Author: Donald L. Steeby

Hydronic Heating: Systems and Applications is a comprehensive introduction to modern hydronic heating systems that focuses specifically on preparing students to become entry-level HVAC technicians. With a strong emphasis on sizing, installation, service, and troubleshooting, this textbook delivers key information required for a successful career in the HVAC field. Students will learn and build on the fundamentals of hydronic heating system design and boiler operation before being introduced to topics such as tankless heating systems, solar thermal storage applications, and outdoor wood boilers. Hydronic Heating is concisely written to reinforce comprehension and heavily illustrated with engaging illustrations and system drawings to support content mastery.

Table of Contents

Abbreviated Contents

Hydronic Heating 2e, Online Textbook

• Hydronic Heating
• • Systems and Applications
• Copyright © 2026 by The Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc.
• Preface
• About the Author
• Reviewers
• Acknowledgments
• New to This Edition
• Tools For Student And Instructor Success
• • Student Tools
  • Instructor Tools
• Features of the Textbook
• • Chapter Opening Materials
  • Additional Features
  • Illustrations
  • Expanding Your Learning
  • End-of-Chapter Content
• Brief Contents
• Contents
• Feature Contents
• • Code Note
  • Procedure
  • Timeout for Math
  • Troubleshooting
• Chapter 1 Human Comfort and Heat Transfer
• • Chapter 1 Outline
  • Chapter 1 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 1 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 1 Introduction
  • 1.1 Hydronic Heating
  • 1.2 Basic Hydronic Configurations
  • 1.3 Modern Hydronic System Configurations
  • 1.4 Heating and Human Comfort
  • 1.5 Benefits of Using Hydronic Heating
  • 1.6 Principles of Heat Transfer
  • 1.7 Heat Transfer through Piping
  • Chapter 1 Review
• Chapter 2 Safety
• • Chapter 2 Outline
  • Chapter 2 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 2 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 2 Introduction
  • 2.1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • 2.2 Fire Safety
  • 2.3 Electrical Safety
  • 2.4 Lockout/Tagout
  • 2.5 Safety with Tools and Equipment
  • 2.6 Working around Pressurized Gases
  • 2.7 Chemical Hazards
  • 2.8 Working in a Confined Space
  • 2.9 Safety in the Boiler Room
  • Chapter 2 Review
• Chapter 3 Boilers
• • Chapter 3 Outline
  • Chapter 3 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 3 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 3 Introduction
  • 3.1 Operating Pressures
  • 3.2 Types of Fuel
  • 3.3 Construction Materials and Boiler Efficiency
  • 3.4 Condensing Boilers
  • 3.5 Modulating Boilers
  • 3.6 Electric Boilers
  • 3.7 Low NOx Boilers
  • Chapter 3 Review
• Chapter 4 Gas Burners and Ignition Systems
• • Chapter 4 Outline
  • Chapter 4 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 4 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 4 Introduction
  • 4.1 Principles of Combustion
  • 4.2 The Gas Train
  • 4.3 Gas Control Valves
  • 4.4 Types of Gas-Fired Burners
  • 4.5 Ignition Systems
  • 4.6 Safety Devices for Burner Ignition Controls
  • Chapter 4 Review
• Chapter 5 Oil Systems
• • Chapter 5 Outline
  • Chapter 5 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 5 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 5 Introduction
  • 5.1 Fuel Oil Characteristics
  • 5.2 Fuel Oil Combustion
  • 5.3 Fuel Oil Piping Systems
  • 5.4 Oil Burner Components
  • 5.5 Fuel Oil Boiler Venting
  • 5.6 Combustion Analysis
  • Chapter 5 Review
• Chapter 6 Boiler Fittings and Air Removal Devices
• • Chapter 6 Outline
  • Chapter 6 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 6 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 6 Introduction
  • 6.1 Pipe Fittings
  • 6.2 Pressure and Temperature Gauges
  • 6.3 Expansion Tanks
  • 6.4 Air Removal Devices
  • Chapter 6 Review
• Chapter 7 Hydronic Piping Systems
• • Chapter 7 Outline
  • Chapter 7 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 7 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 7 Introduction
  • 7.1 The Physics of Water
  • 7.2 Steps for Proper Pipe Sizing and System Layout
  • 7.3 Piping Arrangements
  • Chapter 7 Review
• Chapter 8 Boiler Control and Safety Devices
• • Chapter 8 Outline
  • Chapter 8 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 8 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 8 Introduction
  • 8.1 Pressure Relief Valves
  • 8.2 Low-Water Cutoff
  • 8.3 Flow Switch
  • 8.4 Backflow Preventer
  • 8.5 Aquastat Relay
  • 8.6 Outdoor Reset Controller
  • 8.7 Electronic Controls
  • Chapter 8 Review
• Chapter 9 Valves
• • Chapter 9 Outline
  • Chapter 9 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 9 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 9 Introduction
  • 9.1 Isolation Valves
  • 9.2 Flow Control Valves
  • 9.3 Temperature Control Valves
  • 9.4 Specialty Valves
  • Chapter 9 Review
• Chapter 10 Circulating Pumps
• • Chapter 10 Outline
  • Chapter 10 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 10 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 10 Introduction
  • 10.1 How a Circulator Works
  • 10.3 Circulator Installation and Placement
  • 10.5 Pump Sizing and Selection
  • Chapter 10 Review
• Chapter 11 Terminal Devices
• • Chapter 11 Outline
  • Chapter 11 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 11 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 11 Introduction
  • 11.1 Choosing a Piping Configuration
  • 11.2 Finned-Tube Baseboard Units
  • 11.3 Radiators
  • 11.6 Other Types of Terminal Devices
  • Chapter 11 Review
• Chapter 12 Radiant Heating Systems
• • Chapter 12 Outline
  • Chapter 12 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 12 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 12 Introduction
  • 12.1 Principles of Using Radiant Heating
  • 12.2 Heating Sources for Radiant Systems
  • 12.3 Radiant Heat Piping Systems
  • 12.4 Radiant Floor Piping Configurations
  • 12.5 Radiant Wall and Ceiling Panels
  • 12.6 Designing Radiant Heating Systems
  • 12.7 Radiant Heating Controls
  • 12.8 Radiant Heating for Snow and Ice Melt Systems
  • Chapter 12 Review
• Chapter 13 Building Heating Loads and Print Reading
• • Chapter 13 Outline
  • Chapter 13 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 13 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 13 Introduction
  • 13.1 Performing Building Heat Load Calculations
  • 13.2 Heat Loss through Conduction
  • 13.3 Heat Loss through Infiltration
  • 13.4 Print Reading
  • 13.5 Types of Blueprints
  • Chapter 13 Review
• Chapter 14 Boiler System Design Considerations
• • Chapter 14 Outline
  • Chapter 14 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 14 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 14 Introduction
  • 14.1 Boiler Selection
  • 14.2 Combustion and Ventilation Air Requirements
  • 14.3 Boiler Venting
  • 14.4 Gas Piping
  • Chapter 14 Review
• Chapter 15 Boiler Installation
• • Chapter 15 Outline
  • Chapter 15 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 15 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 15 Introduction
  • 15.1 Boiler Installation
  • 15.2 Boiler Preparation
  • 15.3 Hydronic Piping
  • 15.4 Gas Pipe Installation
  • 15.5 Condensate Disposal
  • 15.6 Field Wiring
  • 15.7 Cascade Boiler Operation
  • Chapter 15 Review
• Chapter 16 Boiler Startup
• • Chapter 16 Outline
  • Chapter 16 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 16 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 16 Introduction
  • 16.1 Water Quality
  • 16.2 Filling and Purging the System
  • 16.3 Prestart Checklist
  • 16.4 Igniting the Burner and Sequence of Operation
  • 16.5 Combustion Testing
  • 16.6 Testing Safety Devices
  • 16.7 Freeze Protection
  • Chapter 16 Review
• Chapter 17 Boiler Maintenance and Service
• • Chapter 17 Outline
  • Chapter 17 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 17 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 17 Introduction
  • 17.1 Boiler Maintenance
  • 17.2 Boiler and Hydronic System Service
  • Chapter 17 Review
• Chapter 18 Domestic Hot Water Production
• • Chapter 18 Outline
  • Chapter 18 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 18 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 18 Introduction
  • 18.1 Types of Equipment Used for Domestic Hot Water Production
  • 18.2 Sizing for Domestic Hot Water Production
  • 18.3 Tankless Boilers
  • 18.4 Indirect Water Heaters
  • 18.5 Combi Boilers
  • 18.6 Hybrid Water Heaters
  • Chapter 18 Review
• Chapter 19 Solar Thermal Storage
• • Chapter 19 Outline
  • Chapter 19 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 19 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 19 Introduction
  • 19.1 Passive Storage Systems
  • 19.2 Active Storage Systems
  • 19.3 Solar Collectors
  • 19.4 Application Selection for Solar Thermal Storage
  • 19.5 Thermal Storage System Installation
  • 19.6 System Piping
  • 19.7 Control Strategies for Solar Thermal Systems
  • 19.8 Filling and Starting Up the System
  • 19.9 Additional Applications for Solar Thermal Storage
  • Chapter 19 Review
• Chapter 20 Outdoor Wood Boilers
• • Chapter 20 Outline
  • Chapter 20 Learning Outcomes
  • Chapter 20 Technical Terms
  • Chapter 20 Introduction
  • 20.1 Sizing the Boiler
  • 20.2 Installation of Outdoor Boilers
  • 20.3 Additional Applications
  • 20.4 Boiler Maintenance
  • Chapter 20 Review
• Glossary
• • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • Z
• Index
• • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • Z