Aquair Johnson and Starley heat interface:

 

The J&S “Aquair” air handler, also known as a “heat interface” is a hot-water-to-warm-air converter. A device well worth considering if you are planning to replace an old warm air boiler, as an alternative to fitting a whole new warm air boiler. 

 

The Aquair fits in where your old warm air boiler used to be, but instead of having a gas burner built in as an integrated unit, the Aquair uses a hot water supply generated by a separate combi boiler fitted either nearby or somewhere else in the house.

 

This may sound supremely pointless initially, but there are two significant advantages. The main advantage is that to service, work on or repair your old gas fired warm air boiler you will have been obliged to find a gas technician holding the specific qualification necessary to work on gas warm air, and such people can be difficult to find. If you fit an Aquair air handler powered by hot water from a conventional modern combi boiler, you escape this restriction. Any local gas technician can service/fix both your boiler and your Aquair air handler. (The term “air handler” is the generic term for an Aquair, while Johnson and Starley use their own term “heat interface” to describe them.)

 

If you have no gas supply and you need a new warm air system powered by electricity or oil, the Aquair air handler can also be powered by a conventional electric or oil boiler. 

 

If you choose a ‘combi’ format of boiler (gas, oil or electric), then the boiler can supply instantaneous hot water to your taps too, allowing you to dispense with the hot water cylinder probably fitted with your existing old warm air boiler. 

 

For full sales details on the Aquair air handler, visit the Johnson and Starley website here: 

https://www.johnsonandstarley.co.uk/products/warm-air-heat-interface

 

 

The Aquair comes in several sizes and is designed to be used specifically to replace the more common Johnson and Starley models from the 1970s, 80s and 90s such as the J25-32, the HISPEC J32 and the Economaire.

 

There are five sizes available. All five sizes are available in ‘downflow’ configuration (where the warm air outlet ductwork is in the floor and connects to the underside of the old warm air unit). Only the three smaller sizes are available in ‘upflow’ format, where the outlet is from the top for bungalows with ductwork in the loft.

 

Sizes are as follows (H x W x D mm):

S-10: 766 x 300 x 549

S-16: 785 x 445 x 522

S-20: 787 x 481 x 614

S-25: 1078 x 480 x 710

S-36: 1045 x 710 x 733

 

The number after the “S” indicates the heat output in kW, when supplied with central heating water at 80c by the (separately installed) gas boiler.

 

There appears to be a range of plenum chambers to fitr under or over each Aquair to make it the same height as the old format warm air heater being replaced, but I’m not sure about the details yet. 

 

 

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