Hi,
My dear old mum has a Unidare Electricaire model R10/73 which was originally installed in her house from new in about 1968. It's gone wrong a few times over the years and the fan has stopped working this weekend. I'm sure I could get the fan fixed - but the whole thing is falling apart and whilst in there looking to see what was wrong I noticed sensors have broken and wires had broken off. I repaired some of the simple things (such as broken wires), took the fan and motor apart and cleaned it up and lubricated the bearings with some WD40 (it now spins nicely but still wont work).
I am looking at finding a replacement system (hopefully a more up to date, more efficient and reliable system). I've had a look on-line and plan on contacting a few companies next week to start getting some quotes. But I couldn't get much idea of costs for purchase and installation or much feedback on good or bad systems online. So I thought I'd check in here and see if anyone had any advise/experience they could share to help me when I start looking at options for a replacement.
For those not familiar - this is a huge big box which stores heat and then a fan blows the heat through a ducting system throughout the house. No - I wont be installing a boiler and radiator, I know that would be a better system but my mum is very old and couldn't deal with the disruption - so like for like is the only option that will work for her. I've thought about electric wall mounted radiators but a few of them is going to add up in cost and it will cause disruption with furniture etc and using up wall space.
Whilst very expensive to run the advantage of the Unidare Electricaire model R10/73 type systems is that the ducting is hidden within the fabric of the house and the box has it's own cupboard - so it's not intrusive. My mum is used to it now as well - so I'd rather keep it simple for her.
My dear old mum has a Unidare Electricaire model R10/73 which was originally installed in her house from new in about 1968. It's gone wrong a few times over the years and the fan has stopped working this weekend. I'm sure I could get the fan fixed - but the whole thing is falling apart and whilst in there looking to see what was wrong I noticed sensors have broken and wires had broken off. I repaired some of the simple things (such as broken wires), took the fan and motor apart and cleaned it up and lubricated the bearings with some WD40 (it now spins nicely but still wont work).
I am looking at finding a replacement system (hopefully a more up to date, more efficient and reliable system). I've had a look on-line and plan on contacting a few companies next week to start getting some quotes. But I couldn't get much idea of costs for purchase and installation or much feedback on good or bad systems online. So I thought I'd check in here and see if anyone had any advise/experience they could share to help me when I start looking at options for a replacement.
For those not familiar - this is a huge big box which stores heat and then a fan blows the heat through a ducting system throughout the house. No - I wont be installing a boiler and radiator, I know that would be a better system but my mum is very old and couldn't deal with the disruption - so like for like is the only option that will work for her. I've thought about electric wall mounted radiators but a few of them is going to add up in cost and it will cause disruption with furniture etc and using up wall space.
Whilst very expensive to run the advantage of the Unidare Electricaire model R10/73 type systems is that the ducting is hidden within the fabric of the house and the box has it's own cupboard - so it's not intrusive. My mum is used to it now as well - so I'd rather keep it simple for her.
