What component is used with a thermostat to provide individual zone control in hydronic radiant floor heating?

In hydronic radiant floor heating systems that require individual zone control, the correct component to use in conjunction with a thermostat is the zone valve. A zone valve is specifically designed to open or close based on the thermostat's settings, allowing for precise temperature control in different areas of a building. When a thermostat calls for heat in a particular zone, the zone valve opens, enabling hot water to flow through the designated loops of the radiant floor system. This targeted approach allows for enhanced energy efficiency and comfort, as it ensures that only the areas needing heat are actively heated, thus avoiding unnecessary energy usage in unoccupied or cooler zones.

While other components like circulator pumps and expansion tanks are essential for the overall operation of hydronic heating systems, they do not provide the same zoning capabilities that zone valves do. The circulator pump is responsible for moving water throughout the heating system, and the expansion tank serves to accommodate water expansion and maintain system pressure, but neither of these components directly interacts with the thermostat to control individual zones. This makes the zone valve the key component for achieving individualized temperature control in such systems.