Experiences with Convectair Heaters?
Matt Baney
Anyone have any experience with Convectair electric convection wall heaters?
It looks like they are the best candidate to replace my crappy Cadet heaters,
but I don't know of anyone who has actually had tehm installed or is using
them.
Thanks!
Matt
--
Matt Baney ma...@halcyon.com
"All solutions should be as simple I think having
as possible, and no simpler! opinions is stupid!
A. Einstein."
Michel Gagnon
In article (Dans l'article) <69h4np$cup$1...@halcyon.com>, ma...@halcyon.com
(Matt Baney) wrote (écrivait) :
>Anyone have any experience with Convectair electric convection wall heaters?
>It looks like they are the best candidate to replace my crappy Cadet heaters,
>but I don't know of anyone who has actually had tehm installed or is using
>them.
>Thanks!
>Matt
>
These or any other convection wall heaters are great for heating.
The "Ouellet" are the easiest to install and can either be used with a wall
electronic thermostat (OTE or OTE-X10 (code by memory)) or a built-in
thermostat. I am not certain of the precision of the built-in thermostat,
but know the wall unit has a good precision. The OTE-X10 (a wall unit only)
works with the X-10 system: you set the main temperature (ex.: 21 C) and
the offset you want (ex.: 3 C), and, through any of the X-10 systems (ex.:
Radio-Shack plug-in modules system), you decide if and when you want a
setback on any or all of the convectors.
Drawbacks of the Ouellet system: it is not the most attractive system (much
nicer than yours, though) and comes in only one medium-high model, only
suitable for plain walls or under high windows (3 or 3.5 ft and more from
the ground). For more information visit <http://www.ouellet.com>. I think
they have information in English also.
The Convectair units have a built-in thermostat. One particular aspect of
the Convectair units is that their sensor is _at the base_ of the unit.
This means that they keep a constant temperature, wheather the outside
temperature is a warm 8 C, a cool -10 C or a brisk -30 C, without having to
readjust the thermostat setting. This is especially interesting when the
temperature plays yo-yo like it does often around here. Besides the
temperature adjustment, they have three settings: daytime (the normal
setting -- set temperature), nighttime (set temperature minus 4 C),
freezing protection (7 or 8 C -- a little too low for real freezing
protection during deep freezes), and Programming (where the Programmer
decides which modes the unit is). So, if you want to save on your heating
bills by reducing the heating at night, you just slide a switch and don't
readjust your thermostat.
They also are programmable, providing one of your convectors is their
special Programmer unit, and providing you have a lead cable travelling
between each unit (see their web page). Using the Programmer, you could
make all your units go in the night mode at the same time.
Strong points: very good paint, very nice looking units available in Alto
(high), Mezzo (medium) and Solo (low) models. The Alto should fit under 3
or 3.5 ft high window sills, the Mezzo fits under 2.5 or 3 ft high window
sills and the Solo fits under 20 to 24 in high window sills.
Low points: less programming flexibility than on the Ouellet units with
wall thermostat.
By the way, buy the newer models currently displayed on their web site
(they have rounded corners), but stay away from the older ones (with square
corners), as they need some minor temperature adjustments when the outside
temperature changes. Their web site is at <http://www.convectair.ca>.
Stelco and Silhouette also makes convector heater, but they seem to be less
precise and less comfortable (I have personal experience with a Stelco that
ended up in an unfinished basement).
A quick note: stay away from the so called bathroom units. With either
company, it is a medium intensity heater (1000 W) with "quiet" fan, and a
booster heater on a timer, consuming 2000 W when you want an increase in
temperature. I prefer the quietness of the regular units.
*****
Are such units installed? Yes, many people have them. Are they common? No,
since most people who use electric heating have the more basic baseboard
units (40 $ per room vs 200 - 250 $ per room -- Canadian dollars).
Convectors are usually used by "comfort maniacs", those who install a home
office, etc. Usually, people will install one or two in the living room and
their office (rest of the house with baseboard heaters), then decide to
upgrade the rest of their system over the next few years.
A final note: we have at home the Convectair convectors. I was hesitant
between the Ouellet and Convectair units, but be have a 100 year old house
with windows starting at 24 inches from the floor. Convectair units could
be installed under windows, while other units had to be installed
elsewhere. We have had them for 4 to 5 years (gradual installation), and
don't regret them. We typically never readjust the thermostats, except when
we go out on a trip (night setting).
--
Michel Gagnon -- Montréal (Québec, Canada)
Michel...@videotron.ca