Good to Know Blog

Runtal's Bisque Collection

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:54:56 -0500

Runtal North America is pleased to announce the addition of The Bisque Collection to our family of decorative radiant heating products. For more than 25 years, Bisque has been regarded as the leading innovator throughout Europe of “heating art”. Cutting edge designs have been commissioned from designers and artisans throughout Europe.

The Bisque Collection consists of five models: (1) Hot Spring, (2) Flow Form, (3) Seta, (4) Quadrato and (5) Hot Hoop. The radiators in the collection operate as part of a closed loop hot water heating system and have both residential and commercial applications.

HOT SPRING

Designed by Priestman Goode for
Bisque, the award winning design of
the Hot Spring, captures a tightly
coiled elegance.

Available in two sizes in white,
chrome and metallica finnishes.

FLOW FORM

The industrial heating element appears
as a beautiful object in its own right. Flow Form’s
spiral fins designed for technical efficiency add a
dramatic twist to modern living.

Available in three lengths in white, matt black,
argenta and chrome finishes.

SETA

Seta’s revolutionary design with
rounded “pepper shaker tops”
makes a bold and powerful
statement. Perfect for placement
under windows. Add the attractive
chrome towel bar accessory and
the Seta becomes a towel radiator.

Available in two sizes in white,
matt black, metallica and chrome finishes.

QUADRATO

Far from square, the new angular
towel radiator makes a statement in
a modern bathroom. The square tube
design complements perfectly the
latest trend of square faucets and
fittings.

Available in three sizes in white and
chrome finishes.

HOT HOOP

The Hot Hoop, designed by
Priestman Goode for Bisque,
encircles empty space in a series
of sinuous coils.

Available in white, metallica and
mirrored stainless steel finishes.

For more information, click: info@rdes.ca

Watts ThermalPro Unit

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:40:30 -0500

Give your customers a professional, clean installation that says quality.

The ThermalPro™ boiler connection station is a compact, pre-piped mechanical system with circulator, isolation ball valves, thermometers, pressure bypass valve, and on mixing boiler stations, a 3-way 24Volt mixing valve designed to connect directly to a hydronic heating system. The ThermalPro™ boiler station is designed to speed up the installation by providing a complete compact piping and mixing system ready to go. The ThermalPro™boiler stations can handle up to 150,000 Btu/H. The ThermalPro™ can provide a wide range of control to accommodate many project applications from hydronic air handlers to baseboards with the non-mixed boiler station to low temperature floor heating with the mixed boiler station by connecting the mixing valve to the mixing control of your choice. The mixing valve is equipped with a manual adjustment knob, which can be used for single zone operation or temporary control of a multi-zone system. An electric mixing control should be added for proper control of the water temperature with the 24V motor provided.

Why use Watts ThermalPro™ boiler connection technology on your projects?

Professional Appearance
- After installation, the mechanical piping has the look of an appliance, rather than a piping maze, the building owners and builders will actually be able to follow with ease.

Quick Installation
- Saves time and money.
- Combine several units if necessary to accommodate even the more complicated systems with our manifold connector.

Saves Energy
- Boiler boxes are completely insulated to keep the mechanical room temperature down and deliver the heat where it is needed.

Warranty
- Mechanical room components are warranted by one manufacturer.
- Watts Industries provide a one year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Trunk Material ...Brass
Thread /Connection Type ... 1-1/4” Npt Union
Max Operating Temperature……..…110ºC (230ºF)
Max Operating Pressure………..…..145psi (10 bar)

Components:
•Isolation Ball Valves with Temperature gauge
•Manifold Adapters 1-1/4” NPT Union (optional 1-1/4” copper sweat adapters available)
•Pressure By-Pass Valve
•Watts UPS15-58U union pump
•Built-in flow check valves
•Temperature Sensor Immersion Wells
•3-Way 24-Volt Mixing Valve (on mixing Temperature model)

For more information, click: info@rdes.ca

Danfoss Introduces new Programmable thermostat for Electric RFH

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:11:42 -0500

Danfoss Heating, a leading manufacturer of intelligent electric floor heating systems and outdoor systems for ice and snow melting, is proud to release the new Danfoss LX Series Thermostats.

The new Danfoss LX Series thermostats have been developed with a special focus on design in both interface and appearance. The menu is extremely intuitive and installation is quick and easy. The programmable thermostat offers full control of energy consumption and maximum comfort adapted to individual needs. The thermostat has a four-event-day energy saving programming available with built-in Class A GFCI for maximum safety.

Efficient, intuitive and stylish
Developed for the modern home, the new thermostats offer maximum comfort and a stylish design. The installation design of the thermostats has been carefully thought through ensuring quick and easy installation.

The intuitive Danfoss LX series includes both programmable and non-programmable thermostats, and with an extra power module even large applications can be controlled with a single installation. The standardized design line makes the new series perfect for projects where both types of controls are being used. The new Danfoss LX series is approved by UL to meet the highest standards for the US market.

Watch the: New Online Thermostat Tutorial

The tutorial features the programmable and
non-programmable thermostats, as well as the power
module. It is broken down several different sections:

• Setting the Time and Day
• Testing GFCI
• Quick Set Temperature
• Temporary Override
• Readout
• Programming

The Tutorial ensures that the easy to use thermostats
are even more user-friendly.

“Tips for Selecting Electric Radiant Floor Heating Systems” has been published in the December/January 2009/10 issue of Electrical Business Magazine. Read the full article.

For more information, click: info@rdes.ca

Radiant Floor Heating - Electric or Hydronic?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:31:24 -0400

Just because you have forced air heating doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the comforts and benefits of radiant floor heating. Its not a hidden secret, radiant heating is far superior to the forced air systems which are being installed. Radiant floor heating is available in either hydronic or electric.

Electric radiant heating - with the use of the Danfoss LX mat,
installation couldn’t be any easier. Electric cables are spaced
at 3” centers and secured to a perforated mat which sticks to
the subfloor. Total thickness of this product is 1/8”. The
electric cables/mat underneath the floor heats up as electricity
is conducted through it, heating the floor surface evenly
throughout the room without a sound.

The end of the cable is attached usually to a programmable controller
which can control the floor surface temperature or the air temperature
in that room or both. The Danfoss controller allows you to easily program
your radiant floor heating schedule into its large interfaced controller.
Most homeowners will choose electric radiant heating in rooms which
have cold floors such as the bathroom and kitchen. Others rooms
include rooms over a garage or any floor with a ceramic/stone finish.
This type of heating is especially nice when you get up in the morning
and everything is cold.

Hydronic Heating: Involves heating water, hot water is then circulated through a good PEX pipe (WattsRadiant PEX) which is placed underneath the floor. In most cases the PEX pipe is put into a concrete slab - ideal for basement floors. For dry floors (floor joist and subfloor) you have a couple of options;

1) WattsRadiant Subray system over the existing subfloor - raises your finished floor 3/4”.
2) from underneath the subfloor, between the floor joists or
3) lightweight concrete pour over the subfloor - raises your finished floor a minimum 1-5/8”. With this
said hydronic heated floors are more complicated to install and more expensive than their electric
counterparts.

An important item which needs to be taken into consideration when doing any form of radiant floor heating is the floor finish. Most floor finishes are suitable with floor heating providing the floor has been prepared correctly and any manufacturer's temperature guidelines have been adhered to. For additional information on floor finishes.

Hydronic heated floors stay warmer longer than electric heated floors because water carries the heat longer than electricity. Another advantage is that you can heat the water in a variety of ways such as gas, electricity, oil, propane even solar. This gives you a little more versatility than with electric radiant heat.

No matter which type of radiant floor heating you choose, it will make your home warmer and more comfortable for a long time to come. The best part is that its silent, clean and evenly distributed and will make you wonder why you didn’t this years ago.

For more information, click: info@rdes.ca

Ecobee Smart Thermostat

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 12:55:02 -0400

This is the most amazing and easy-to-use thermostat in the marketplace today!

The ecobee Smart Thermostat uses a full color LCD touch screen,
intelligent features and over-the-air software upgradeability for the
future. It is designed to be easy and efficient to install. The
programmable 7-day thermostat's touch-screen technology is simple to
navigate, and the thermostat's intelligent programs save you more
energy and money. Customers can access the thermostat's settings from
their computer or any wi-fi / internet enabled device.

Registering your ecobee Smart Thermostat will allow you to access it
from anywhere through your personalized web portal. Receive live
weather feeds, temperature alerts and helpful reminders that are
available if the Smart Thermostat is connected to your home's wireless
router. The ecobee web portal also allows you to program your
thermostat from anywhere with internet access. Another unparalleled
feature of the ecobee Smart Thermostat is its ability to send you email
reminders when the system needs service or when it's time to change
the filter, and send special alerts if there is an issue with your heating /
cooling system.

At the ecobee website, view a demonstration of the thermostat as well as
your own personal online interface to control this amazing thermostat.

Standard Features:

• 3.5” Color touch screen display
• Wi-Fi enabled with internet accessibility
• Precision +/-1º F (0.5ºC temperature control)
• Supports multi-stage systems (up to 4 heat / 2 cool)
• Intelligent heating and cooling algorithms
• Humidity monitoring and control
• 7 day programming schedules
• Vacation scheduling
• Advanced furnace fan control
• Ventilator control
• Setting optimization mode
• Automatic set back calculation
• Quick Save energy conservation
• Frost control setting
• Flood detection capability

This award-winning green technology company, has released a new iPhone and iPod touch app for the ecobee Smart Thermostat. The new application, is free of charge and
this further distinguishes the ecobee Smart Thermostat from other
programmable thermostats on the market.

For the app click here: ecobee Smart Thermostat App

For more information, click: info@rdes.ca