Disturbing Fans--Funny story

[toggleswitch]

oh yah, saw that in my tenement apt in NYC.

Went to change the bulb in a badly installed electric fixture over a gas one (in the living room) and almost fell off the ladder from the smell of gas. Apparently the pipe caulkng compound used on the gas cap had dried out.

 

[DADoES]

My dad had one of those 'radar-dish' electric heaters. Don't know what happened to it. There was a ceramic cone in the center of the dish with a coiled element wrapped around.

 

[may63]

I can totally relate to being freaked out by powerful whole-house fans. My Dad installed one in the house when I was four. Scary. Refreshing, but scary.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

What do you know, they still make it!

I was shocked to see this. Been to the NuTone site before but did not dig deep enough down to find it.

This is almost exactly what he had growing up. The only difference is the know, which may or may not be a variable speed control, instead of the plastic rocker switch we had on ours.

Same logo,(look in the PDF to see it better, it's in script!) same everything. I can't believe they still make essentially the same model. The first of two homes we had this in was built in 1963/64!

If you want just a SUPERB bathroom heater, this is it, and 60s retro too!

http://nutone.com/product-detail.asp?ProductID=10228

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Note on above---

know-knob!

 

[Anthonya]

I was lost...

But now.. I.. found. Ok, that doesn't make as much sense as it did in my head, but I couldn't find this string, and now I'm here, so never mind. Alright, The Electromode in the other bathroom (which is a full, and doesn't get used much) does tend to put off an odor when used. The element is encased in metal, so i guess the no-burning-dust theory is sort of out the window. I also have a Nutone recessed dish-style in the bathroom at home in Irving. It's just a simple on/off, but is very effective, and fan forced. I'll try to get a pic as soon as possible.

 

[petek]

Dadoes

They still make those "radar dish" heaters, probably not a big seller in the south. We also had one growing up and I found them again new and improved. i.e. tip over switches and thermostatically controlled. Love my new one it's like instant heat and throws it a good distance with no fan noise disturbance.

 

[Anthonya]

Here It Is!!

O-F-F.

 

[Anthonya]

Here's some more

O-N-N. (huh?) I just wish I could post audio of what this thing sounds like. I think it may have a bent blade. I hope it's not supposed to sound like that, but it has been sounding like that for more than 20 years.

 

[Designgeek]

jmm63, very interesting attic fan there. The ones I'm used to are mounted at one end of the house or the other, and rotate on a horizontal axis. I suppose the vertical-axis model would last longer, as it's easier on the bearings.

I've managed to simulate that by sticking a conventional box fan into the hatch into the attic. Works fabulously. I left it on today by accident when I went out on a field item for a few hours, and when I got back the house was a comfy 75 degrees instead of the usual 80. (This uses 100 watts, so I prefer to turn it off when I go out, and only turn it on for an hour or so to cool the place down when I come in.)

The air that's pushed up into the attic by these fans ultimately gets out of the attic via the openings under the roof whose purpose is to equalize moisture levels so mold doesn't form at the intersection of roof and walls. And since the air is directed upward toward the roof itself, the air movement causes a good mixing up there, which ultimately helps cool the underside of the roof.

I don't know that these fans would suffice in climates where the outdoor temp is 90 degrees or higher. But in more temperate climates, they beat the heck out of air conditioning because a) they bring in fresh air and b) they don't cause a reactive increase in humidity as air conditioners do when the compressor switches off but the fan component is still operating. (On the other hand, hanging a freshly-washed sheet or towels indoors will cool things down a decent bit due to the evaporation.)

Re. gas lights & heaters hidden in the infrastructure: Yeah, definitely good reason to not smoke whilst working on unknown fixtures! These things ought to be labeled clearly if they're going to be left in place, otherwise remove 'em, otherwise, I see lawsuits flying in the breezes.

Speaking of fire hazards: I have an old bathroom heater mounted in the wall. It's disconnected. And well that it should be: the door opens directly into it, such that one could leave the door open at a distance of about 3" from the heating elements. Yow! (Hey, anyone want to start a "fire hazards" topic?)

 

[Cybrvanr]

What a neat heater! Looks like a stove element mounted in the ceiling! I've always liked heaters that glow when they operate, I guess because it looks like they are doing something! I can't say I've ever seen one of those installed in a home around here

 

[Kevinpreston3]

How about this for an insane heating situation

My best friend's first dwelling was a rental duplex near the beach outside of San Diego. It was built in the mid 70s, and it had a technology where heater cores were BUILT INTO THE FLOORS. It warmed the house through electric radiant heat. This was only tried for a few years, as is my understanding. My friend and his girlfriend used it one winter, and back in the 80s, got a $500 electric bill for one month. From then on, they never used heat! Although warm here in CA, it does get chilly on the beach.

When I was down there, I was always freezing. Even their cats looked like they were going to move to the comparitive warmth of the garage!!!

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Not to be confused with...

The above is not to be confused with hot water heat, which is amazing.

In Denver, we had a system where there was a boiler in the basement. Nothing frightening (the word boiler is off putting), but like a short fat hot water heater. There was a very quiet pump with it.

When you turned the heat on, or it was turned on via thermostat, you would hear a slight water rushing sound thoroughout the house. There were floor radiators that ran along the baseboard of a wall in each room, very nondescript. There were in a white cabinet, and if you looked inside, you would see a copper pipe with radiator fins around it. The whole cabinet and everything stood less than 7" high.

Then like magic, the whole house would warm up. Since there was no blower, you didn't have cold spots and you did not have dust blowing around. It was amazing.

The heating system mentioned in the previous post had coils actually built into the floors, like a big stove. Yech.

 

[kenmore1978]

radiant heat

Electric radiant heat is fairly common here in Southern California, though it's usually in the ceiling, not the floors. Though electricity is fairly inexpensive here (10-12 cents a kilowatt hour) most people tend to turn the thermostat higher than necessary for comfort.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Kenmore....

I am in LA too, and I know it's around, but I think this was one of the earlier systems. They used it a few times to get that $500 bill in one month, think of what this is in 2005 dollars. The newer ones are probably much more efficient, I think my friend said this was a very early version.

But still, yech, heating coils in the ceiling OR floor, no thanks!

 

[kenmore1978]

electric radiant heat

They aren't really "coils", think of an electric blanket.

Sort of a weird feeling when you walk around the room, hard to describe. The heat is like a "presence", as if there were a "heat ghost" in the house.

 

[toggleswitch]

oh my..

Resistance electric heat here is relatively rare.

Way too expensive of a rate and the KWHs needed here would bankrupt a person....

When seen, electric heat is in small aparmtents.
All-electric homes here just don't sell when put on the market.

 

[kenmore1978]

electric radiant heat

True, even here, I've seen it more in apartments than houses. One of the advantages is that each room has it's own thermostat.

 

[toggleswitch]

When radiant heat here is done (and it's picking up in popularity, it tends to be under ceramic-tiled bathroom floors [renovations] and be heated by a hydronic (hot water) boiler with a fossil fuel (gas or fuel-oil) heat input.

I would have done it under a ceramic basement floor (over concrete) but I did want to lose an inch or two. Every inch counts when you dont have much to work with.

Basement ceilings here are 7.0 feet high rather than a standard 8.0 feet.