Can anyone offer their thoughts on hydronic air heating systems? I currently have a 20+yr old oil fired forced hot air system with a stand alone oil fired hot water tank and would like to replace them with a hydronic air system to produce both heat and hot water at the same time. By removing the hw tank I can also vent a wood stove into the shared chimney flue as a supplemental source of heat. (I currently vent the hw tank and furnace into the same flue)
Seeing that I have duct work in place for the current system is it correct to assume that I can use the same ducts with the new system?

Questions
1. How efficient is hydro-air?
2. What are costs associated with this system?

I have Hydro air in my home. Three separate fan coil systems and three central air systems. I did this to be able to zone the home and when I did the additions all I had to do was run the boiler copper lines to the new addition.

It is a expensive set up and I would think twice before you make that move.

The best thing you can do is get estimates for what you want to do then decide.

How efficient is hydro-air?

Only as efficient as the boiler you use to make the hot water.

Thank you for your reply, I will be doing my research before deciding what to do, as asking this in a public forum is the first step in thisprocess.

When you say "expensive to install" in what price range are we looking at (my home is 1700 sf located in coastal Massachusetts). Who manufactered the system for your home (and would you mind sharing your sf/cost to heat your home for comparison sake?)

Thanks...

I have no idea how much mine cost because I did it myself during the many years I owned the corporation. My system has been in for almost 30 years.

There is no way to estimate the cost unless you have a contractor estimate for you. Way to many variables.

No one manufactured my system. It used a now extinct Paloma Pac boiler and the hot water coils were ordered from Bryant Corporation. The boiler is NON condensing and runs 80% efficiency. Just below condensing. It is a very simple system except for the computer that runs the zones. Since there were no programs available I wrote it and it runs a modified unix system as controller.

OK... do you run ac off it to? Is there much maintenance to the system?

A/C yes I mentioned it already

Three separate fan coil systems and three central air systems

Is there much maintenance to the system

Not unless it breaks.