Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Amtrol Boiler Mate

Jed_2
Jed_2 Member Posts: 781
in THE MAIN WALL
We recently took on the Amtrol Boiler-Mate line. Can you provide advantages and disadvantages.

Thanks,

Rick

Comments

  • Paul Rohrs_4
    Paul Rohrs_4 Member Posts: 466
    Rick

    I sold a few when I was on the wholesale side of the counter. Everything I sold failed prematurely. Tank issues, not incorrect installation issues.

    I would not install one in my home if you gave it to me.

    To answer your question, their quality control was/is neglible, and the warranty of said indirect was a nightmare.

    It's odd to me that I swear by their expansion tanks, but have less than rave reviews for their indirect. When involving the factory rep for this problem and that, "We were the only ones having this problem" attitude finally made me run my business like a business and we dropped the indirects.

    The concept of their new tank is appealing, but I won't consider it until it has a lifetime warranty similar to the HTP and a looooonnnnnngggggg and successful track-record to back it up. Even then, IMHO, Amtrol indirect sales will have an uphill battle with PR given the nature of other solid indirects to choose from.


    My .02 cents.

    Regards,

    PR

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Troy_3
    Troy_3 Member Posts: 479
    Scamtrol

    I second that opinion. But you won't have to worry about gettin anything for free from these scam artists. They won't even stand behind their warrantee. Screw me once shame on you screw me twice shame on me. I replaced no less then 8 leaking blue tanks and received a total of $80 toward a new tank. That is for all of them. $80 total. And I had to buy the replacements. Sorry never ever again! There is a reason that they lost sooo much of the market that they created. I'm surprised they are still out there.
  • Ragu_5
    Ragu_5 Member Posts: 315
    Rick

    I don't use them either; can't. I believe they did invent the concept, but the design never got any better. Not too good on heat transfer, coils get pretty crudded up and I've also had some leakers.

    A friend of mine just bought one and he said there is a statement in the new installation manual that says glycol is not allowed anymore.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I agree..

    Something about their well tanks , they installed cast iron ells at bottom and painted them blue so we didint catch til customers calling us about the flooding in basement.... They cheapen us professials by doing this while we all know that cast iron won't last on domectic water, so they went to stainless steel connection while I went to fiberglas tank company. Asked my supply house why I don't see anymore amtrol indrect tanks... The answer : read above posts...
  • Paul Pollets
    Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,668
    Not Recommended

    High failure rates and poor heat transfer...coil too small. Not In My House!!!

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Maine Ken
    Maine Ken Member Posts: 531


    Advantages are you should have no problem keeping inventory.

    Disadvantages are that there won't be any inventory rotation!

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • David Sutton_6
    David Sutton_6 Member Posts: 1,079
    Sorry Rick ....

    But i going to agree with these fine men...i use to install a lot of those in the late 80's and early 90's replaced a lot of those tanks, they use to give you a new tank then just the coil then just a gasket then you got not much, tanks leaked at the wierdest spots.

    i wouldn't put on in for free either...i would think of a new line of tanks.

    but as Paul said, i swear by there expantion tanks!!

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt Member Posts: 4,908
    Huh


    Didn't we discuss this already?

    Mark H

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Paul Rohrs_5
    Paul Rohrs_5 Member Posts: 134
    Rick

    Did you give up a line or what have you sold previously?

    What boiler lines do you stock currently?

    Regards,

    PR

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Jed_2
    Jed_2 Member Posts: 781
    Paul, our lines are...

    Buderus, Triangle Tube & Peerless and have tremendous confidence in those lines. I usually look for input when we take something new on...

    Thanks everybody,

    Rick
  • Brad White_109
    Brad White_109 Member Posts: 9
    I have to ask, Rick

    (and I understand the confidentiality of negotiations leading to an acquirement of a product line), would it not have made more sense to inquire before you signed up?

    Have you tried HTP (SuperStor) or others?

    Sorry if too obvious but I had to ask.
  • hr
    hr Member Posts: 6,106
    They have made a number of changes

    to that indirect recently. As`I recall a top mounted HX for less lime up. Although I believe it is still a finned copper coil.

    The old ones had some issues with leaks around the connections.

    I agree they build excellent well and expansion tanks, they seem to have struggled with their indirect offerings.

    I'm always willing to give a manufacture a second, or third chance, especially if they accept input from the guys in the field. We are the best eyes and ears they have. Reasonably priced, also :)

    hot rod

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I was wondering

    I was wondering the same thing... What did they offered you, Rick before you ask the fellows wallies? Was there a earlier post about the junktrol tank expanded and spilt?
  • Jed_2
    Jed_2 Member Posts: 781
    Brad

    I am in Sales and have no input on lines we take on.
    When we take something on, I ask installers...

    Rick
  • Dave Palmer_3
    Dave Palmer_3 Member Posts: 388


    they seem to have solved their problems,yes the coil could be larger
  • Brad White_110
    Brad White_110 Member Posts: 13
    Rick

    You of all people should be giving their input! From the sounds of things this may make your sales job a bit more challenging. Anyway, 'nuff said. All done at a higher pay grade than either of us.

    Cheers!

    Brad
  • Jed_2
    Jed_2 Member Posts: 781
    Brad

    If I don't believe in a product, I don't push it. We have always carried the Amtrol line, the indirects were recently added to our inventory. Adding another item rarely is discussed in a group, it's usually between rep & purchasing agent. Boiler & furnace lines are always discussed with sales team. Sometimes I walk through the warehouse and say "hey, when did we start selling those?" Uhh- 2 months ago.

    My preference is to have boiler & indirect to be from same manufacturer, not mixing and matching,unless it's a Triangle Tube Smart/Phase III. You guys have answered all my questions...

    Rick
  • ScottMP
    ScottMP Member Posts: 5,882
    I have had

    The same experience as others Ric. On all accounts. No reason to beat a dead horse.

    I ussualy sell a replacement indirect by using the same speach. " These are the guys who made indirects popular. Alot of manufactures looked at thier tanks and said; Good Idea, We can make it better. And they have ". Thin insulation, plastic bladder, small coil, tough to get to. It makes it easy for me to sell HTP or Buderus.

    I think the biggest insult to the trade is thier stagnation. They did not change the design for years and years, even after input from the trades.

    As other's have said, lets not even get going about warranty issuies.

    Scott

    PS: Then there is this photo

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    I knew....

    I knew this one would pop up.

    Answer...OBVIOUS. Nuff said? Chris
  • Darin Cook_5
    Darin Cook_5 Member Posts: 298
    Name Recognition

    It is too bad. Everyone used to call every indirect installed a " Boiler Mate".


    Not any more.







    Darin
  • rucomfy
    rucomfy Member Posts: 43
    So.....

    > to that indirect recently. As`I recall a top

    > mounted HX for less lime up. Although I believe

    > it is still a finned copper coil.

    >

    > The old ones

    > had some issues with leaks around the

    > connections.

    >

    > I agree they build excellent well

    > and expansion tanks, they seem to have struggled

    > with their indirect offerings.

    >

    > I'm always

    > willing to give a manufacture a second, or third

    > chance, especially if they accept input from the

    > guys in the field. We are the best eyes and ears

    > they have. Reasonably priced, also :)

    >

    > hot

    > rod

    >

    > _A

    > HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

    > 144&Step=30"_To Learn More About This

    > Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in

    > "Find A Professional"_/A_



  • rucomfy
    rucomfy Member Posts: 43
    Pardon me.. but

    when my first Boiler Mate failed, it developed a leak that looked like a paint bubble until I touched it.... It was a 1984 model and had a 10 year warranty. It was out of warranty (my first boiler install was my own home, HydroPulse- electric to gas conversion). I picked up and paid for a new Boiler Mate. I also wrote to Amtrol and expained my frustration, I received a check for the wholesale amount I paid to L&H Supply. Sorry that other folks have had less success with Amtrol.

    If this one fails, what is the what is the preferred choice for replacement ??
  • Ragu_5
    Ragu_5 Member Posts: 315
    Choices

    The best I've used is Viessmanns stainless steel line; I've never seen anything produce hot water like that before.

    For mid range I like Crown Mega Stor and TFI Everhot. Triangle Tube Phase III are great producers, but tough to drain easily. HTP Super Stor are really decent, but their tappings all exit the tank at weird angles and are hard for me to do a good job on making the piping look good. Just what I've used out of what is available locally.


    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • clammy
    clammy Member Posts: 3,227
    scam trol

    I had used them with somer places i had worked at nothing but garbage ,always need a domestic expansion tank or they split needs house pressure reducing valve or they always blow the safeties off and have ran into too many split or limed up.They are never in my mind when it comes to installing a indirect and if i had to carry them as a product line i would get outta the bussiness ,try buderus with a nice manhole to ease cleaning when they get limed nearly 8 years of installing them and not one leaker but i did read the instruction and installed a domestics expansion tank .peace and good luck clammy

    R.A. Calmbacher L.L.C. HVAC
    NJ Master HVAC Lic.
    Mahwah, NJ
    Specializing in steam and hydronic heating

    Pat_11
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    what about

    What about Wiel Mclain indirect tanks? Any plms with them?
  • Ragu_5
    Ragu_5 Member Posts: 315
    Wei l McLain Tanks

    The ones I've seen are Triangle Tube Phase III; a tank within a tank, and need a pump to drain.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
This discussion has been closed.

Categories