Hydronic Forced Air Unit Sizing

[Countryboy1966]

Search results turned up nothing so I figured I would start a thread. I found a deal on a Hyrdonic Forced Air Unit but the problem is it is way bigger than I need.

Specs state 220,000 BTU's hr at 200° Water with other ambient environment conditions.

Clearly overkill for my shop that has a heat loss of 60,000 BTU/hr.

Can I still use it successfully to heat although I understand if I ran it full bore - it would have to make sure my mixing is set right on the return line on the boiler.

I'm hoping I can use it for the balance of the season then use it next year in my 40X60 Addition.

 

[Fsappo]

You just need a way to dump the heat, right? Set up a modine style heater outside?

 

[Countryboy1966]

I want to heat my shop with it.. I found a great deal on a unit that has 220,000 BTU output but it is way oversize for the current size but would be good for future shop. I want to check to make sure I'm not running into other issues I'm not aware of if I use it now.

 

[brant2000]

Hyrdonic Forced Air Unit

Do you mean a furnace style (with a cabinet mounted blower) or a unit heater (propeller fan mounted behind a coil)? Either way, it would probably work fine. Using an oversized unit would just mean that it's going to cycle on less often.

 

[peakbagger]

I have an oversized unit heater that I got for cheap, it had a large horsepower fan on it, I swapped out the fan with a smaller diameter fan and blanked off the opening to match. It puts out a lot less heat but the circulation around the basement is not as good. A variable speed drive would be the ticket but single phase VF drives are rare

 

[Countryboy1966]

Unit heater. Propeller fan mounted behind a coil.

 

[heaterman]

Should be no problem. Worst thing it's going to do is short cycle.

 

[davem3261]

You can also run lower water Temps like 140-160. What size boiler do you have? I have a 60000 or 80000 btu modine in my garage that will bring my boiler temp from 185 to 170 in a hurry. It does recover fairly quick unless there are multiple zones calling in the house.