HYDRONICS
Connecticut wholesaler test-drives new energy-saving circulator
the first time, plumbing and heating wholesalers tend to tread very carefully. New products with breakthrough technologies can carry the promise of increased sales and profits, as well as, perhaps, greater jobsite productivity or application efficiency. Breakthrough technologies are also,
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by definition, uncharted waters for contractors. Most tradespeople understandably fear that any departure from the tried-and-true will lead to installation mistakes, callbacks and returns from angry customers and a consequent loss of time and money. Better to leave the risk taking to more adventurous souls with deeper pockets, cautions conventional wisdom: If a new product ultimately lives up to its marketing claims, there will be plenty of time to capitalize. As a former contractor turned
successful wholesaler, 56-year-old T. J. Hunt of Danbury Plumbing & HVAC Supply (Danbury, Conn.) is well versed in the hazards of the trade with regard to new products. Recently, when he had the opportunity to champion a new circulating pump from one of his company’s better, long-time suppliers,
A former contractor turned successful wholesaler, T. J. Hunt of Danbury Plumbing & HVAC Supply test drove the pumps himself, installing eight ALPHA units in the radiant floor heating system in his own home.
he opted for a third way — somewhere between “jump-right-in” and “wait-and-see.” As a result, he found himself standing on much firmer ground when it came time to promote the energy-saving benefits of this breakthrough product, the Grundfos ALPHA, to his customers. Grundfos ALPHA: Over the past
couple of years, Hunt and his team had been following positive reports about a new generation of energy saving, variable-speed circulators for hydronic applications. Developed and successfully used for the better part of a decade in Europe, these new pumps automatically adapt their outputs to current demand, no
matter how often conditions change, while incorporating a permanent magnet motor design that sharply reduces electric power consumption. “Grundfos Pumps was the first to
bring this successful technology to the United States,” Hunt remarks.
“They are a good vendor of ours and we have always worked well with the folks at Urell, their independent rep in our territory. The product seemed to be an excellent fit.” Although Hunt saw introducing
the new ALPHA circulator from Grundfos as a prime opportunity to help his customers perform more energy efficient hydronic installs, he also thought he needed something more than a brochure and a counter day to launch the product credibly. To persuade a contractor to make the jump to the new generation technology, Hunt believed that he first needed to take that leap himself. That is why, in November 2009, he chose to install eight ALPHA units in the radiant floor heating system in his own home, replacing an equal number of conventional circulators, made by a rival manufacturer, that were part of the home’s original equipment. The winter of 2010-2011 was even
T.J. Hunt talks about the benefits of the ALPHA pump with plumbing contractor Frank “Butch” Shook, B&C Heating, Danbury, Conn.
colder, “We had a tough winter this past year, and the ALPHA pumps were great,” says Hunt. The savings have been consistent and the circulators continued to deliver savings. “When contractors hear that this
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hen it comes to bringing new products to their contractor-customers for
phc july 2011
www.phcnews.com
All photo credits: Caryn B. Davis
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