Solar Heating
other types

When using solar heating equipment with baseboards or air handling units, there is almost always a necessity for a water storage tank. Since in such systems we do not have a mass floor in which to store heat, we must store btu’s for night-time use. Water is excellent thermal mass, and rectangular tanks are available that conserve space and provide our installers with a lot of plumbing options and configurations.

As these systems can take many shapes, they are typically custom-designed. For the purposes of general information, it should be noted that heat is transferred most effectively from liquid to liquid or from liquid to solid. When transferring heat from liquid to air, efficiency is reduced calling for higher temperatures, higher flow rates, and longer run-times for many components.

There are some manufacturers of baseboard and hydronic air-handling units who offer higher heat output at lower temperatures. These units are sometimes more expensive than conventional heat distribution equipment but can save a lot of money on the installation of the solar equipment or on fuel costs over time.