Rip it out

Unknown

I'm glad that u are stickin with ur gun ,Ray.. Yeas its true that I've met people that had their arkdumbasstek told them that hot water heat are no longer available due to air cond system and they are uncomfortable.... Met a basement remodler working in afflent area, asking him if he making people comfrtable in basement using radiators, etc.... " no way! Costs too much money and I just tell them to plug in electric heat when its get cold.."

Ray M

It is a shame that the public is so misinformed about heating systems. I have 3 sets of plans from 3 different ark-a-teks [thanks ME] with spec's to remove all the radiators and install "forced air heating". After talking to the owner's the common response is "IT works good but it"s ugly". I try to explain to the customers that if you remove the radiator cover's and paint the rad's that they will work better,look better and will give you year's of economical COMFORT. Mind you 2 of the systems are converted gravity system's and one is one pipe steam that is piped wrong. Ok we will think about it. I get a call form ark-a tek #1 "why are you trying to change the spec" and i reply that in my 27 year's in the heating and cooling bussiness i have NOT seen a "forced air system "out perform a forced hot water emitter system in comfort and economy. [We install both furnaces and hydro-air.] I know that i will open a can of worms with the last statement but variable speed air handler and larger hot water coil's still does'nt cut it. There are no "hydro air " air handlers that can give you 15 seer without a third party coil installed. The package units that are made are just comming up to 13 seer. The manufactures are behind with the changing times.

Thanks
Ray M

Mike T., Swampeast MO

> It is a shame that the public is so misinformed

> about heating systems. I have 3 sets of plans

> from 3 different ark-a-teks [thanks ME] with

> spec's to remove all the radiators and install

> "forced air heating". After talking to the

> owner's the common response is "IT works good but

> it"s ugly". I try to explain to the customers

> that if you remove the radiator cover's and paint

> the rad's that they will work better,look better

> and will give you year's of economical COMFORT.

> Mind you 2 of the systems are converted gravity

> system's and one is one pipe steam that is piped

> wrong. Ok we will think about it. I get a call

> form ark-a tek #1 "why are you trying to change

> the spec" and i reply that in my 27 year's in the

> heating and cooling bussiness i have NOT seen a

> "forced air system "out perform a forced hot

> water emitter system in comfort and economy. [We

> install both furnaces and hydro-air.] I know that

> i will open a can of worms with the last

> statement but variable speed air handler and

> larger hot water coil's still does'nt cut it.

> There are no "hydro air " air handlers that can

> give you 15 seer without a third party coil

> installed. The package units that are made are

> just comming up to 13 seer. The manufactures are

> behind with the changing times.

>

> Thanks Ray M



So have any of these "ark-a-teks" actually done anything regarding heating/cooling system design other than to specify "forced air" and perhaps the make/model of the equipment? Did they design access for branches (supply and return) that doesn't compromise structure (or at least hides them in an aesthetically pleasing way)? Did they leave plenty of room unobstructed by wiring/piping for plenums (supply and return) in the design?

I've personally talked with three homeowners in my town who had their converted gravity systems replaced with combined forced heat/cooling systems (all multi-floor requiring multiple units). This after living with the hot water heat for at least one year. None were particularly pleased. All mentioned that the heat didn't "feel" as comfortable, especially in rooms where the rads weren't covered. Two mentioned "balance issues" with the forced air heat that didn't exist before. One mentioned rather severe balance issues with both heating and cooling. Despite the use of "high efficiency" furnaces in all, none mentioned lower fuel consumption and one said that it seemed higher.

I've also talked with two homeowners who retained their hydronics (one converted gravity, the other originally Trane vapor steam) and added only forced air cooling. Again multi-floor homes and one of these had a single unit installed in the attic with no ductwork to the ground floor--the other used two systems. Both were very pleased. The only problem mentioned was in the single-unit system where they said the kitchen would overheat on hot afternoons or with a lot of cooking. Last time I drove by and noticed, there was a window unit in the kitchen.