Dave H (MI)
Well-known Member
Not that the whole concept isn't flawed from the get but...
Late last year I had the farmhouse converted to natural gas from propane figuring to convert the boiler over. Never gave it a thought. The cost to do it here at the "town" house was only a couple hundred several years ago. Two of the local big name places sent "estimators" to look at the boiler. Both said our brand name boiler was obsolete. Couldn't be converted. Nearly 20 years old...had to go...$8-12,000. Got a referral from a friend for a small local heating guy. Came out, got on the phone with Carrier to get some specs, bought some parts and converted her over. I had him run the pipe also. <$1000.
Last week, Kinetico softener flooded the basement. All the local Kinetico dealerships have been bought out by one big outfit that does three counties. Tech came to the house...obsolete unit. No parts available. Had to go...won't even open it up and look at it. $2-5,000 to replace. Said ours was the "Cadillac" of the Kinetico line and they would gladly take it on trade in. Kicked him out. Small local generic softener company came over, pulled out a box of parts. Took it all apart and cleaned it. Replaced seals, etc...$350.
Hint, hint...those guys driving around town with their name splashed all over the truck and everywhere else don't repair things anymore. They only want to sell new. They don't care if they have to lie to you to get the sale. Nothing new I guess.
Late last year I had the farmhouse converted to natural gas from propane figuring to convert the boiler over. Never gave it a thought. The cost to do it here at the "town" house was only a couple hundred several years ago. Two of the local big name places sent "estimators" to look at the boiler. Both said our brand name boiler was obsolete. Couldn't be converted. Nearly 20 years old...had to go...$8-12,000. Got a referral from a friend for a small local heating guy. Came out, got on the phone with Carrier to get some specs, bought some parts and converted her over. I had him run the pipe also. <$1000.
Last week, Kinetico softener flooded the basement. All the local Kinetico dealerships have been bought out by one big outfit that does three counties. Tech came to the house...obsolete unit. No parts available. Had to go...won't even open it up and look at it. $2-5,000 to replace. Said ours was the "Cadillac" of the Kinetico line and they would gladly take it on trade in. Kicked him out. Small local generic softener company came over, pulled out a box of parts. Took it all apart and cleaned it. Replaced seals, etc...$350.
Hint, hint...those guys driving around town with their name splashed all over the truck and everywhere else don't repair things anymore. They only want to sell new. They don't care if they have to lie to you to get the sale. Nothing new I guess.