Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Unico Heating

Options
rabbitsnake
rabbitsnake Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
I have a 100 year old two flat in Chicago, each floor is approx 900 square with small bedrooms & no closets. Unico HV systems look to be a great solution for AC, but I was curious if anyone has experience with their heating solutions. I see they have no gas furnace element, but can do an electric heating coil.

An HVAC contractor is telling me the Unico system would not be able to keep with below zero temperatures during the winter. He is pushing for traditional ductwork and dual gas furnaces. He indicated the Unico system could barely keep it at 50 degrees during the winter. Does anyone have any experience with Unico heating?

Thanks

Comments

  • RobG
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
    edited September 2015
    Options
    What Bob said! If your contractor cannot size a system you need a new contractor. Call Steve.
    Tinman
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
    Options
    We've been in touch via email already : )
    Steve Minnich
    IronmanRobGZman
  • Empire_2
    Empire_2 Member Posts: 2,343
    Options
    I guess if Unico cannot keep up, it's time to demolish the entire house and start over......lol. Hot water coil are a favorite of mine. This is where the contractor you talked to could have shined to help you with the problem. After all, we are problem solvers in the greatest sense of the term!

    Peace;
    Mike T.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
    edited September 2015
    Options
    The nice thing about these mini-duct systems is that they really move the air around, which makes you feel cooler in summer. The bad thing is that they really move the air around, which makes you feel cooler in winter.

    If that were mine and I were starting from scratch, I'd do mini-duct A/C only and have the boilers feeding panel radiators. This way you get the best of both worlds.

    What are you using for heat now?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    IronmanSWEIRobGTinman
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
    Options
    rabbitsnake and I haven't met yet but my preference has always been to use a boiler for heat emitters that doesn't include blowing air across them. Ideally, that's the way to go and I doubt many here would disagree with that. I guess I'll find that out shortly.

    In terms of AC, I'd go with high velocity systems over mini-splits if given a choice. Although, I do both and understand there's a place for each its still hard for me to wrap my head around a fan coil hanging in a living room or bedroom. The aesthetics of mini-splits just isn't my thing. And I've done the LG Art too. I wasn't crazy about the product.
    Steve Minnich

Categories