Radiantec - be advised

[Kent in KC]

I got a quote from them for a solar heated radiant flooring system. Told them I wanted to use Warmboard instead of a concrete slab. They quoted it that way. I had the Warmboard put down, PEX laid and valves installed. I contacted Radiantec for the solar end of the system and they refused to sell it to me. Said their system is designed to work with their radiant stuff only. Didn't like that I had bought the radiant mechanical package (pump, valves, etc.) locally. Claimed their solar business is "non-profit" (Huh?) so they would not make any money if they couldn't sell me the entire package. I was flabbergasted.

So, buy it all from them or buy nothing. Anyone know a good solar (water) contractor in Kansas City?

 

[bmwpower]

Sounds like I'd never buy anything from them...period.

 

[Junkman]

Probably just as well, since with an attitude like that, they are probably going to be out of business shortly, and what ever they sell will be obsolete.

 

[tiny1]

Probably just as well, since with an attitude like that, they are probably going to be out of business shortly, and what ever they sell will be obsolete.

They were in business back in 1999 when I was starting to get information for the heating system in my house that I built in 2000.

 

[Kent in KC]

They look like they make good stuff, they just want the whole project or nothing. They give you a line item quote then don't make it clear that the solar items are just a loss leader to get you to buy the radiant flooring stuff. No Radiantec flooring, no Radiantec solar.

 

[ih1542005]

I've bought bits and pieces from them with no problems what-so- ever. They wanted me to use the polaris heater but since I only had electric I couldn't use it. I got the heater from somewhere else. Got my system working today and it's working great!

 

[mjribeiro]

I bought pieces from them too - The sales guy came right out and said that I should try to source the heavy stuff locally.

 

[Radiantec Guy]

I know this is an old post and I typically don't like to dig up old bones but here it goes!

I've no doubt that Ken in KC was told that we wouldn't sell him a solar system but it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he didn't buy the rest of the stuff from us. We sell systems every day where people have already purchased equipment and need us to help them finish up the rest.

The issue more than likely was his system design. Our solar how water systems are only designed to be hooked up to a radiant heating system that uses a water heater for the heating source and also provides the domestic hot water for the home. The reason for this is that our overheating safety mechanism for when the solar puts out too much heat in the summer consists of dumping domestic hot water out of the system and replacing it with fresh cold water. This in turn cools down the solar loop.

There are many ways to install solar hot water systems I'm sure, but the only way WE do it is with a domestic water heater based system that provides heat and hot water from the same unit. No closed systems using a water heater or boiler. If this wasn't explained properly then I apologize but I can assure everyone that it wasn't a situation motivated by profit; it was all about sticking to what we know and we are not a solar design company.

If you have questions you can message me on this board or through www.radiantec.com

I got a quote from them for a solar heated radiant flooring system. Told them I wanted to use Warmboard instead of a concrete slab. They quoted it that way. I had the Warmboard put down, PEX laid and valves installed. I contacted Radiantec for the solar end of the system and they refused to sell it to me. Said their system is designed to work with their radiant stuff only. Didn't like that I had bought the radiant mechanical package (pump, valves, etc.) locally. Claimed their solar business is "non-profit" (Huh?) so they would not make any money if they couldn't sell me the entire package. I was flabbergasted.

So, buy it all from them or buy nothing. Anyone know a good solar (water) contractor in Kansas City?

 

[73RR]

I know this is an old post and I typically don't like to dig up old bones but here it goes!

....sooooo...why then did you feel a need to dig up a TEN year old thread and then try to smooth it over ? Just curious.

 

[Radiantec Guy]

This was the first time I saw the post and thought it was fair to defend what we do.

 

[rburke65]

Everyone has to defend themselves......

 

[Burl]

Unfortunately on a typical board (such as this) you are presumed guilty until you can prove yourself innocent. I talked to Radiantec when I was putting my system together about 6 years ago and they were quite helpful, though I did not purchase anything.

 

[rburke65]

I've never heard of any 'bad press' about them.

 

[jvitez]

I have no dog in this fight, but the OP joined in Dec 2006 and was on here last in March 2007. Makes you wonder if he joined just to slag Radiantec.

Anyway, thanks for being on here Radianted Guy. Clear and honest information straight from a manufacturer will help a lot of us.

(BTW, if I did have dog in this fight, it would be wagging it's tail at digging up a bone, especially a 10 year old bone...... )

 

[Radiantec Guy]

Thanks Guys. I'm happy to help and answer any questions that I can.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Radiantec Guy, what is a "water heater based solar heating system"? if you use a water heater to supply the hot water, what does the solar do?

Not trying to make a joke. I'm honestly curious as to the basic system operation.

Tommy

 

[slackdaddy1]

2 things,
I have used Radiantec for 2 systems, no problems.
2nd, I am a contractor, everyday I turn itemized bids in on house rehabs. If a client calls and says I have half the job, and someone else has the other half, I tell them to have the other contractor do the WHOLE job. Either you want me to do the job or not.
And as little profit margin there is in "reselling" components,, It would be the whole package or nothing.

Nick

 

[-Brent-]

Radiantec Guy, what is a "water heater based solar heating system"? if you use a water heater to supply the hot water, what does the solar do?

Tommy, based on what he said, above, I get it. "Cold" water is pumped to a solar collector and then runs to the water heater and then to the load. In this discussion's case it's a floor.

I don't think the heater is used to create the supply of hot water. It's more of an item that already existed and it checks off requirements the system need (storage, water feed, and in and out, etc.) and whenever water moves out, cold water is introduced so that it's at a temperature conducive to radiant heat.

Well, that's my best guess, anyway.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Tommy, based on what he said, above, I get it. "Cold" water is pumped to a solar collector and then runs to the water heater and then to the load. In this discussion's case it's a floor.

I don't think the heater is used to create the supply of hot water. It's more of an item that already existed and it checks off requirements the system need (storage, water feed, and in and out, etc.) and whenever water moves out, cold water is introduced so that it's at a temperature conducive to radiant heat.

Well, that's my best guess, anyway.

That's kind of what I was thinking, too...

Tommy

 

[Radiantec Guy]

Tommy, this is a good question. Even in parts of the country with a lot of sun, a solar hot water heater will never provide all of the hot water for both heating and domestic use. Some days it will provide 100% but many others it will produce a fraction of that and some days nothing. Because of this, a backup water heater is required. There are many days when the solar system can crank out water at 80-90 degrees F and then the water heater takes it from there up to 120ish.

The reason we like to use a water heater based system and not a closed loop system (heating only) is that we can use the system every single day that the sun shines. In the summer it will provide most or all of the domestic hot water. If we use the solar for heating only, there is a large portion of the year that your expensive investment sits on your roof and doesn't pay you back. I think this is the point the original poster failed to see.

Here is a plumbing detail of how the system works. With this flow pattern, the hot water in the storage tank feeds in to the water heater. When that water is below the setpoint of the water heater, it kicks on and heats it up to what you need. If the water is above the setpoint of the heater, it simply passes through and the heater does nothing.

And by the way, the only link I put in here is the one of the plumbing detail. All of the others for "heater" are put in by the forum.