Does hydronic heating ever seem mysterious to you? Do you ever get intimidated by the array of complex mathematical calculations that are used to determine things like flow rates and pipe sizes? Fear not, as Bell & Gossett has developed some Rules of Thumb to help guide you through the sizing and selection process. Whether you are new to hydronic heat or an established hydronic professional, you will find these rules of thumb to be of value when designing your next hydronic project.

Of course, we encourage everyone involved in the hydronic heating business to advance their knowledge of system design, installation and service. Our Little Red Schoolhouse offers a comprehensive series of classes that cover all aspects of hydronic heating and cooling applications from simple one-pipe residential to ultra-sophisticated large chilled water systems for commercial buildings. Contact your local B&G representative for more information.

At McDonnell & Miller, we are often asked if it is possible to run a hot water zone off an existing steam boiler without a heat exchanger. The answer is yes, but there are some very important issues to consider. First of all, you have to keep in mind that there is a limit to how much radiation your steam boiler will support. You must also keep in mind the harshness and particulate matter present in most steam systems will require the use of an all bronze three-piece style circulator. There are also some unique piping requirements that must be considered.

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When designing a system, a perfect balance between performance optimization, design flexibility and cost is the key to every engineer’s success. Learn about Variable Volume Pumping and see how it can help you on your next project.

Learn about products designed for variable volume, variable primary, primary-secondary and variable speed applications.

Earlier, we talked about the origins of the B&G circulator pump and the MonoFlo fitting. Forced hot water heating, as typified by the B&G Triple Duty System, proved so successful from the standpoints of greater comfort and economical operation that it was the logical successor to steam heat. In the middle of 1935, B&G embarked on educating trade, architects, contractors and the general public on the merits of forced hot water circulation. In 1940, B&G issued its first Handbook.

Take a look at this historical document:
Section-1-Principles-of-Indirect-Domestic-Water-Heating.pdf
Section-2-Principles-of-Forced-Hot-Water-Heating.pdf
Section-3-Heat-Loss-Determination.pdf
Section-4-Electrical-Controls.pdf
Section-5-Hydro-Flo-Products.pdf
Section-6-Supplementary-Data.pdf