a space cap.
Service area: N.B., N.S. and P.E.I.
Kilometres per day: Because I cover three provinces, probably 400 to 500 kilometres per day. Some days are beyond that. Tomorrow I’m going to P.E.I. on the other side of Charlotteotwn, and that’s going to be a 600-kilometre day.
Any area you like to get dispatched to, and why?
Probably P.E.I. I look after a lot of large, commercial boilers over there. That’s my main thing I enjoy working on. It’s the most challengeing because you’re into electrical, you’re into systems, you’re into gas – everything dangerous. You’ve got to be thinking all the time about what you’re doing.
Best advice you’ve ever received:
Look after the customer and the customer will look after you.
The most useful tool in your toolbox: My combustion analyzer, hands down.
Tool that you wish you had? None. I think I have every tool known to man.
If you were granted one wish: To spend more time with my kids growing up. I had a plumbing
A big job
When asked about the most interesting project he’s ever worked on, Terry says that would definitely be a massive retrofit project he completed for Maritime & Northeast Pipeline, installing Viessmann boilers. “It was the size of the buildings and the footprint,” he recalls. “I got to start the job and finish the job 100 per cent. The plumbing, eletrical, gas, the boiler installation, a complete 100-per-cent turnkey project.” He says the most challenging aspect of the project was trying to fit very large boilers into a very small area. “There was a lot of careful planning and piping design, pre-planning,” he says. “And it went off without a hitch.” and heating business in Toronto for 15 years and I didn’t get a lot of time to see my kids growing up. I really have to thank my wife for that, because she did a phenomenal job raising the kids.
Favourite Performer: Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac.
Best concert ever attended? Alan Jackson.
Favourite TV Show: MASH. Been watching that since I was seven years old.
Favourite character on that show: Hawkeye Pierce.
Favourite TV show character as a kid: Cookie Monster or Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street.
Favourite actor: Sam Elliott.
Favourite movie of all time: Armageddon.
Favourite sport: Hockey.
Favourite car of all time: Dodge Charger.
Favourite food: Barbecued steak.
What do you usually have for breakfast? Steak and eggs on the weekend is beautiful.
Favourite outdoor activity: ATV, 100 per cent.
Biggest pet peeve: People being late. If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late.
For Terry Bertram, following in his father’s footsteps into a career in the mechanical sector was an easy choice. After moving to Toronto as a child in 1973, Terry had the opportunity to watch his father work on all sorts of mechanical equipment as he looked after four 20-storey high-rise buildings.
“I learned so much from that man, from boilers to air conditioning units to electrical – I mean, I learned everything. The man was brilliant,” he says.
In addition to introducing Terry to the mechanical sector, his father also helped him land his first job as a plumbing and heating apprentice.
Terry Bertram A chip off the old block
“He actually introducted me to a guy named Julian Freeborough, and he had a local plumbing company – JL Mechanical – and I started working with him in June of 1984,” Terry recalls. “We were re-piping apartment buildings. We covered everything – drains, fire sprinklers, boilers, anything you can think of.”
After moving back to Atlantic Canada in 2007, he now lives on a 98-acre property in Harcourt, N.B., just outside Moncton.
Currently working for Ainsworth out of the company’s Moncton office, Terry tackles plumbing and heating installations and servicing throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I., as well as HVAC installations, something he added later in his career.
He says his favourite thing about the job is that he’s always learning.
“I learn something new every single day I work in this trade,” he says. “I still love what I do every single day.” Name: Terry Bertram Company: Ainsworth (Moncton office) Job title: Service technician and installer Born in: Pleasant Valley, P.E.I. Lives in: Harcourt, N.B. Age: 53 Family: Spouse Nathalie and three girls: Vickie, Andrea and Terra-Lynn In the mechanical industry since: 1984 Education: George Brown College
Howard J. Elmer is an automotive journalist and the founder of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Be sure to check out the test drives of these 2020 trucks at www.truckking.ca
2020 FORD SUPER DUTY F250 TO F450
2020 will forever be the year of At Ford, 2020 is a new year for Super the Coronavirus and, where Duty. It’s also a launch that managed to trucks are concerned, it will also just squeak in before the shutdown. This be the year that the manufacturers major update is highlighted by significant and dealers alike suffered the worst mechanical changes. The big news is an economic downturn since the Great Depression. Wheelbases: 142”, 148”, 164”,156”, 159”, 176” all-new 7.3L gas engine that offers bestWhile we rightfully worried about our health and practiced Cab Styles: Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew in-class 430 hp and best-in-class 475 ft-lb. of torque. It joins the standard 6.2L V8 social distancing and staying home, the automotive industry Engine Sizes: 6.2L V8, 7.3L V8, 6.7L turbo-diesel in Super Duty’s gas engine stable. An experienced a plunge in sales that will have a lasting effect Power (hp/torque): 385/430, 430/475, 450/935 upgraded 6.7L Power Stroke diesel gets on the truck market. Of course, this may be a blessing in Max. Payload: 7,850 lb. a new 10-speed TorqShift automatic disguise for companies in need of a few new vehicles for Max. Towing Capacity: 37,000 (F450 5th wheel) transmission (also found on the 7.3L). their fleet. Box Sizes: 6’8”, 8’ Ford has also shown next level technology DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, a company that in the new truck. compiles stats on the automotive industry, says that April sales in Canada totalled just 45,833 units compared with 2020 FORD F150 180,616 in April of last year. This year is a carry-over as a new F-150 is scheduled for All this turmoil has led to two distinct outcomes. First, due 2021. Ford would have released to the factory shutdowns, a number of new models are the new model this summer, delay ed or on hold. Second, as we slowly open up the but it is now delayed. The last economy, dealers and manufacturers alike will be offering major F-series changes were billions of dollars in incentives to move backlogs of trucks. For some, this will be a buying opportunity. Wheelbases: 122”, 141”, 145”, 157”, 163” Cab Styles: Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew in 2018, such as the adding of a high-output 3.5L EcoBoost. The current crop of trucks will Wheelbase: 126.8” Cab Styles: SuperCrew, SuperCab Engine Sizes: 3.3L V6, 3.5L V6 (EcoBoost), 2.7L V6 (EcoBoost), 5.0L V8, 3.0L Power Stroke diesel, have to do until manufacturing gets back on track. One notable Engine Size: 2.3L I-4 (EcoBoost) H.O. 3.5L V6 (EcoBoost) change is that the 3.0L Power Power (hp/torque): 270/310 Power (hp/torque): 290/265, 375/470, Stroke V6 diesel engine is now Max. Payload: 1,860 lb. 325/400, 395/400, 250/440, 450/510 available on XLT trucks. Max. Towing Capacity: 7,500 lb. Box Sizes: 5’1”, 6’ Max. Payload: 3,270lb. Max. Towing Capacity: 13,200 lb. 2020 RAM 1500 The 2019 Ram was all new so, 2020 FORD RANGER Box Sizes: 5’5”, 6’5”, 8’ while 2020 is a carryover, Ram Ranger has been selling well since its return – proof that a demand is working to keep momentum going with new trim packages for mid-size trucks exists. This year is largely carryover. Ranger this year. But it is still offering the Ram Classic. Originally comes in a number of trim options, from the entry-level XL held over in 2018, it’s still selling well. The 1500 starts this package, to the XLT and the high-level Lariat. Also available are year with a boat-load of awards and aggressive discounts to Chrome, Sport and FX2 Off-Road packages. The body comes counter the current pandemic’s impact on sales. The 3.0L as either a SuperCab or SuperCrew cab. Powered by a 2.3L EcoDiesel is back in the lineup, and its power numbers have EcoBoost engine, it is mated to been boosted, as has its tow a 10-speed transmission. Wheelbases: 120.5”, 141”, 150”, 170” capacity. Payload is 2,300 lb. This is the only Cab Styles: Regular, Quad Cab, Crew Cab and the top tow rating is now powertrain Engine Sizes: 5.7L V8 Hemi, 3.6L V6, 3.0L EcoDiesel 12,700 lb. – numbers that at the Power (hp/torque): 395/410, 305/269, 260/480. make it competitive to any of moment. Max. Towing Capacity: (3L EcoDiesel): 12,560 lb.; its rivals.
(3.6L V6): 7,450 lb.; (5.7L V8): 12,750 lb. Box Sizes: 5’7”, 6’4”, 8’
2020 RAM TRUCK HD 2500 AND 3500
The HD Ram was updated last year, so 2020 is carryover. Its Cummins 6.7L turbo-diesel was boosted to 400 hp and 1,000 lb.-ft of torque – a new high. Along with chassis updates comes a new weight limit of 35,100 lb. However, Ram has also spent considerable time and money on making the truck more comfortable for the driver over the long haul. Inside, luxury décor like real wood, real leather and Wheelbases: 141”, 150”, 170” a 12” Uconnect touchscreen have been added. Cab Styles: Regular, Crew Cab, Mega Cab Engine Sizes: 5.7L V8 Hemi, New this year are blind-spot monitoring (including easy-to-use 6.7L turbo-diesel, 6.4L V8 Hemi trailer coverage), trailer tire pressure monitoring, an auxiliary Power (hp/torque): 383/400, 385/900, 410/429 camera system supporting up to two different cameras, and a Max. Payload: 7,680 lb. 50-gallon fuel tank option on the Crew Cab with the eightMax. Towing Capacity: 31,210 lb. foot bed. Box Sizes: 6’4”, 8’
Wheelbase: 137.3”
Cab Style: Crew cab Engine Size: 3.6L V6 3.0L EcoDiesel Power (hp/torque): 285/260, 260/442 Max. Payload: 1,600 lb. Max. Towing Capacity: 7,650 lb. Box Size: 5’
2020 JEEP GLADIATOR
The 2020 Gladiator made an early debut last fall, so the model is still current. This mid-size pickup has all the ability and attitude you’d expect from a Wrangler in a truck. It is worth noting, however, that the five-foot bed is not just welded onto a standard Wrangler frame. The body-on-frame design offers the same four doors, but on a frame 31 inches longer than the Wrangler. The wheelbase is also 19.4 inches longer and the rear axle and suspension setup borrows heavily from the Ram 1500. Launched with just one powertrain (the 3.6L V6) it is now joined by the 3.0L EcoDiesel with an eight-speed transmission.
2020 TOYOTA TUNDRA
As with the Tacoma, Tundra increases its mix of option packages while remaining basically the same. A total of 17 trim configurations includes a new TRD Sport Premium and Off-road Premium packages. What has increased substantially are the infotainment and driver-assist electronic systems. For 2020, the 4.6L V8 option has been dropped; only the 5.7L V8 is available. This move may be a signal foreshadowing an all-new powertrain coming in the next model year (or two).
2020 TOYOTA Wheelbases: 127”, 146” TACOMA Cab Styles: Regular, Double Cab, CrewMax The base Tacoma changes Engine Size: 25.7L V8 little for 2020. It features Power (hp/torque): 381/401 the 3.5L Atkinson cycle Max. Payload: 1,710 lb. V6 with a six-speed manual, or six-speed automatic Super Max. Towing Capacity: 10,000 lb. ECT with lock-up torque Box Sizes: 5’, 6’5”, 8’ converter. An available fiveWheelbase: 127” 140” speed manual is only offered with Cab Styles: Access Cab, Double Cab Engine Sizes: 2.7L I-4, 3.5L V6 2020 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD 2500 & 3500 This is the next-generation Silverado HD. It has borrowed the interior from the the base 2.7L. Power (hp/torque): 159/180, 278/265 2019 1500-series of trucks, and the larger cab. Key changes to these 2020 HDs are Toyota is increasing the number of Max. Payload: 1,500 lb. Max. Towing Capacity: 6,700 lb. Box Sizes: 5’, 6’ found in the powertrain and driver-assist electronics. Towing capability increases a massive 52 per cent, to 35,500 lb. GM also now offers a camera system with 15 around-truck views. available versions (they now offer 16 models across three Wheelbases: 133”, 144”, 154”, 167” Cab Style: Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab The HD has two new powertrains: an all-new 6.6L gasoline engine with direct injection mated to a six-speed transmission, and the updated Duramax V8 turbo-diesel and all-new Allison 10-speed transmission. body configurations), Engine Sizes: 6.6L V8, 6.6L turbo-diesel such as the off-road Power (hp/torque): 401/464, 445/910 TRD-Pro. New this year Max. Payload: 7,374 lb. is a base SR package Max. Towing Capacity: 35,500 lb. that combines entryBox Sizes: 6’5”, 8’ level price with all the up-to-date infotainment options. Mechanical Business 10.07 Mechanical Business 08.20 3 43
2020 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500
Last year saw a generational update of the Silverado (and GMC Sierra), so 2020 is now a carry-over year with the exception of the 3.0L diesel engine, which came to the lineup late but is now in full production.
Wheelbases: 119”, 133”, 158” Cab Styles: Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab Engine Sizes: 4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8, 2.7L turbo, 3.0L turbo-diesel
Power (hp/torque): 285/305, 355/383, 420/460, 310/348, 277/460 Max. Payload: 2,250 lb. Max. Towing Capacity: 13,400 lb. Box Sizes: 5’8”, 6’6”, 8’
The Silverado offers eight trim levels and six different engine and transmission combinations. These trim packages not only offer groups of conveniences, but they also cover the very necessary work truck (WT) market right up to the opulent High Country. For 2020 they’ve tweaked a few offerings – new trailer mirrors, adaptive cruise control and engine choices available across all trim packages. The new 10-speed transmission is also being added to the 5.3L V8.
2020 CANYON AND COLORADO
The twins remain largely the same for 2020. In addition to the ZR2 off-road version, featuring front and rear electronic locking differentials; multimatic dynamic suspensions spool valve damper technology; a Wheelbases: 128”, 140.5” lifted frame; and 31” Goodyear Duratrac off-road Cab Styles: Extended Cab, Crew Cab tires, several special editions are available, and Engine Sizes: 2.5L I-4, 3.6L V6, 2.8L turbo-diesel they are still the only midsize models with a diesel Power (hp/torque): 200/191, 305/269, 181/369 option. The Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison was the Max. Payload: 1,620 lb. overall 2020 winner of the Canadian Truck King Max. Towing Capacity: 7,700 lb. (w/diesel) Challenge. Box Sizes: 5’2”, 6’2”
2020 NISSAN TITAN XD
A mild refresh has given the Titan XD a new grille, exterior Wheelbase: 151.6” and interior styling changes, as well as some new technology. Cab Style: Crew Cab The 5.6L V8 has been bumped up to 400 hp and its Engine Size: 5.6L V8 now mated to a nine-speed transmission. Unfortunately, Power (hp/torque): 400/413 the Cummins 5.0L V8 turbo-diesel that was unique in Max. Payload: 2,004 lb. this market has been dropped. Max. Towing Capacity: 12,038 lb. Box Size: 6’6”
2020 NISSAN TITAN
Like the larger XD, this halfton gets all the same metal work updates, better interior and new electronics for 2020. The line offers several trim packages.
Cab Style: Crew Cab Engine Size: 3.5L V6 Power (hp/torque): 280/262 Max. Payload: 1,600 lb. Max. Towing Capacity: 3,500 lb. Box Size: 5’3”
Wheelbase: 139.8”
Cab Styles: Regular, Crew Cab Engine Sizes: 5.6L V8 Power (hp/torque): 400/413 Max. Payload: 1,610 lb. Max. Towing Capacity: 9,390 lb. Box Sizes 6’6”
2020 HONDA RIDGELINE
Once again, the Ridgeline has no changes this year. It’s a small player in this market, but it does appeal to a select group with its car-like features and all-wheel drive. It has a unique fold-down and swinging tailgate, and a large, lockable trunk.
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