Anyone have problems with thereWaterfurnace Synergy 3d. Our house is brand new. With the synergy 3d the hydro bill was about 85kw/d. Our old house with the same applainces was about 45 kw/d. I haven't seen the aux heat come on, but can I just pull the breaker so it doesn't come on? We run the fan constanted, it's an ecm fan. We have forced air heating and cooling in the whole house. The basement has in floor radient heat. In floor is set at 72 f and forced air is set about the same. We don't have it set to change temps itself.

If the aux heat was wired correctly when installed, you will not be able to turn off the the aux breakers without shutting the unit down because the board and fan get power from those breakers. You could however disconnect the W wire from the board.

So after a day with the aux switched off at the main breaker box we only used 48kw, but the house was cold this morning house is set a 72f and only was 68f. So I switched the aux back on and house is heatiing up. Not showing the aux heat is on the. So can anyone explain to me in layman terms what is going on.\

Sounds like aux is coming on and someone did not wire it per waterfurnace instructions.
Just what is telling you the aux in not on? I also think the installer needs to recheck his work, obviously something is not right and I can't see it from here.

The thermastat is not saying the aux is one. In the 1.5 hours before I left the house the house had heated up to 72 but we had also used 14kw in that 1.5 hours. I called the installer last week and they basically said it not the furnace it must be something else. This is a brand new house!

Was the installer also the dealer? If so, call the installer again and explaining your findings. If they still refuse to come back and re-check their work, call WaterFurnace and make a complaint about their dealer. WaterFurnace has inhouse technicians that may be able to help while you work out the dealer issue.

Good luck!
John

And fine techs they are too but I don't think they want to troubleshoot the unit with the homeowner. However they will work with any competent HVAC contractor.

So I'm right in thinking it not normal to be using this much hydro. We have very load blower fan that they are suppose to come and switch, but haven't managed to find the time to do. I"m wondering if that could be part of the problem.

AHHH HA! Is the loud noise coming frmo the blower motor itself or is it a loud "rushing" sound of air? If it is the motor, who knows what is wrong and how much juice it is using. If it is a loud rushing of air sound, check that the dampers are opening all the way or that the duct work is not blocked or undersized.

Reason for this suggestion... I had a similar problem. The noise was terribly loud. It was as if a large wind was being forced into an area with no where to go. Someone had closed all the registers upstairs. When that zone was the only one calling for air, there was simply no where for the air to go.

Check that out. Cold be your problem. Look at the dampers. When you hear the loud noise, does it look like no dampers are open? Is air coming out of the registers in the zone calling for air (or heat)?

John

We definitely have a problem with the blower, thats is confirmed with the dealer. They were suppose to replace the blower moter it yesturday but didn't show up. Now they are suppose to come next Thursday. They claim because it's an ecm fan that would be the hydro problem but I still wonder. They are suppose to check things out next week.

I am currently without heat (6 days and counting) in southern VT for the second time in 2 years. This is the third failure of the system in the last 3 years. In the third failure, we went 14 days with no hot water in March 2009.

What is particularly disturbing is that 2 of the failures were identical: freon leak in the reversing valve. The third was a fried mother board on the water to water unit.

We installed a Water Furnace Synergy3 in 2006. The table below shows the dates of the failures, my cost out of pocket, and what the “10 year” warrantee did for me, the failure and days out of service.


Date       |    My Cost     |      WF Warantee      |   Failure           |  Days out of service
1/2008   |   $975.58      |   1 part                     |reversing valve |          10
3/2009   |   $1122.90    |   nothing                  |motherboard     |          14
11/2009 |   TBD             |   TBD                        |reversing valve  |         6 n’counting


Form my experience the problems Water Furnace faces are as follows:

• Part distribution takes way to long. FW Webb does not stock the parts. They – mostly – are shipped from Canada. Waiting is the majority of the down time.

FWIW I went 10 days with out heat in VT in January when the wind chill hit 20 below zero. 14 days with out hot water forced me to drop in an electric hot water heater. And early this week – without heat – temps dropped to 15 degrees.

• The 10 year warrantee is a fairy tale. 3 failures within 3 years have resulted in zero labor coverage and no electrical parts (mother board in my case). One reversing valve was provided; another is expected.

• There is a serious design – or manufacturing - flaw in the reversing valve. 2 identical failures within 2 years is simply unacceptable.

So what lessons do we have for those considering alternative energies:

1. Design backups into you system. I dropped in an electric hot water heater to backup the water to water unit. A wood stove backs up the water to air unit. I am considering electric base board so I am not trapped in the house thru these outages. And a refrigeration contractor backs up my installer (who left the country last year).
2. Double any advertised “pay-back” period. At this pace (3 failures in 3 years) my unit will NEVER pay for itself. Also need to add the costs of installing and operating the required back-up.
3. Don’t rely on the warrantee. It probably won’t be there when you need it.

I am curious to see if any of the labor costs from my current failure will be pickedup by WaterFurnace ... but I am not holding my breath.

We are looking at the Synergy 3D. I don't like what I'm hearing!! We like the idea of in floor heat with our earth tied SIPS home. Would like to hear more about it's power consumption, and performance. What about price? We were quoted $25,000 installed, which does not include the ground prep ( insulation, wire, etc.) !!

[quote]

Would like to hear more about it's power consumption, and performance. What about price? We were quoted $25,000 installed,
[/quote]

Ours was installed for 24k in 2006. Included a standalone water to water unit for hot water. Operating costs in VT peak months (Jan - Mar) runs ~$500/mo. I "should" be saving ~$1000/year. My neighbor build a similar house at the same time ... we compare bills. He opted for propane FHW and averages $800/mo.

I really wish WF were more responsive to these situations

So I emailed WaterFurnace after failure #2 (motherboard) explaining that my installer left the country ... what's the policy for an abandoned install? ... who do I contact for service ...

Here's the response I got from WF

[QUOTE]
thank you for contacting us here at WFI. Please contact you contractor and havr them file a

warrenty claim on the part that they replaced.

 

Best regards,

Dave Shepherd

Technical Service Advisor

WaterFurnace International, Inc

[/QUOTE]

So I say my installer is GONE/AWOL/DEAD and they say "have him call me".  That's not customer service .... it's customer AVOIDANCE.

At the risk of beating a dead horse, your contractor is the most important link in this purchase. Equipment fails, that doesn't suprise anyone, but not being able to get it serviced does. Check references, ask local building department, check years in business......
Good Luck,
Joe

FWIW, I did file a warranty claim via FW Webb for the part and service costs.  The claim was rejected because the unit was 18 months old.

So much for the 10 year warranty.

I'm amazed the WF response contained 4 grammar and spelling errors within 25 words.

They do have an online dealer locator - check there for another contractor who hasn't yet absconded.

They must have outsourced the warranty dept to some third world country  

Does anyonoe else make a 3 in one unit similar to the Synergy 3 D ? Starting to worry about WF standing behind their product!!