Location
Big Bear, CA
Date
January 2026
Radiant Hydronic Heating System Upgrade
A complete system overhaul for a 4,000 sq ft mountain home — featuring radiant floor heat, snow melt, and 98% efficient Navien tankless boilers.
Project Overview
Over 20 years ago, Eagle Mountain Plumbing & Mechanical designed and installed the original hydronic heating system for this 4,000 square foot Big Bear mountain home. It served the owners well for two decades — and when it was time for an upgrade, they called us back.
That's the kind of trust we take seriously. Tom Kirkham and the Eagle Mountain team returned to the home to design and install a complete system overhaul, replacing aging equipment with modern, high-efficiency technology that keeps this home warm from the floor up — even on the coldest mountain nights.
Scope of Work
This project included:
Dual Navien tankless combi boiler system (cascaded for whole-home heating and domestic hot water)
Radiant PEX tubing floor heating for the basement and entire first floor
Hydronic forced air handler for second floor heating
Snow melt systems for the third-floor deck, driveway, and backyard sidewalks
Halo whole-home water filtration system with carbon filter and automatic backwash
New circulation pumps, zone controls, and updated piping throughout
Full system commissioning and thermostat zoning
EQUIPMENT USED
Navien NPE-A2 Series Tankless Water Heater
Used for domestic hot water supply to the home.
Navien NCB Combi Boiler
Handles both radiant floor heating and serves as a backup domestic hot water source. The two Navien units work together via a linked computer board — a cascaded system that maximizes efficiency and redundancy.
Halo Whole-Home Water Filtration System
A salt-free filtration system that conditions calcium molecules to prevent scale buildup on plumbing fixtures, combined with a carbon filter for taste and odor. Features an automatic 7-day backwash cycle.
PEX-A Tubing (Cross-Linked Polyethylene)
The gold standard for hydronic heating. Flexible, durable, and rated for high-temperature hot water — used throughout the floor systems, snow melt loops, and distribution piping.
Lifebreathe Air Handler (20+ years in service)
The original Canadian-made forced air unit for the second floor — still running flawlessly after two decades from when we installed it. A testament to quality equipment built to last.
Why Hydronic Heating?
Forced air heats the air. Hydronic heating heats everything.
When hot water runs through tubes beneath your floors, the heat radiates upward — warming the floor, the walls, the furniture, and every surface in the room. The result? A home that feels comfortable at 63°F that would require 70°F or more with forced air.
That's not magic. It's science. Heat chases cold — and when your surfaces are warm, your body stops losing heat to them. You feel warmer, use less energy, and your utility bills reflect it.
Hydronic systems typically cost about two-thirds more to install than a forced air system. But within 5 to 10 years, the energy savings pay back that difference — and you'll be more comfortable the entire time.
Works great in mountain homes. Works great at the coast. Works anywhere comfort matters.
Interested in Hydronic Heating for Your Home?
Whether you're building new, upgrading an existing system, or just want to understand your options — Eagle Mountain Plumbing & Mechanical is here to help. We serve San Diego County and the Big Bear area with expert hydronic heating design and installation.
