I have heard different things about hydro air systems.
I am considering getting one because it is a 5000 SF house and a 1500+ SF addition is planned and I heard that it is easier to expand a hydro system and is better for larger houses. However, I have read some complaints, such as this one:
I would not install a hydro-air system. We just moved into a new house
(8 yrs old) with hydro-air. The house is about 2800sf and has central
a/c too. It has 9" of insulation in the attic, 4" in the walls, plus
vinyl siding with a thin layer of foam insulation. We live in MA, so
it get very cold here. I don't like the heating system at all. In the
winter it runs anytime the sinks are turned on (even if you aren't
using hot water). And because it uses a blower run by electricity and
hot water heated by oil, you are essentially tied into using 2 fuels
to heat your house. Inefficient. During summer, I turn the whole
system off, except when I need some hot water to shower. We saved over
$100/month in electricity alone by doing this… not to mention the
oil. We have not lived in this house for a full winter yet. We moved
in in March, which was the coldest March on record. This house used
100 gal of oil in 10 days with the heat set to 60 degrees while nobody
was even living here.
Is there validity to this complaint?
Best Answer
I live in Pennsylvania and almost every large building would have what you are calling a "hydro-ai system. They utilize a hot water or steam boiler for the heating side and an optional chilled water system for the A/C system. I never worked on the chilled water systems but have 40+ years on the boilers. These systems work great as long as the system is designed correctly. I have only seen these systems installed in very large houses of the super rich since the installed cost is extremely high. They are not for normal size houses due to cost. I would recommend that you hire a professional engineer that specializes in these type systems specifically an engineer that does large buildings and ask for an overall assessment of the system including operational efficiencies and projected costs. My neighbor has a geothermal heat pump that provides heating and A/C and also partial domestic hot water heating tied to a duct system (forced air) at a fraction of my cost to heat and cool the same size house. My own preference for a 2500 approx. house would be a forced air furnace with A/C. (geothermal, if you can afford it). Your house may more than 1 system due to it's size.