Air-to-water heat pumps and geothermal water-to-water heat pumps are being increasingly used as hydronic heat sources in residential and light commercial buildings. Almost all such heat pumps come equipped with refrigerant reversing valves allowing them to function as chillers. This enables hydronic system professionals to enhance their offerings by including whole-building cooling in addition to space heating and domestic water heating.

Small-scale chilled water cooling systems can be configured several ways depending upon the size of the project, client expectations, and budget. When properly designed and installed these systems provide several advantages over competing methods of cooling. However, there are critical details that must be respected to avoid problems, provide good performance, and ensure long system life.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the benefits of hydronic-based cooling relative to other approaches.
2. Understand the importance of piping system insulation to prevent condensation issues
3. Learn about several types of terminal units for hydronic-based cooling
4. See examples of systems for small scale chilled water cooling that also provides heating and domestic hot water

Join us to unlock the answers to the following:
• Is it necessary to insulate PEX tubing that transports chilled fluids?
• Is there more than one way to zone chilled water cooling?
• Can a heat pump provide both cooling and domestic hot water during summer months?
• What approach can be used to provide multi-zone heating along with single zone cooling?