From preserving original cast-iron radiators to planning radiant floor heat in a new Kerrisdale rebuild, CANRO designs hydronic systems around the home in front of us.
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Quick answer
Hydronic heating circulates hot water from a natural gas boiler through radiators or in-floor tubing rather than pushing heated air through ducts, and in Kerrisdale that choice usually falls into one of two paths: retaining and rebalancing an original cast-iron radiator system in a character home, or designing a zoned radiant floor layout for a new build or major renovation. Both paths depend on correctly sizing the boiler to the actual heat loss of the home rather than the footprint of the old equipment being replaced.
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Kerrisdale's mix of original 1920s and 1930s character homes alongside newer full rebuilds means CANRO handles two fairly distinct categories of hydronic work here. On character properties, the conversation is usually about preserving cast-iron radiators that residents like for their steady, even warmth, while modernizing the boiler and controls feeding them. On rebuild lots, the conversation starts from a blank slate, sizing a zoned radiant floor system to a home that may include a heated garage slab, a lower-level suite, and multiple thermostatically controlled zones.
Both projects share the same underlying physics: hydronic heat depends on a properly sized boiler matched to the total heat loss of the structure, correctly balanced flow between zones, and piping runs insulated enough that heat reaches the far end of the loop as effectively as the near end.
When a Kerrisdale homeowner wants to keep original cast-iron radiators but modernize the boiler, the main technical question is whether the existing radiators can be balanced properly against a smaller, more efficient modern boiler's output curve. Older systems were often designed around larger, less efficient boilers running hotter water temperatures, and a straight swap to a high-efficiency condensing unit sometimes needs new thermostatic radiator valves or a buffer tank to avoid short-cycling.
On rebuild lots, radiant in-floor heat is a common request because it suits Kerrisdale's larger, often multi-level homes and pairs well with the desire for a quiet, draft-free heating system. Design work here centres on zoning: a typical layout separates the main floor, upper bedrooms, and any lower-level suite into independent loops, each with its own thermostat, so different areas of a large house are not forced to share one heating call.
| Zone | Typical Need | Design Note |
|---|---|---|
| Main floor living areas | Steady, even background heat | Larger loop spacing, lower water temp |
| Bedrooms upstairs | Independent control, cooler overnight | Separate zone valve and thermostat |
| Basement or suite | Consistent floor warmth | Tighter loop spacing over slab |
| Heated garage or driveway | Frost and snow melt on request | Separate manifold loop, not code-required |
A radiant floor system is only as good as its manifold and zoning design; undersizing the boiler for the total square footage of tubing, or failing to balance flow across zones, is the most common cause of uneven warmth we get called to troubleshoot on newer Kerrisdale installs done by other contractors.
Boiler sizing for a hydronic system depends on the home's actual calculated heat loss, not simply the square footage or the rating of a previous unit, and factors like window area, insulation levels, and ceiling height all move that number. A hydronic boiler installation in Kerrisdale generally falls in a ballpark of $6,500 to $14,000 or more depending on zoning complexity and whether existing radiators or new radiant tubing are involved; that figure is a ballpark, not a quote, and a written estimate follows an on-site heat-loss assessment.
Safety note
If you smell gas, hear a hissing sound near the boiler, water heater, or gas line, or notice a yellow or lazy burner flame, soot, or a stale, headachy feeling near the mechanical room, leave the house right away and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from a safe location before doing anything else. Gas piping, venting, and combustion equipment must only be installed or serviced by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter.
Often yes, but the system usually needs updated thermostatic valves and careful balancing since modern high-efficiency boilers run different water temperatures than older units. A technician tests the existing radiators before confirming compatibility.
It varies by layout, but separating main floor, upstairs bedrooms, and any lower-level suite into independent zones is a common starting point so each area can be controlled on its own thermostat.
No, hydronic radiant heat has no moving air and no duct noise; heat radiates from the floor or radiators, which many homeowners prefer for comfort and quiet.
Typically yes, a heated garage or driveway loop runs off its own manifold zone rather than sharing directly with living-space heating, and it is not a code requirement, just an optional comfort addition.
Timeline depends heavily on whether existing radiators are being kept or new radiant tubing is being installed under floors, so we walk through a realistic schedule during the assessment rather than quoting a generic number.
Family-run, TSBC-licensed (gas LGA0043870 · boiler LBP0046450), serving Metro Vancouver homes since 1999. Residential, natural gas only.
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