Forced air is still the traditional method of heating homes, but radiant heat is gaining significant momentum as an alternative. According to HGTV, the growth rate of in-floor radiant heating systems was estimated at 30 to 50 percent per year. At the heart of this shift is not just one single benefit. It’s a variety of advantages Read more
Viega
Forced air is still the traditional method of heating homes, but radiant heat is gaining significant momentum as an alternative. According to HGTV, the growth rate of in-floor radiant heating systems was estimated at 30 to 50 percent per year.
At the heart of this shift is not just one single benefit. It’s a variety of advantages that radiant floor heating systems bring to the table, the combination of which enhance the daily lives of a home’s occupants:
Even Heat Distribution
When a house is heated by a forced-air system, it will always be warmest near the vents that distribute the air. This can lead to “hotspots” on one end of a room while the other side of the room remains cool. And because hot air rises, upstairs rooms will be warmer than those downstairs.
With radiant floor heating systems, homeowners control how heat circulates in their home. Rather than heating the surrounding air, the heat that radiates from the floor warms other objects in the room and is evenly distributed without the potential for heat loss.
Improved Air Quality
While air pollution is more often associated with the outdoors, indoor air can be dirty as well. Whether it’s dust, pet dander or chemicals from fragrances (among other sources) that pollute the air, forced-air systems exacerbate the problem for allergy sufferers. That’s because the forced, heated air will stir up and mix with these airborne particles.
Since radiant floor heating systems don’t move air to deliver heat, the circulation of indoor particles is minimized. With less pollutants blown around, indoor air quality improves, which benefits allergy sufferers.
No Ductwork
The ductwork in forced-air systems further contributes to air pollution. When it’s riddled with cracks and holes, more dust and odors can enter and circulate. Without proper insulation, these same cracks and holes can cause air to leak out of the system and hinder its overall efficiency.
With no ducts, radiant floor heating systems reduce the churn of dust and allergens while curtailing heat loss. The absence of ducts means less work for homeowners as it eliminates the need for repairs like cleaning out ducts clogged with particles or adding insulation when heat loss mounts.
Energy Savings
With their uneven distribution of heat and potential for heat loss, traditional heating systems can be energy hogs.
Depending on how well a house is insulated, radiant floor systems can save up to 30 percent compared to forced-air systems. In terms of bills, the impact is quite significant as space heating is the largest energy expense for the average U.S. home, accounting for around 45 percent of energy bills.
Noiseless Operation
Homes should be quiet, but forced-air systems can be noisy as furnaces cycle on and off, gaps in the ductwork whistle and loose parts rattle.
By comparison, radiant floor heating systems are exceptionally quiet.
As consumers learn more about the advantages of radiant heating, its popularity will continue to grow.
Josh Quint is product manager, heating and cooling, for Viega LLC.
Industry veteran Terry Samona has been named Vice President of Human Resources at Viega LLC. Terry oversees human resources management and development at Viega’s operations in the U.S., including headquarters and a seminar center in Broomfield, Colo.; a manufacturing plant and distribution hub in McPherson, Kan.; three additional distribution centers in Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania Read more
Industry veteran Terry Samona has been named Vice President of Human Resources at Viega LLC.
Terry oversees human resources management and development at Viega’s operations in the U.S., including headquarters and a seminar center in Broomfield, Colo.; a manufacturing plant and distribution hub in McPherson, Kan.; three additional distribution centers in Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania; and a seminar center in Nashua, N.H.
“Terry’s skill and experience make him the right person to ensure we continue to hire and develop the best people,” said CEO Dave Garlow. “Viega owes its growth and industry-leading status to its exceptional employees and we know Terry can help us improve our processes and policies even further.”
“I very much look forward to partnering with the executive team and our colleagues to develop an aligned HR strategy,” Samona said. “We want to enable growth while maintaining an environment where a strong culture of striving for excellence and living our Viega Values continues to offer us a competitive advantage in the markets that we serve.”
Samona’s entire career has been in human resources. Prior to joining Viega, he was vice president of human resources at Hach Environmental. He previously held leadership positions at Honeywell International and Entergy Corp.
He has a master’s degree in psychology from Mississippi State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University.
For more information on Viega, click here.
One of the things that keeps contractors up at night is worrying about where their next qualified hire is going to come from. The shortage of skilled workers in the trades is severe and getting worse. Seventy percent of construction companies nationwide are having trouble finding qualified workers, according to the Associated General Contractors of Read more
One of the things that keeps contractors up at night is worrying about where their next qualified hire is going to come from.
The shortage of skilled workers in the trades is severe and getting worse. Seventy percent of construction companies nationwide are having trouble finding qualified workers, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.
And if Congress ever does approve a much-needed infrastructure package, the need will be even greater.
We in the trades can hope parents will stop pushing the necessity of a four-year degree to every child, regardless of interest or qualifications, but there are more practical measures we can take in the meantime.
Last year, Viega LLC launched the Viega Trades Education Network (VTEN) to boost the ranks and skills of students studying the design, installation and function of plumbing and hydronic systems. Viega is partnering with trade schools, community colleges and the UA in the United States and Canada to subsidize and provide training on mechanical systems.
VTEN is about providing a better education for those already enrolled and supporting the schools and instructors that are training the next generation of workers. Like all educational institutions, these schools don’t have the budgets and resources to deliver everything they’d like to give their students.
As members of VTEN, schools get comprehensive curriculum modules that easily integrate into existing programs. The modules include Hydronics 101, Piping & Controls, Radiant Design, Trades Math, Blueprint Reading, CAD and BIM, and more. In addition, Viega provides functional demonstration units supported by lesson plans and projects and a complete tooling package.
Educators receive admission to an annual VTEN conference in Colorado or New Hampshire, including hotel, airfare, food and admission; Viega and direct vendor support of BlueVolt® eLearning platform; hands-on tool demonstrations and LoopCAD® license options and instructor training.
The LoopCAD package includes on-site orientation to the network and a Zoning Demonstration Board and Mixing Demonstration Board to give students hands-on experience in troubleshooting systems.
And, of course, VTEN offers credentialed classes for Viega products, including ProPress® and MegaPress®.
But the program doesn’t stop there. Schools also receive a RIDGID® RP-340 tool or Milwaukee M18® Force Logic Press Tool with a set of jaws for metal and PEX, as well as samples of various types of pipe and couplings for each student.
The first students in VTEN will graduate soon and we welcome them to the ranks of the trades. We invite other companies to follow suit and join us in building the workforce of the future.
Lino Santoro is Viega Trades Education Network (VTEN) Manager.
Viega, the leader in press fitting technology, is introducing MegaPress® Stainless XL® fittings for 2½”, 3″ and 4″ pipe. The new fittings join the current MegaPress Stainless offerings of ½”, ¾”, 1″, 1½” and 2″ sizes to create a comprehensive lineup for a broad variety of applications, including maintenance and repair. Designed for Iron Pipe Read more
Viega, the leader in press fitting technology, is introducing MegaPress® Stainless XL® fittings for 2½”, 3″ and 4″ pipe. The new fittings join the current MegaPress Stainless offerings of ½”, ¾”, 1″, 1½” and 2″ sizes to create a comprehensive lineup for a broad variety of applications, including maintenance and repair.
Designed for Iron Pipe Size (IPS) stainless steel, the new line of MegaPress Stainless XL fittings makes secure connections in seconds, which helps keep a project on time or ahead of schedule. MegaPress fittings reduce installation time by up to 90 percent compared to traditional pipe joining methods.
Combining productivity with peace of mind, MegaPress Stainless XL fittings are equipped with patented Viega Smart Connect® technology, which allows installers to easily identify unpressed connections during pressure testing. And MegaPress Stainless XL fittings offer the same proven quality and durability as all Viega products, bringing complete confidence to every job.
“Since Viega introduced MegaPress Stainless fittings in 2017, customers have been asking for them in larger sizes,” said Dominic Küng, Viega Product Manager for Metals. “The new XL fittings will allow customers to experience the same time savings and quality they expect from MegaPress fittings on an even greater number and variety of jobs.”
MegaPress Stainless XL fittings are available in 304 and 316 stainless steel and are approved for use with Schedule 10 to Schedule 40 pipe.
In addition to its stainless steel lineup, Viega also offers MegaPress fittings for carbon steel pipe up to 4″ and copper nickel alloy pipe up to 2″.
For more information on the new line of MegaPress Stainless XL fittings, visit www.viega.us/mpstainless.
New CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress® combines CircuitSolver® balancing technology and Viega ProPress® ends. ThermOmegaTech®, a world leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuating, thermostatic valve technology, adds the CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress® (CSUA-PP) to its distinguished line of products. The CircuitSolver® is a domestic hot water system balancing valve that continuously and automatically adjusts the Read more
New CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress® combines CircuitSolver® balancing technology and Viega ProPress® ends.
ThermOmegaTech®, a world leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuating, thermostatic valve technology, adds the CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress® (CSUA-PP) to its distinguished line of products.
The CircuitSolver® is a domestic hot water system balancing valve that continuously and automatically adjusts the flow through each branch of a water recirculation system to maintain the specified temperature at the end of each branch, regardless of fluctuations in demand. The CSUA-PP combines the CircuitSolver® technology professionals trust and Viega® ProPress® ends for improved ease of installation.
Lauren Berenato, Commercial Plumbing Product Manager at ThermOmegaTech® says, “The CircuitSolver® product line is revolutionizing the plumbing industry by making domestic hot water system balancing automatic and continuous. The CSUA-PP’s Viega® ProPress® ends makes it even easier for tradesmen to implement our technology into their systems, saving them time and labor costs.”
Each CSUA-PP incorporates Viega®’s Smart Connect Technology. Identifiable by a small dot on each ProPress® end, it allows installers to easily identify un-pressed connections during installation. The CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress® is lead-free, resistant to corrosion, and all components are NSF 61 Certified. In addition, each and every CSUA-PP valve is leak tested prior to leaving the factory and comes equipped with a long service life and 3-year warranty.
ThermOmegaTech®’s CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress® is available for purchase through your local representative. For more information visit www.circuitsolver.com or call 877-379-8258.