“I can’t think of a better application for a pre-school,” said Dennis Gardner, president of Snowmelt Systems of Colorado. “Since children sit and crawl on the floor so much, they need to have a higher floor temperature,” he said.

State code requires that the school maintains a minimum floor temp among other things. A traditional forced-air system must run at a higher temperature, he continued, with other drawbacks such as spreading dust and bacteria.

The high-efficiency Infloor hydronic radiant heating system installed at Little People’s Landing runs at a lower temperature, equating to a 27% monthly savings, and is equipped with dual sensing thermostats, zoning for each room, and a side-arm hot water tank that is 30% more efficient at heating water, according to the manufacturer. And since the heat radiates up through the floor, it delivers nothing more than warmth and comfort to the children, eliminating airborne particles, cold spots, and drafts. Three different floor coverings were used; laminate, carpet, and tile.

Dual sensing thermostats allow the system to be set at two different temperatures; one for the floor and one for the air temp. This means the floor temperature could be set at 85?F, while the air temperature is at 75?F. Every room is designated as a zone, and each can be set at different temperatures based on the needs and usage. For example, the infant room is kept five degrees warmer than the rest, Gardner identifies.

A 120-gal side-arm hot water tank is at the heart of the system for production of domestic hot water.

“It is essentially two tanks in one,” Gardner explains. “One tank is for drinking water and the other is for boiler water; separated inside one larger tank. The water is heated through this tank-in-tank configuration, offering 42 sq ft of heat transfer area, heating the water four times faster than a traditional hot water tank. There is no flame and no moving parts, making it safer and last longer. It is made of stainless steel and comes with a limited-lifetime warranty.”

The pre-school also installed the hydronic radiant heating system throughout their outdoor walkways and parking lot for additional safety and peace of mind.

“The snow and ice melt system keeps their outdoor areas free of snow and ice all winter long,” Gardner said. A sensor in the surface of the heated area monitors both temperature and moisture, running only when needed.

“I always want to provide the most efficient system possible,” said Gardner, “and the health and safety of the children was a critical aspect of this project.”

Radiant heat provides more comfort and eliminates allergens, bacteria, and dust from being circulated through the air, he said.

The pre-school director, Ren Rudnick, said they are very pleased with their Infloor radiant heating system.

“The floors are nice and warm, and the kids are happy,” she said. “We haven’t had any issues. We love it.”