De-sooting Warm Air / Circulator

[Agile]

In most cases a very high asbestos hazard as well Tony.

I did not see any asbestos like substance in the WAH but I expect the flue was all asbestos cement.

My rating of asbestos cement is that the risk is very low indeed if you dismantle it carefully.

I did that once for this old Indian fellow and explained that I could not take it away for him. "No problem Tony" he replied!

I did not dare to look in his wheelie bin the next day!

Tony

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

Funny you should say that Tony, as on my return from work Ive seen a plumber I know sawing up an old asbestos flue and shoving it in his bin for collection tomorrow.

Dave

 

[nickso]

I think warm air is marvellous and wherever possible we advise our customers to keep it.

It is the most efficient form of space heating available, and as such, is exempt from Part L.

Converting an old 'on/off' system to a new Johnson & Starley System ET or modairflow with a modulating fan and pulsing gas valve will liberate significant comfort benefits and is reported (by BG) to be accurate down to 0.1C.

Most issues with warm air are down to installation or ignorance rather than the concept. For instance, many warm air heaters are capped off because there is no ventilation - when under certain circumstances the combustion air can be legitimately derived from the return air.

The 2000-on Economaire units are room sealed fan flued so address any concerns you could have over open flued appliances.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with warm air; you can modulate it, filter it down to less than 1 micron to even remove tobacco smoke, it doesn't get full of sludge or leak, and it warms up almost immediately.

We are even installing them with unvented cylinders; I'm a great fan, if you will pardon the pun......

i have to admit i dont mind the room sealed ones simply because they remove most of the elements i dislike about the open flued ones.......the dust and the fact that almost none of them are ventilated properly.

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

Dare I say Im servicing these Halsteads (only 2 on my books)

If Im doing wrong I will stop.

David

 

[ollski]

In most cases a very high asbestos hazard as well Tony.

I did not see any asbestos like substance in the WAH but I expect the flue was all asbestos cement.

My rating of asbestos cement is that the risk is very low indeed if you dismantle it carefully.

I did that once for this old Indian fellow and explained that I could not take it away for him. "No problem Tony" he replied!

I did not dare to look in his wheelie bin the next day!

Tony

Tape, gaskets, insulation, rope seals. I believe the older white cased J&s heaters used brown asbestos paper insulation and tape on the heat exchanger. Not going to be an issue on anything mid 80's onwards I know.

 

[pannierstan]

Personally I used to use a garden sprayer pump up thingy with water in and wash the water heaters out Works a treat chaps.

I say bring back the Lennox with the fan underneath or even the old McClary and Halcyons.
Those were the days! I think I still have a fusible link for one of the old devils. Come on Tony which one was it had a fusible link up by the fan which used to cut the pilot off.

Stan

 

[simond]

We are doing a repair job on a spilling Halstead at the moment; and the parts we needed were still available! The thing must be 35 yrs old.

 

[namsag]

Pannierstan i always have a roll of fusible links in my bag. "solder" it`s what you used to find used in 50% of them. Had forgot all about Halcoyns and lennoxs we had a few of them.

As for Asbestos in appliances considering how long it had been known it is dangerous how did manufacturers get away with it , Never heard off brown asbestos in J/S , but potterton flamingo ,neataheats, kingfishers etc got away with asbestos seals for years without anyone knowing about it . It came out about 98, local authority around my way would not even change thermocouples on them and put new boiler in.

 

[Agile]

Those were the days! I think I still have a fusible link for one of the old devils. Come on Tony which one was it had a fusible link up by the fan which used to cut the pilot off.

Stan

No idea, I thought they all had one!

When I was asked to replace one I discovered that J&S had a current model ( small industrial ) which was an exact mechanical match !

Tony

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

Well, the parts may be easy to change....

BUT, I always fit honeywell gas valves when the valve needs changing.
This involves stocks and dies in most cases. (not Modairflow)

Cheaper for the customer and a decent valve at a reasonable price.

The pilot tube is easily filed and bent to the new position.

David