"Cicero" wrote in message
news
I did read what you wrote. You wrote:
"Why put rads in and have an inferior
system when there is no need to."
That is a very clear statement that
wet heating systems are inferior to
warm air systems.
As clear as day!
The sources you cite in support of your argument are not
very convincing. One of those sources states:
"I Cannot Get Ducts To Upstairs. How Do I Get Around This?
Some integrated circulators within the
warm-air casing have large enough
outputs to incorporate a partial radiator
system for the upstairs. Another
method is to install two small warm-air
units operating independently,
supplying ground and first floors."
Unless I've mis-read that it suggests
resorting to a conventional wet
system for part of the installation to
overcome the inherent problems of
warm air heating.
Firstly, there are no inherent problems with forced air heating. The
problem is putting it an old house - a retro fit. Now Unico is here that is
not such a problem as the flex pipes are small and can run in a small duct
up the stairwell or wherever.
The same result can be achieved at
much lower cost and much less disruption
by installing a fully wet system with one
or more fanned heaters replacing conventional
radiators.
All Myson heaters are noisy.
Of course one could adopt
the other solution suggested in
that quote ("two small warm-air units
operating independently") but that
wouldn't be cost effective in money or
space terms.
That gets rid of the problem of getting ducting from one floor to another.
One in the loft and one maybe under the stairs downstairs. But again Unico
have solved much of that problem with small tube ducting.
As you seem to be obsessed with water inside pipes, you could have a boiler
as the heat source. A air handler with copper heat battery in the loft for
upstairs and one downstairs. Just 22mm pipe running to each and no ducting
between floors. The air handling units are just big Myson heaters with
ducting coming off them.
In money terms it could be very cost effective - it depends on the job in
hand.
Another of your sources suggests
installing a network of ducting
consisting of *80mm* ducting.
The cost and inconvenience of installing
such a network compared with a single
spine of 22mm pipework for a basic
wet system is really prohibitive for most people.
Again look at the Unico link. You have to understand what forced air gives
you. You clearly didn't read the links.
* Instant heat up
* even temperatures
* no cold spots so 100% of rooms used (even around the patio windows).
* 100% fresh air if you want.
* Heat recovery
* humidification if you want
* comfort cooling in summer
* The dry systems don't freeze in winter
.....and if need be, forced cooling in that as well - with de-humidification.
A properly designed and installed forced air system is far, far superior to
rads slapped around the walls. Those who slag forced air in this country
tend to be plumbers, who know sweet FA about. They fear it as it would
rightly take the heating side away from them. Plumbers are good at drains
not heating - they claimed heating is their field as water ran in pipes. It
isn't their field. There are different qualifications for each.
I repeat what I said, the small
takeup of warm air heating compared with
wet systems is due to much more that
ignorance and lack of skills.
It is not. It is because of ignorance - which you have displayed (your view
is quite common). And lack of skills. The average "plumber" just hasn't a
clue - not his field, they just walk away to the next bathroom change.
Most newer selfbuild houses are now being built to higher insulation specs -
they tend to go over building reags, which are quite high now. Most of the
older selfbuilt houses had heat recovery and vent systems (MHRV) and UFH
heating. The higher insulation means the UFH can be done away with. The
ducting then used for full heat, vent and heat recovery. A heat, vent, heat
recovery system adds value to a house and is rightly seen as a healthy eco
addition - heating, ventilation and cooling all in one.
The fact that it's the preferred system in America
has no particular relevance
to this country where houses generally are
smaller and built to different standards.
A house is a house wherever it is, and the discerning Americans prefer
forced air. Instead of trying to play the know-it-all and making yourself
out to be foolish, best learn more about forced air, heat recovery and vent.