In This Issue a Tom LeDuc thinks the Hydronic Department could increase the company's sales by as much as 15%   "If you've ever had radiant heating in your home, you can't go back," vows Tom Schefer   "The automotive industry is a possible growth area for radiant heating"

We've Got Radiant Heating & Cooling For You	THE COMPANY

Tom Schefer is the manager of LeDuc & Dexter's  new Hydronic Department. (click image to enlarge)

LeDuc & Dexter recently unveiled their new Hydronic Department headed by Tom Schefer. Schefer had been in business for himself in a four generation, 58-year-old company specializing in boilers and Hydronic. Coming to LeDuc & Dexter along with Schefer is his wife, Laurie, and son, Brad. Laurie operates in an administrative capacity within the Hydronic Department focusing on schedules and assisting with project management. Brad is working in the field for the Hydronic Department.

Schefer is excited to be a part of a bigger operation that affords him the resources he needs to run numerous projects simultaneously, "This is great - because of the manpower we have at the company I can request the people I need to meet the schedules and take on more work." Laurie Schefer is equally impressed with her new surroundings, "I'm very happy and excited to be here. The support is incredible."

LeDuc & Dexter is now in better position to take advantage of new opportunities in winery cave and cellar construction along with high-end homes where most radiant Hydronic heating and cooling is used. Tom LeDuc thinks the Hydronic Department could increase the company's sales by as much as 15%. As for Tom Schefer, LeDuc had this to say, "I've known him for years. We've been friendly competitors and we've worked together. We've had him do Hydronic heating and cooling in wineries for us as a subcontractor."

Laurie Schefer works in the Hydronic Department office assisting with project management. (click image to enlarge)

Unlike many trends in business in the U.S., the western states including California are somewhat behind in the emergence of radiant heating in homes. In France, for example, half of the new homes being built have radiant heating in their floors. In the eastern region of the U.S. many homes are built with radiant snow melting systems in their roofs and this has led to more homes in those colder climates being built with radiant heating in their floors. With energy concerns always looming in California residential radiant heating could be a consideration in the near future for track homes.

LeDuc & Dexter has once again moved progressively ahead by offering a new service to its customers. Radiant Hydronic heating and cooling is a fairly new trend in wineries and custom homes in California. For everyone else - it could be the next big thing.
 

Radiant Heating In The Home	RESIDENTIAL

"If you've ever had radiant heating in your home, you can't go back," vows Tom Schefer, manager of LeDuc & Dexter's newly formed Hydronic Department. By going back, Schefer is referring to central or forced air heating, which is found in most homes. "Radiant heating has no fans, there's no dust, no pollen and it's silent. It's like standing in sunshine, the heat radiates directly to you. It's total comfort."

In effect you are standing on the heating element, the floor, where the heating tubes are embedded. Most new construction uses a lightweight concrete over pour on the tubing layout to create a heated slab floor. A boiler heats the water, which is circulated through the tubing by the manifold box or boxes. The floor is heated and in turn the entire room receives the radiant heat that rises evenly from its source. Thermostats and timers can control the temperatures of rooms or sections of the home while other areas or rooms are set at a different temperature or can be shut off entirely with zone valves or actuators.

This quick track radiant heating sub floor will be covered with a finished hardwood floor. (click image to enlarge) This Hydronic manifold has valves that the homeowner can shut off and open to distribute heating to different areas of the home. (click image to enlarge)

The pre-packaged mechanical module, hot water tank and square boiler supply the radiant heating source for this residential application. (click image to enlarge)

About 50% of the local residential radiant heating market is in remodeling and retrofit projects. Baseboard and under floor systems are used for these applications, such as the quick-track method, which is prefabricated plywood with a groove through it and an aluminum reflector under it. Typically it is laid on top of the sub floor with tubing and it replaces an over pour. The quick-track method can also be used in new construction when the structural environment will not support a concrete slab. The quick-track method is actually more expensive than the over pour method.

Most of the radiant Hydronic heating systems are being installed in custom homes. Schefer and his Hydronic Department are presently starting a high-end residential project in Rutherford in the Napa Valley that employs a geothermal radiant heating system, which heats well water to supply the heating source.

In the end, of course, it's not any one of the many innovative methods or systems that sells the idea of radiant Hydronic heating. The selling point is the level of comfort that the system delivers to the homeowner. As Schefer reminds, "Once you've had radiant heating, you'll never go back."
 

Radiant Heating & Cooling In Businesses	COMMERCIAL

Hydronic layout before lightweight cement floor is poured in the tasting room at Stryker Sonoma. (click image to enlarge)

Radiant Hydronic heating and cooling is spreading through the commercial sector including wineries, wine caves and other businesses that are taking advantage of its benefits. Tom Schefer had previously done Hydronic work for LeDuc & Dexter as a subcontractor at wineries like Stryker Sonoma in Alexander Valley and Nickel & Nickel Vineyards in Oakville in the Napa Valley.

Schefer points out that other commercial businesses are seeing the potential in radiant Hydronic heating for expansive areas such as an aircraft hangar, which has a floor area of over 10,000 square feet. Schefer is currently bidding that project, "The mechanics and maintenance workers would have a much more comfortable work area and the energy savings to heat the hangar would be considerable."

As apposed to the residential radiant heating market that is currently aimed at upper end homes Schefer sees the opportunity to expand the commercial market to more mainstream businesses, "The automotive industry is a possible growth area for radiant heating. Most auto repair companies have cement slab floors that are very cold to stand or work on during the winter months. Radiant heating is ideal for that industry."

Zone Pumps control the hot water to each radiant heating zone. (click image to enlarge)

The wine cave trend is a focal point for LeDuc & Dexter's Hydronic Department. Along with their plumbing expertise in new construction, retrofitting and remodeling of wineries, LeDuc & Dexter now offers radiant cooling installation for wine caves. The economic outlook for the wine industry indicates a rebound this year after two years of flat sales and overproduction of wine and vineyard plantings. Since many wineries add wine caves to existing wineries LeDuc & Dexter is now in a better position to approach those project with their new Hydronic Department.

Prior to coming aboard at LeDuc & Dexter Schefer installed a number of radiant cooling systems for wine caves. Lower energy costs along with a minimum of barrel evaporation, normally caused by cooling fans are major benefits of radiant cooling in wine caves. Now it's time for other business sectors to discover and reap the many benefits of radiant Hydronic heating and cooling.