Heating Help

dumb customers and companies

When you spend 3 days installing a beautiful wm boiler and pump it away and then tell the customer that the original zone valve of 35 yrs is in the completely wrong place to be a "zone valve" she responds by saying thank you.  1 day later it changes to it sounds like a jet engine is taking off in the basement.  Thinking it was the inducer i took her by the hand to the basement and cycled the boiler. is this the noise? No it sounds like a jet and i think I need a discount Ahhhhh the truth of the matter finally comes out classic buyers remorse

sounds about right

I let them know right off the bat that the noise will different, especially if you are replacing an old boiler that has a 1725 RPM burner, and install a new unit with a 3450 flame retention burner. Two different animals. I went thru this years ago replacing rotary units with new boilers. Like night and day, and the customer, which is always right, will let you know right away. Make ant attempt to quiet the new system down, and everyone is happy. What boiler/burner did you install?

gas pressure

did ya check both gas pressures?

it continues

the customer called weil mclain and the "rep" told her that the induced draft boiler that we put in was the wrong boiler.  Because the induced draft boiler is for houses that do not have a chimney and that the boiler would sound like a jet engine.  The customer claims to hear the boiler noise over her tv.  With the tv off and the basement door open I can't hear this thing run.  After explaining to the customer that the manufacturer misspoke and the boiler can either be vented out the side or into a metal chimney she came back with you don't know what your saying and I'm going with the manufacturer.  We are changing the boiler to pacify her however I don't think that by putting in a natural draft boiler we have heard the last of her

why

dont you call weil mclain and ask them to have a tech rep come out and explain to you why it cannot be installed the way it is? Then show them the install manual and see what they say...

Oh I

spoke with the woman at wm who spoke with my customer.  As I  nearly jumped down her throat and told her that everything that she said had made a bad situation worse  In talking to her she informed me that the customer had spun evertything that she had told her into some diluted muck that didn't quite compute I honestly believe that this woman is in the early throws of dimentia or something to that effect.

ahh

There's alway's one out there...

never a good idea

That the homeowner has direct contact with a manufacture. They are usually too emotional about the situation, and don't explain it well. I think we have all been there, done that. I would demand that a rep go out and make things right with the customer. If it is an early stage of dementia, I feel for you there. They see, smell, and hear things that are not there, and it is sad to see that happen. Patience is always the key, and that can be hard for both, especially when the misinformation is retained by the customer.  Good luck

I Feel your pain

I installed a new G115WS/4 with the 2107 Logamatic and a S120 indirect.  I also used the BFU and Taco Delta T pump for a 35 degree Delta T.  The customer had a FR122.  Old system.  Most likely 20-30 years old.  We dropped 113 gallons of fuel the other day.  I was there the next day to do a one month follow up.  Final tune, answer questions yadda yadda yadda.  He then asks me why he has not saved any fuel.  I tried to show him how degree days work and he should have taken over 250 gallons (500 gallon under ground) according to the computer and the old system has run of that tank for one or two months.  A 137 gallon difference is nothing to sneeze at. That is over half savings.  He just could not get the picture.  I told him he should see a large reduction on his next DLV.  It will take a few DLVs before the system updates his K factor.  According to the math he is going to see about a 60-65% annual savings. I just could not get him to see how he is saving.  His last DLV was for 139 gallons at the same time last year.  We have made several DLVs there so the K factor is almost right on.  I checked the run timer and the GenySys control and it has only run for 60 hours.  60x.9 That is only 54 gallons of fuel it has used.  It has been in for a little over two months.  it runs under an hour a day.  Part of it is he keeps the house at 68 and it has been warm here.  When I was there it was sending 117 water through the system. 

Clarification

We only call it a one month follow up.