Johnson & Starley blown hot air central heating issues

Bettie

I don't have registers ( grills) in my ceilings so I can't say about that, mine are all three inches off the floor. At work we have ceiling grills with electric warm air. They aren't set correctly so can be too draughty even on the lowest fan. I prefer mine.

r2015

But lets ask those who have Warm air if they ever have a problem?

These pictures could almost be my system, but not quite.

I have never had problems with dust but I clean the filter once a month.
Up until this year I never had a problem then SG decided that the underfloor ventilation was not adequate and had to be ventilated from the outside so cut a vent into an outside wall.

This was after telling me to keep the cupboard door shut at all times then take the door off the cupboard.

This causes draughts from the outside that I never had before.

It also has 2 pilot lights that use 3 and 5 kWh of gas a day.

The flue has started to show signs of corrosion so after 24 years I have decided to get it taken out and install normal central heating with radiators and probably save 20% on my heating and hot water bills, along with SG's £250 a year maintenance contract.

P.S I have blocked the extra vent up, I just like to vent about it it was OK without it for 23 years.

wallbash

install normal central heating with radiators and probably save 20% on my heating and hot water bills,

Have you worked out how many years before you start making a profit ??

SG's £250 a year maintenance contract.

WAY over the top, my service bill is under half of that, and have paid less than a few hundred in 12 years for maintenance.

cyclonebri1

It would be resonable to suggest that there is an inherant issue with dust being recirculated by this type of system, indeed from what I can see the standard filter is simply a fairly coarse screen. It will catch solid particles but certainly not the dust we are seeing.
Indeed the manufacturers supply an option of an electronic clean air filter unit.
Not had chance to re visit yet so no picture. edited, now have.

Footnote;
the issue is improving with constant house vacumning.

But wallbash, wet systems don't exagerate dust issues, dry air/high speed air movement systems do, even if yours is ideal, it might not be perfect for everyone.

r2015

WAY over the top,

When you don't have a choice that's what you pay.

Have you worked out how many years before you start making a profit ?

I am replacing the heating because it has almost reached the end of it's useful life not because I want to make a profit.

I have worked out I will be saving at least £400 a year in maintenance and wasted pilot lights and whatever savings a new efficient heating system will bring.

Plus I might have a better chance of selling my house as no one wants it because of the warm air heating.

wallbash

It would be resonable to suggest that there is an inherant issue with dust being recirculated by this type of system

If there were no dust at the start, would not be a problem .
And I might argue about the actual idea.

The air is blown out of the vents ( we can agree on that) So the air is on a one way journey . If the air is sucked in is 'dust free' ........ !
Also if there was a little dust , it would be dropped in the meters of underfloor ducts.

Clean the house of dust .......sounds a very big task, and your problem is solved.

It will catch solid particles but cirtainly not the dust we are seeing.

Because the majority don't have the problem.
I wonder what the previous owners did , to cause your problem

wallbash

r2015 wrote: »

When you don't have a choice that's what you pay.

You mentioned SG , no independents locally?
Have heard horror stories about BG saying parts are impossible to get..........which is rubbish

I am replacing the heating because it has almost reached the end of it's useful life not because I want to make a profit.

Are you sure. J/S have spares for everything, have you had a second opinion

I have worked out I will be saving at least £400 a year in maintenance and wasted pilot lights and whatever savings a new efficient heating system will bring.
You have gone from £250 to £400 ??? £150 for pilot light??
Plus I might have a better chance of selling my house as no one wants it because of the warm air heating.

And we have , in this thread some very happy warm air owners.

C_Mababejive

Your FWA unit looks to be not terribly old and in reasonable condition.

Dometic FWA units are not fan dilution systems as used in commercial/industrial applications.

In domestic fwa units, the flue gases are kept totally separate from the circulating air via a heat exchanger.

If anyone is having a FWA unit serviced , it is imperative that you engage an engineer who has FWA experience and the relevant qual on his ticket.

The reason is that FWA units have some very specific issues which if not correct, can be.err..hazardous.

Many younger engineers have had little or no exposure to fwa systems as people mostly have wet systems fitted these days.

Thats not to say that fwa units are rubbish or should be ripped out.

A good fwa unit and circulator (for HW) can work very well in most applications.

r2015

You have gone from £250 to £400 ??? £150 for pilot light?

8 kWh a day plus 3 kWh lost from the HWC =11 kWh a day times 365 = 4015 kWh at 0.0316p = £126.84 plus what I would save with having a new more efficient boiler.

Possibly more than £150.

I am replacing the heating because it has almost reached the end of it's useful life not because I want to make a profit.

Are you sure. J/S have spares for everything, have you had a second opinion

Yes but nobody wants to work on it or maintain it except SG.

And replacement parts aren't cheap.

How much do you think a new flue with no joins in it would cost? £4,000?

Even Johnston and Starley contract the work out to someone else.

They don't have a local office in Perthshire, Scotland.

At some stage you just have to say !!!! it and get a new one.

And having warm air heating makes it difficult to sell my house.

cyclonebri1

Well theres a picture

and theres another.


One clogged filter, not a mega issue, but the duct tape shows my initial confusion.