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What is the Unico System?
The Unico System is a small duct central heating, air conditioning and
ventilation system manufactured by Unico System International Limited (USIL),
headquartered in Wales. The product has been on the market in the United States
and Canada for the past 20 years, and over 250,000 of these systems have been
installed there. The system has been profiled in numerous North American
magazines and media outlets, most prominently on the television programme This
Old House.
What are the Unico system benefits?
Unico System’s modular air handlers and coils can be installed
in ceilings, floors, crawlspaces and cupboards, and its flexible 80 millimetre
supply tubing can be routed through, in and around existing construction,
eliminating the need for either ungainly metal ducts or wall-hung split-type
systems. Unico System not only fits where others can’t but it also creates even
room temperatures without drafts. The system is very quiet and unobtrusive in
appearance.
Is Unico a top notch heating/cooling system?
The Unico System is a perfect option for heating, cooling,
ventilation or all three combined. The system heats in conjunction with a
boiler; can both heat and cool in heat pump mode; and can be used for direct
expansion cooling. Additionally, the system is a perfect compliment to
underfloor heating systems and for geothermal applications. Many users have the
system installed for hot water heating only and then simply add air conditioning
at a later time. As a benefit to the plumbing market, the system can also cool
using chilled water.
How is the Unico system used in the UK?
The Unico system can be used for residential, commercial and industrial
applications. The range of applications used in the United Kingdom so far
include executive or larger self-build homes; historic refurbishments including
a number of listed properties; cinemas; professional training facilities;
factories; numerous offices; and kitchens.
Some local examples of installations in Pembrokeshire
Gas Technical Services have installed 17 of these systems in
Pembrokeshire to date. From stunning barn conversions to bungalows,
offices, houses and village halls, we have pretty well covered every type of
application.
Lamphey Village Hall
When the new village hall was being built we were originally
approached and asked to install a conventional heating system with radiators and
pipework. The old village hall which had served the community well had
been fitted with a similar system which had many disadvantages that had become
apparent over the years. The village hall being the centre of the
community has many uses, and one of the problems with using radiators was that
the playgroup meets there. It would not be acceptable for a young child to
burn itself on a hot radiator, and so low surface temperature radiator would
have needed to be used. This would have sharply increased the cost of
installation. In addition, the local Scout Group uses the hall, therefore
there was a risk of someone falling against a radiator during vigorous
activities.
Inside the new village hall
Gas Technical Services advised that the best solution would be a
Unicosystem hidden away in the ceiling void, ducting warm air through small
outlets in the ceiling into each room. 18 outlets were used to heat the
main hall and these can just about be seen in the picture above. They are
located in the ceiling running along the wall line just above the blue display
board. The benefits of the Unicosystem soon became very clear to the
village hall committee. There were no radiators to take up valueable wall
space. No risk of damage or injury. No pipework or valves to start
leaking. But most of all a very fast heat up time and the added advantage
of fresh air ventilation during warm summer months.
The picture above shows the Unicosystem Air
Handler Module fitted in the roof space.
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