Warm Air Central Heating Help and information on all topics relating to your central heating, air conditioning and ventilation issues.

[mraich]

Just becoming familiar with this magnificent DIY DOCTOR site. Reading my way through all or most of the topics dealing with Central Heating. Must say that htg engineer is a mine of information and generous with his time. One form of central heating I did not see addressed is Warm Air central heating systems. I have a Lennox warm air system and separate hot water tank which has served me well over many years. I am beginning to wonder how long more it might last. Is there anyone out there who is familiar with this or other warm air heating systems? Would like your comments please.
Many thanks.
mraich[quote][/quote]

[htg engineer]

I haven't worked on any Lennox warm air units, but I have and still work on Myson warm air units such as Hi-Spec Controlaire.

They will keep going as long as the spare parts are available. Warm air units were popular in the sixties and seventies the only new ones fitted today are when old ones need replacing - they're very rarely used in new build.

Lennox do make a condensing warm air unit 95% efficient, which is ideal for people that like warm air, alot of people do - I don't personally, I prefer a wet system for my house - the only advantage I see of the warm air unit - is that you can use the fan and vents for cooling - ideal for the summer.

So if your warm air unit is getting on abit - or does pack up, you can upgrade the warm air unit, you don't have to go for a wet heating system.

[mraich]

Thank you htg engineer. Yes, we like the warm air heating. It is so quickly responsive when entering the house on a cold winter's day. and as you say it provides cool air in the summer. We have had this system for 28 years now and have never had any trouble with it except to change a fan belt. When we had a BG guy come - in lieu of our Lennox rep - to service it a couple of years ago he suggested we get a 'proper' system. Needless to say we did not have him back. Do you know by any chance where I can get those hairy fibre glass replacement filters. Also can you tell me where I can get info on the Lennox condenser heating unit. You do great work in responding to so many people's problems.
mraich

[htg engineer]

www.gasflowlimited.co.uk/G61MPVT_Sales_ ... e_50HZ.pdf

Thanks, there's many on here that give up their time to help others - DIY Doctor is a great forum. It doesn't take much to offer help and advice - even though I make many posts I don't spend hours on here normally on 10 mins a couple of times per day - fills in abit time.

Contact Lennox Uk regarding the filter - I don't think it'll be a specialist part and you can probably buy it over the counter and cut to size.

Hope the brochure helps

[mraich]

[quote="htg engineer"]www.gasflowlimited.co.uk/G61MPVT_Sales_Brochure_50HZ.pdf

Thanks, there's many on here that give up their time to help others - DIY Doctor is a great forum. It doesn't take much to offer help and advice - even though I make many posts I don't spend hours on here normally on 10 mins a couple of times per day - fills in abit time.

Contact Lennox Uk regarding the filter - I don't think it'll be a specialist part and you can probably buy it over the counter and cut to size.

Hope the brochure helps[/quote] Once again, my thanks. You have an active mind from which others benefit. I will be contacting Lennox UK very soon. Your attachment is of great benefit.[/quote]

[JoKay]

I was very relieved to read mraich's post and htg engineer's reply.
I too have a Lennox warm air system but my unit is in the loft of my end of terrace house. we are very happy with the system, which we found when we bought the house back in 1984.

We have a problem which is the pilot flame going out. If I light it and hold the button down for a minute and turn to 'on' then the main burners light, but when the thermostat switches off the heating the pilot flame goes out. We are having problems finding someone to come and look at it. I suspect it might be the thermocouple but am then surprised that the pilot flame stays on at all!

Anyway really just wanting to thank you both for letting me know that life with warm air heating can continue and if necessary even with a new unit (but will they let me, put it in the loft, I wonder? I can't even see how it could be got up there?)
Regards
JoKay

[mraich]

[quote="JoKay"]I was very relieved to read mraich's post and htg engineer's reply.
I too have a Lennox warm air system but my unit is in the loft of my end of terrace house. we are very happy with the system, which we found when we bought the house back in 1984.

We have a problem which is the pilot flame going out. If I light it and hold the button down for a minute and turn to 'on' then the main burners light, but when the thermostat switches off the heating the pilot flame goes out. We are having problems finding someone to come and look at it. I suspect it might be the thermocouple but am then surprised that the pilot flame stays on at all!

Anyway really just wanting to thank you both for letting me know that life with warm air heating can continue and if necessary even with a new unit (but will they let me, put it in the loft, I wonder? I can't even see how it could be got up there?)
Regards
JoKay[/quote] [b]Be sure that your thermostat is turned off before re-lighting the pilot light otherwise it will kick in as soon as you turn it to 'on'. We used to have a Lennox rep out of Ipswich but he retired. Last time we had ours serviced was by a BG guy. He made some comment that we should get a proper system which told me he didn't know what he was talking about. Shame! I would be interested in knowing which model JoKay has and whether getting the glass fibre type filters is a problem. If it ain't broke don't fix it. [/b]

[JoKay]

mraich wrote [quote]I would be interested in knowing which model JoKay has and whether getting the glass fibre type filters is a problem. [/quote]
Here, I have some confessions, in addition to a poor memory so I can't remember where we bought the last genuine flters, somewhere on the unit it says the filter should be changed every month. Well we get around to it once a year. :evil: We bought a length of some sort of filter material, probably more suitable for cooker hoods and have used that but we have also put some on the room outlets. We are in London and the filters really get very black and sooty. Many years ago I did make enquiries to try and find the genuine filters but without success but now I see that there is a Lennox agent maybe we should try again.

You are right when you say .[quote]Be sure that your thermostat is turned off before re-lighting the pilot light otherwise it will kick in as soon as you turn it to 'on'.[/quote]
However I imagine that the pilot will have gone out by the time I get down from the loft and turn up the thermostat. I light the pilot holding down the knob and then turn and as you say the main burners light up. When the thermostat switches off (because the tempeature has been reached )the pilot unfortunately goes out. :cry: Hopefully someone might be coming to have a look tomorrrow or at least give us a time for coming over. :)

[mraich]

[quote="JoKay"]mraich wrote [quote]I would be interested in knowing which model JoKay has and whether getting the glass fibre type filters is a problem. [/quote]
Here, I have some confessions, in addition to a poor memory so I can't remember where we bought the last genuine flters, somewhere on the unit it says the filter should be changed every month. Well we get around to it once a year. :evil: We bought a length of some sort of filter material, probably more suitable for cooker hoods and have used that but we have also put some on the room outlets. We are in London and the filters really get very black and sooty. Many years ago I did make enquiries to try and find the genuine filters but without success but now I see that there is a Lennox agent maybe we should try again.

You are right when you say .[quote]Be sure that your thermostat is turned off before re-lighting the pilot light otherwise it will kick in as soon as you turn it to 'on'.[/quote]
However I imagine that the pilot will have gone out by the time I get down from the loft and turn up the thermostat. I light the pilot holding down the knob and then turn and as you say the main burners light up. When the thermostat switches off (because the tempeature has been reached )the pilot unfortunately goes out. :cry: Hopefully someone might be coming to have a look tomorrrow or at least give us a time for coming over. :)[/quote] Thank you JoKAY for your reply. Just nmow catching up.

[grandmamarel]

I also have an old Lennox Warm Air Central Heating system in my home. Still going strong (fingers crossed) must be more than 40 years old. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement wall thermostat for this? The one I have is in my lounge and is a manual one with a slider that you have to move along to the temperature you want. It is looking very shabby but I dont want to spoil my wall decorations by getting a smaller one. It has "Honeywell" and made in Canada printed under the temperature settings and Lennox" on the cover.

Re the filter, with mine you are supposed to hoover them every few months. I do this, but the 'wadding' is getting very messy looking. The filter has a frame covered in brown paper which is quite torn in parts. I would also like a new one.

[mraich]

[quote="grandmamarel"]I also have an old Lennox Warm Air Central Heating system in my home. Still going strong (fingers crossed) must be more than 40 years old. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement wall thermostat for this? The one I have is in my lounge and is a manual one with a slider that you have to move along to the temperature you want. It is looking very shabby but I dont want to spoil my wall decorations by getting a smaller one. It has "Honeywell" and made in Canada printed under the temperature settings and Lennox" on the cover.

Re the filter, with mine you are supposed to hoover them every few months. I do this, but the 'wadding' is getting very messy looking. The filter has a frame covered in brown paper which is quite torn in parts. I would also like a new one.[/quote]

Delighted to hear that your 'old' Lennox Warm Air Central Heating system is still going strong. They don't make 'em like that anymore. I too have a Honeywell thermostat with the slider feature which, when moved to the desired temperature, tilts the little bubble of mercury thereby turning the heat on or off. It may be difficult to get a similar one now but I am sure the modern digital ones would not be that much smaller. There is a Lennox rep who runs a business in Ipswich, Suffolk who might be able to help. The business is Aircool Services and they also supply the filters for the furnace although I am surprised to hear that there is brown paper attached to the frame - fire hazard? Anyway, I hope this helps.

[grandmamarel]

Thanks for the reply, it spurred me on to look around for someone who could help. I found a Lennox Boiler Service Engineer who had some (oldish) Honeywell Thermostats (with the slider), and have now had a new one fitted. It was more or less the same size as the old one, so no damage to the decor. As it is a little more modern than the old one, I am pleased with the result.

[mraich]

[quote="grandmamarel"]Thanks for the reply, it spurred me on to look around for someone who could help. I found a Lennox Boiler Service Engineer who had some (oldish) Honeywell Thermostats (with the slider), and have now had a new one fitted. It was more or less the same size as the old one, so no damage to the decor. As it is a little more modern than the old one, I am pleased with the result.[/quote]

Great news. It pays to keep researching. All good wishes.

[Bob the Blunderer]

Glad to finally find a resource on this type of heating.

We have a Balmforth BD30 which was installed when the house was built in '86. It's fine actually, and we're more than happy with its performance and economy. I have a service manual, and I've maiantained it according to the schedule. That sounds more impressive than it really is, its just a matter of keeping it clean.

Recently though, we've had a number of issues with the pilot going out. I opened it up yesterday and found that not only is the pilot out, but there's a sooty deposit rising from the burner chamber. It doesn't look like fire damage to me, just poor or incomplete combustion over time. The ventilation is intact, the cupboard where its fitted is vented to atmosphere with a dedicated duct. It's all turned off pending repair.

I suppose I could just go for a replacement warm air unit, but perhaps a new gas valve and thermocouple would do the trick? It would be a shame to replace the whole unit, since the rest of it is fine. Balmforth don't esist anymore, but I understand that Johnson and Starley are still manufacturing units.

I'd be grateful for any advice, and perhaps some recommendations for trusted engineers in the West Surrey area.

ATB :)