CUSTOMIZABLE MODULAR HYDRONIC SYSTEM
Interior space customizable, re-customizable, modular, hydronic system, comprising: one or more modular base heating and/or cooling units, each adapted for residing between studs of the room's wall and selectively comprising one of a frame adapted to be completely recessed between studs, partially (e.g., approximately ½-way) recessed between the studs, and not recessed at all but still substantially located between the studs, each modular base unit adapted for successive repeated linear implementation with other modular base units of like composition to meet greater or lesser heating and/or cooling needs of the interior space; and one or more contiguous face cover members, and optional edge members, adapted to be secured to corresponding modular base unit(s), wherein the face cover members and optional edge cover members each comprise peripheral edges adapted to achieve, singularly or in combination, an aesthetically coherent face, and optional aesthetically coherent edge cover members, for the system.
1 .- 15 . (Canceled)
16 . A method of installing a hydronic system adaptable to be modularly scalable to meeting heating and/or cooling needs of a given interior space, comprising the steps of:
A. Determining the Btu needs and type of system, whether heating and cooling, heating alone, or cooling alone, needed to supply the given interior space;
B. Determining a desired configuration of system, whether vertically or horizontally oriented, and whether fully recessed between studs, partially recessed between the studs, or non-recessed;
C. Selecting an appropriate number of modular base units to supply needed Btu's for the given interior space, whether a single modular base unit or a plurality of modular base units, from a plurality of modular base unit component supplies;
D. Determining an appropriate number of modular edge members and corner members, if any, and a single appropriate face plate member, whether for covering a single modular base unit or a plurality of modular base units, from a plurality of modular component supplies;
E. Marking locations for installation on the interior space wall, being sure to align as level installation holes in the case of a desired horizontally-linear arrangement, and anticipating the possibility for a need for a plurality of side-by-side, or a plurality of vertically-stacked, modular base units residing between the studs;
F. Installing hanging brackets onto studs anticipating the possibility for a need for a plurality of side-by-side, or a plurality of vertically-stacked, modular base units residing between the studs;
G. Hanging the appropriate number of base units on the hanging brackets with the base unit frame members located between the studs;
H. Hooking up pipes and electronics into the selected number of base units;
I. Selecting desired edge cover members, if any, and face cover members from a plurality of edge cover member and face cover member component supplies;
J. Assembling edge cover members, if any, and attaching them to the wall or a base unit, and attaching a face cover member, to form an aesthetically-coherent design face and edge hydronic system covering member;
K. Placing the cover member over the base unit(s) such that vent holes in the one or more base units align with vent holes in one of the modular edge cover members and the face cover member to ensure unimpeded airflow through the system; and
L. Securing the cover member onto the base units.
17 . The method of installing the modular hydronic heating and cooling system of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of determining an aesthetically pleasing, in terms of color and design, face cover member and correspondingly aesthetically pleasing edge cover members, and selecting the plurality of edge cover members and at least one face cover member from a plurality of modular component supplies.
18 . The method of installing the modular hydronic heating and cooling system of claim 16 , wherein the modular base units of the system are to be fully-recessed between the studs, the step of placing the cover member over the one or more base units further comprises the step of simultaneously aligning and inserting normally-oriented tabs attached on an inner surface of the selected face cover member so that the tabs cover upper and lower vent holes in frame portions of the one or more base units, thus effectively re-routing ventilation of the system to the pass through vent holes in the face cover member.
19 .- 22 . (canceled)