The Advantages of 4-pipe System for HVAC

About Four-pipe Systems

• A four-pipe HVAC system consists of two supply and two return lines, with one pipe from each pair dedicated to cold water and the other to hot water. These pipes run to air handlers that use either the hot or the cold water to change the temperature of the air that the system is providing. The air handlers are typically housed either in the space above ceilings or in a utility room. The remaining major components of a four-pipe system include a chiller and boiler, cooling tower, and pumps to move the water through the pipe system to fan coils, which produce either hot or cold air.

Convenience

• With the use of a thermostat, four-pipe HVAC systems offer the convenience of shifting from heating to cooling via pre-programmed thermostats or at the touch of a button. In a two-pipe HVAC system, the heating and cooling must be manually switched over and this conversion takes longer than with a four-pipe system. During spring and fall months in regions where the weather can fluctuate greatly from one day to the next, or from morning to afternoon, four-pipe systems offer the convenience of automatically switching between heating and cooling depending on the temperature in the room. Because hot and cold water are always available, you don’t have to worry about adjusting the system manually. It adjusts almost instantly to temperature variations, maintaining a comfortable atmosphere on its own.

Versatility and Comfort

• With most HVAC systems, satisfying every occupant in a building such as a hotel or an apartment building can be difficult. One person may prefer sleeping in a cool bedroom, for example, while another likes as much heat as possible. A four-pipe system in most cases enables you to accommodate these different needs. For example, in a multifamily dwelling, one apartment could run cool air while another runs heat. Four-pipe systems can also be installed in office buildings so that each level or room within the building contains its own thermostat. This means that one office may be warmed while another is cooled, enabling you to satisfy the comfort needs of every occupant.

Efficiency

• Because it uses water to provide hot or cold air, a four-pipe HVAC system can be more energy efficient than standard electrical systems that rely on coils, coolant and fans. The automated switching from heating to cooling is more energy efficient and time saving than an older two-pipe HVAC system, which takes time to switch from heating to cooling, wasting valuable energy in the process.