During this age of rapid technological advancement, the basic science of hydronic systems remains relatively the same. The difference between the systems of old and modern hydronic systems lies in the technological and installation upgrades that elevate the basic science to a whole new level.
For example, Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing & Heating in Brooklyn, New York, explained that in the past, most hydronic boilers were vented into the open air through a chimney. Regardless of whether the system was designed for steam or hot water, it had a standing gas pilot, he said.