Balance flows, cut energy waste, improve comfort fast. Model pump, boiler, and maintenance savings together. Get clear payback figures for your building upgrades now.
Enter your annual costs and expected improvements after balancing valves, controls, and flow verification.
Use this sample to sanity-check your inputs.
| Scenario | Heating cost | Pump cost | Heating % | Pump % | Project cost | Year 1 savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-size office | $18,000.00 | $3,200.00 | 6.00% | 12.00% | $12,000.00 | $2,404.00 |
| Hospital wing | $42,000.00 | $9,800.00 | 5.00% | 15.00% | $24,000.00 | $5,310.00 |
| Campus building | $26,000.00 | $5,400.00 | 4.00% | 10.00% | $15,000.00 | $2,270.00 |
Hydronic balancing improves comfort by matching design flow to each circuit. When flow is correct, valves and coils operate in a stable range, reducing hunting and excessive reheat. Typical savings appear through fewer boiler run-hours, lower pump power, and reduced complaints. Use the calculator to convert these operational gains into annual currency values that support budgeting securely.
Annual heating cost represents fuel or purchased thermal energy. Pump electricity cost captures distribution energy. The heating savings percentage estimates efficiency gains from improved delta‑T, reduced bypassing, and better control authority. Pump savings percentage reflects lower flow targets, reduced differential pressure, or improved pump staging. Runtime reduction is a conservative proxy for schedule and setpoint tuning. Maintenance change captures fewer service calls or added verification costs.
The tool computes net project cost as project cost minus rebates. Year‑1 savings are the sum of heating, pump, runtime, and maintenance impacts. Simple payback divides net cost by Year‑1 savings, giving a quick screening metric. ROI uses total undiscounted savings over the analysis period, then compares that total to net cost. Use ROI to compare projects with similar lifetimes and verification effort.
For capital planning, discounted cash flow matters. Each year’s cash savings can grow by the energy escalation rate, then is discounted by your chosen discount rate to find present value. NPV is the sum of all present values minus net project cost. A positive NPV indicates the project adds value under your assumptions. If NPV is negative, adjust assumptions, seek incentives, or prioritize other measures.
Accurate savings depend on commissioning quality. Document baseline energy, pump curves, control sequences, and comfort complaints. After balancing, verify differential pressure setpoints, valve authority, and delta‑T at representative loads. Track energy for comparable weather periods and normalize where possible. Use the CSV or PDF outputs to communicate assumptions, scope, and expected results to stakeholders and maintenance teams.
1) What does hydronic balancing change in a building?
It aligns actual flow with design intent so coils and terminals receive proper water. This improves temperature control, reduces bypassing, and often lowers pump demand and boiler runtime.
2) How should I choose the heating savings percentage?
Start with a conservative estimate based on known symptoms: hot-cold complaints, low delta‑T, constant pump operation, or unstable control. Use measured post-balancing energy data to refine the percentage.
3) Why is there a separate pump savings percentage?
Pump energy is sensitive to flow and pressure. Better valve authority and reduced overpumping can allow lower differential pressure or improved staging, producing savings even if heating energy changes modestly.
4) What does the runtime reduction proxy represent?
It approximates additional heating savings from fewer run-hours after control tuning and stabilized zones. Use it when balancing enables shorter schedules, fewer overrides, or reduced simultaneous heating and cooling.
5) How do discount rate and escalation affect the result?
Escalation increases future cash savings, while discounting reduces their present value. Higher discount rates lower NPV; higher escalation increases long-term savings. Choose values consistent with your organization’s planning practice.
6) What data should I gather to validate savings?
Record baseline energy, pump run-hours, setpoints, and complaint logs. After balancing, verify flows, delta‑T, and control stability. Compare normalized energy across similar weather periods to confirm performance improvement.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.