Q&A on wall convectors used for heating or cooling.

This article series describes wall convectors used for building air conditioning or heating. A wall convector is a wall-mounted unit that provides cool air or warm air to the building interior.

Q&A on Wall Convectors used for air conditioning cooling or heating

These questions & answers about wall convector units for heating & cooling were posted originally at WALL CONVECTORS HVAC - you'll want to read that article too.

Question: trying to upgrade or update International Environmental wall HVAC convector units?

Sara 3032/-6/04

Does anyone have any suggestions about trying to upgrade or update International Environmental wall HVAC convector units? I have an old condo (built in 70s) that has these convector for heating and cooling, one per room. The building has to choose heat or cooling--when its heat, everyone has heat and cannot run A/C, and vice versa. My problems are as follows:

1. My unit is a southern facing unit, that gets REALLY warm in the winter. I dont run my heat basically ever, and its still consistently 80-85 degrees inside on a sunny afternoon. I cannot run the AC, bc the building has to provide heat during the winter for residents.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to deal, short of keeping all the blinds closed all the time or trying to find a quiet portable AC (we're specifically prohibited from the kind that stick out from the side of the building). I would love to not have to wear shorts/tees and have my windows open in the winter just to be comfortable, but everything I'm findign says I'm just stuck.

2. In the summers, the AC is....serviceable. It definitely doesnt keep it all that cold, but its better than no AC at all. The bigger problem is the humidity. I live in Washington DC, and starting in May and running all summer, the indoor humidity levels in my condo run in the mid-70s and up.

Even with the AC running, it just feels sticky/clammy, and I know convectors dont have the same de-humidifying benefits as regular AC. I've tried a dehumidifier unit, but found that the heat output was such that it was less humid, but unpleasantly warm in my unit--and REALLY noisy too.

Any ideas for lowering the humidity levels without adding heat to my condo? The HVAC convectors can barely keep up with the summer heat as it is, and I hate being stuck between "cool but clammy" or "less humid but too hot".

I would even be open to new convector units, but doesnt seem like that's going to help?

Moderator reply:

Unfortunately, Sara, I'm doubtful that there is any convector unit that you can swap in that will let you have heat from the building's convector when the building is in cooling mode, and vice-versa.

That's because of the way these units work. The building, from a central source, is sending either hot water (for heating) or cold water (for cooling) through a system of pipes to each of the convector units in the building.

So you can see the trouble: you're not going to get cooling if the water supply is hot - no matter whose convector you have installed.

What you should be able to do, however is turn OFF the convector(s) in your condo unit whenever you want - that might require a simple thermostat or convecor control device (valve) update or replacement.

With the convector OFF, if you need to do so you may be able to install supplemental heating or cooling, as you wish, and if your condo association will permit it.

On 2020-06-20 - by (mod) -

Condensate should be collected in a pan that is in turn served by a condensate drain.

On 2020-06-19 by Nick

Connector installed properly water condensate from coil seems to drop straight down when fan not running and fills up fan housing

Question: smells at window air conditioner in New South Wales

(Feb 19, 2014) Anonymous said:

I have a lg window reverse cycle airconditioner and about 3 days ago it started to smell like dirty feet. We have had high levels of humidity, heat and rain over the past week here in Newcastle NSW.

I have just discovered mold on the radiator coil thingy. I have got removed the majority of it with water/bleach solution and a dustpan brush.

There is still mold there, the smell has improved slightly but would like to know how to fix it and how to prevent it from happening again. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially if there is a fairly cheap solution to the problem. :-)

Reply:

Please see SPLIT SYSTEM AC MOLD CONTAMINATION REMOVAL

Question: mold odors inside a convector

(Mar 6, 2015) Anonymous said: I had a odor or mold inside the convector.
The apt maintenance took the fiberglass insulation out of the unit is this safe

Reply:

It was smart to remove wet or mold-contaminated insulation as that material can't be cleaned. I'd have cleaned the unit and for best operating results, replaced the insulation with new clean material after the unit was cleaned. Removing the moldy insulation was safer than leaving it in place.

Question: Lars endurance EPB 110/175

(Mar 29, 2015) K Barrett said:
I have a Lars endurance EPB 110/175. I have 3 fan wall units, the 1st is hot, 2nd is hot but a bit less as expected but the 3rd when i bleed it it gets hot then once the fan is turned on it gets cold.

Is the pump not working? The previous owner had repaired the coil elbows, could it be a blockage? any help would be appreciated.

Reply:

KB if some of your units work and some not, then the problem is more likely at the non-operating unit. Indeed it may be air bound or you may have a control relay or valve that's not operating.

Search InspectApedia for AIR BOUND HEATING SYSTEM to see how to diagnose and correct the problem.

Question: how to add-on an electronic regulator to a convector unit in order to add a Nest or similar thermostat

(Apr 11, 2016) Erik D said:
Is it possible to attach an electronic regulator to these heaters (e.g. in order to add a nest or similar)?

Reply:

Erik:

Depending on the type of wall convector it is often possible to install a thermostatically-controlled valve that opens or closes to admit hot water or steam into the convector unit.

Erik D said:

This is the one we have - The international environmental Horizontal Cabinet Series. Would that allow a controlled valve?

CXB Horizontal Cabinet Series, produced by IEC, International Environmental
HORIZONTAL SERIES

Home » Products » Horizontal Series » CXB Horizontal Cabinet SeriesCXB Horizontal Cabinet Series
CXB Horizontal Cabinet Series The Horizontal Cabinet (CXB) fan coil is a slim, space-saving unit designed specifically for under-ceiling mounting. The CXB design flexibility allows the unit to be customized to meet a variety of job requirements.

Features
200-1200 CFM
Ceiling exposed units with an attractive cabinetry in seven nominal capacities ideal for many applications
Optional solid bottom panel can be provided on units with constructed rear return air ducts
Optional airflow configuration to maximize flexibility
UL, cUL, and MEA listed as well as AHRI certified

On 2019-04-14 by (mod) -

There are dense fiberglass mats that are sold as insulation for use inside of air conditioning and some heating systems, or you could look at some new equipment at Home Depot or Lowe's store to see what they're using, or you could probably find a thin fiberglass insulating panel that would work. Watch out to be absolutely sure that you are not blocking any combustion air or you could make the system unsafe or even fatal.

On 2019-04-14 by Sandy

I have a convector in an apartment using central air (water) system. Inside of the convector cover was a patch of insulation that prevented mold from growing on the convector cover with an adhesive. Years ago being young and dumb, I ripped it off.

The room is now in use again and without that patch of insulation, mold grows on the cover during the summertime. I have looked here and online and i'm still very stumped.

What kind of insulation can I get for the convector cover? It is a very similar setup as the first 2-3 photos above. Anything you can recommend I would greatly appreciate, thank you!

On 2019-03-28 by (mod) -

Yes replacement condensate overflow pans can be purchased but of course depending on just how the heat pump was installed and the working space it may be a bit of trouble as you may have to lift the unit to get the pan in place.

Be sure to inspect both primary condensate handling and the overflow pan.

On 2019-03-19 by Rollie

We live in condos in Phoenix, AZ. The York heat pump is about 11 years old. The unit is installed in the hallway celing. The condensation run down a pipe into the bathroom plumbing.

The pan in our unit is now rusted and leaks. Can we purchase a replacement pan for these units?
Thank you.
RJBARNHOLT@COX.NET

On 2018-10-23 by (mod) -

Fer

Sorry but we can't make specific contractor referrals or recommendations. I do agree that the prices are quoting sounds awfully steep.

There must be something very involved that needs to be done or there's something peculiar about the price.

On 2018-10-23 by Fer

Hi,
I need to change the convectors in my apartment, and I wonder if you have a recommendation of people who make it in the Washongton DC metro area.

Thank you so much! A guy here is telling me that he wants to charge me 3000 for each! I will have to stay cold the whole winter, then!

On 2018-10-15 by (mod) -

Anon

Electric wall convector heaters range in price in USD from about $60. to $300.

Gas well convector heaters can be as low as about $150. for a small unit but for the type discussed in the article above, that is a full-sized wall-mounted gas-fired wall heater, the units are in the $600. USD range.

On 2018-10-15 by Anonymous

What is the average price of a convector unit

On 2017-07-22 by (mod) -

If there is more than one convector or if your neighbor will let you examine there's I suspect you'll find the others are quite quiet. You might try having your repair person remove the cover to see if a squirrel cage fan is loose or damaged.

On 2017-07-22 by Anonymous

I live in a high builing my apt has a convector for heat and ac. the convector for AC is very noisey and never seems to stabilize it rattles and is very loud. my builing manager says the noise is normal I don't believer him

On 2017-02-11 by Jane

I in lived

On 2016-08-03 by (mod) -

Richard:

Certainly there are contemporary wall convector units for heating, air conditioning, or both.

A complication in large buildings using wall convectors for heating or cooling or both, when the convectors are being supplied with heat or cooling from a large central plant, is the shared cost of system upgrading.

Alternatives include units that are self-contained or split-systems that use individual compressor/condenser cooling or heat pump units that can work well in many climates.

Adding dehumidification if your system did not do that previously means adding cooing to a heat-only unit;

If your unit already had cooling capacity then it was already dehumidifying;

Dehumidification produces condensate; so adding cooling and dehumidification will also require adding a condensate drain system to dispose of the condensate at each convector unit.

On 2016-08-02 by Richard

I live in a condo built in 1966 with wall convectors. We have been informed that they will not continue to service the existing units. Budgeting to replace them at $2000 ea.

This type of HVAC produces warm dry air in the winter requiring a humidifier and cold clammy air in the summer with no good solution for dehumidification.

I am researching alternatives and have found none. I find it hard to believe that after 50 years we do not have a better choice without the entire building being retrofitted with a different type of system. The replacement units appear to be exactly the same with no humidify get or dehumidifying capability

Any thoughts.

Thanks
Richard

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