5 year / 20 year warranty conundrum

scub

I am thinking of installing Kingspan solar. I have a local plumber I trust and have a quote I am happy with from him. However, even though he is SEI approved he isn't on the Kingspan list......hence the difference in warranty offered

Is it mad to even consider the non kingspan list, even though locally it involves getting someone probably not in the county?

heinbloed

"Kingspan" is a brand name.
What are you actually looking at?

scub

the Thermomax range

5 year standard warranty, 20 years if installed by a Kingspan Solar Accredited Installer.

heinbloed

Sorry, you have to give more details.

Are these heatpipes made from stainless steel surrounded by a vacuum ?
These leak, sweat out the fluid into the vacuum, the vacuum gets lost in a very short time (less than 5 years). According to Kingspan's official statement these aren't produced anymore.

If your offer is about the stainless steel tubes packed into vacuum tubes you might be prone to a rip-off, i.e. someone tries selling you scrap (by the very meaning of the word).

scub

Nope the solar tubes

http://www.kingspansolar.com/products/thermomax.aspx

I had been considering the AMK Collectors but not so easily sourced in Ireland.

heinbloed

Give the following details:

Are the fluid holding pipes a.) made from stainless steel and

b.) surrounded by a vacuum and

c.) holding a glycol/water mixture

And of course: Are these ST collectors HPs (heat pipes) ?

The advertising you have posted shows no details ......just blurp, made for America etc....

Joey the lips

5 year warrenty is standard in the trade. I reckon the reason kingspan give 20 is they either train the installers or they have a kickback agreement. If you look at the agreement the 20 year guarantee covers far less as it go's on and the last few years is usually something daft like... if the frame is faulty.

For my money i always advise go with the tubes for the simple reason that if one goes its easier to replace. Another thing no one thinks of is i would pick up a few spare roof slates and leave them in the attic. They always break from the traffic.

scub

Joey that makes sense about the warranty - thanks.

Have you had any experience with the other brand?

Joey the lips

scub wrote: »

Joey that makes sense about the warranty - thanks.

Have you had any experience with the other brand?

There is loads out there. My feelings would be its not the product so much as the quality of the installer. I used system links one I have seen the heatmerchants one installed and i used allied solars one.

tbh i felt that heatmerchants one was the worse because the back up service seemed poor. But then again thats just my opinion.

My gut feeling would be stick to tubes For ease of replacement alone.

JohnnieK

I have done the solar installers course. I've not branched into it yet mainly because of costs (roof ladders, mobile tower, pump station and the likes) My supplier stocks the Viessmann system and it is quite impressive www.viessmann.co.uk have a look.

scub

Interesting I hadn't seen those before, i'll have a look - Cheers

RTT

Hi scub. I'm in the same position as yourself. What system did you decide to go for in the end?