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.

Radiant Fix near Seattle

Paul Pollets
Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,656
This is one of the hardest retrofits/repairs I've had to deal with. The incompetence of the original installer was stellar. As we finished the rooftop venting for the new Vitodens, we discovered the solar array heat tubes were put in backwards, with solar side facing to roof rather than the sun. Can't fix stupid, but the new system is what should have been done 10 years ago. Funny that I bid this job 10 years ago. image
Harvey Ramerjonny88RobG

Comments

  • Harvey Ramer
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,239
    The solar array was parabolic, collecting a magnified reflection off of the roof, lol.

    Nice job on the cleanup!
    4Johnpipe
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    Nice to see the finished product -- and a nice one at that. I smell a happy customer.
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    I wonder if the customer will know about the improvements, as he was unaware of the reversed solar panels, for 10 years!--NBC
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
    Great job, Paul.
    Steve Minnich
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,752
    Nice redo Paul, that was a bit of a cluster @#$%@# before. Now makes much more sense. Tim
  • bricksea
    bricksea Member Posts: 13
    What type of wire did you install for the line voltage. Mine always ends up looking like a rats nest.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,022
    Nice save, good for you, the customer and the industry.

    Sometimes those evac tubes get turned to limit or prevent overheating on low load, or oversized arrays in the summer. Then turned back in the winter.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Paul Pollets
    Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,656
    HR, this system was never serviced nor had glycol.
  • Paul Pollets
    Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,656
    Bricksea, we used SOFA wire for the mixing valve motors and pumps.
  • bricksea
    bricksea Member Posts: 13
    Thanks, I have been using ac and it seems to just go where it wants to go. Your job looks nice and neat.
  • bricksea
    bricksea Member Posts: 13
    What is SOFA wire? I did a search and came up with couch repair parts.
  • 4Johnpipe
    4Johnpipe Member Posts: 480
    Please post pictures of the upside panels...That is a first in my book!!!!
    LANGAN'S PLUMBING & HEATING LLC
    Considerate People, Considerate Service, Consider It Done!
    732-751-1560
    email: langansph@yahoo.com
    www.langansplumbing.com
  • 4Johnpipe
    4Johnpipe Member Posts: 480
    Sweet job by the way! Pretty work!
    LANGAN'S PLUMBING & HEATING LLC
    Considerate People, Considerate Service, Consider It Done!
    732-751-1560
    email: langansph@yahoo.com
    www.langansplumbing.com
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
    I think this is worthy of an article. All of our magazines show the best of the best, when in reality, people need to see what happens of they don't do due diligence. I'd bet he paid more the second time around than he did the first time around, and then there's the pain and suffering... Being able to sleep at night knowing you will wake up to copious amounts of DHW is... Priceless! Great job as usual Paul. Deadline is next Friday :-)
    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.