Managing and repairing our water heating systems is a task we tend to leave to plumbers – and with good reason.  Complex pipe and valve systems often leave homeowners and ambitious do-it-yourselfers scratching their heads (or worse, underwater).  Understanding how a pipe system works provides a look into the inner workings of your home’s radiator heating system and helps ensure that you know when it’s time to call a professional.

A hydronic hot-water system uses a motor to distribute hot water through pipes throughout the home.  Because water retains heat, it is used to transfer energy as well as to provide hot water from the tap.   The system can be hydronic – meaning that is uses a motor to distribute water through the pipes – or it can be gravity-based, meaning that the continuous flow of hot water upward circulates the heated water from the boiler through the pipes in your home.  The hot water in this type of heating system flows through radiators to heat the home.  Other gravity-based systems use convector radiators, which use fans to distribute the heat.

It is important for the system to be “in balance”- meaning that the flow of water through the system corresponds to the water flow rates that were engineered for that particular system.  If the system is not in balance, flow will be uneven; water will be unequally distributed throughout the pipes of the home and heat will not be evenly distributed throughout the building.

If you experience uneven heat distribution in your home, consider calling a professional to examine the system.  It’s important for the installer to select the appropriate balancing valves for the heating system.  This ensures the correct distribution of flow and equal heating throughout the home.  Automatic balancing valves can help maintain the appropriate distribution of flow by reading the pressure of the system and adjusting accordingly.  Flo-Pac pipe and valve distributors provide a high-quality line of automatic balancing valves to ensure proper pressure in your home radiator heating system.  For more information and product options, visit them online.