QUESTIONS

If you can't find an answer to your question, please use our contact form to get in touch with us and we will get back to you right away with the answer that will also be added it to our most frequently asked questions list.

 

Does SMARTFLOW require electrical wiring?

No. The Regulator is a device that doesn't require electrical or any other wiring to function. Its functioning is based on aerodynamic and thermodynamic principles.

 

Does SMARTFLOWinclude any moving parts prone to wear and tear?

No, our Regulator comprises no such parts.

 

What is SMARTFLOW made of?

SMARTFLOW is made of acid-resistant chromium-nickel steel of top quality (316L). This type of steel offers the highest achievable resistance to corrosion.

 

What is the estimated lifespan of SMARTFLOW?

Based on our experience, the Regulator can last even over 10 years. It has 5-year warranty and it is sild with "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" policy.

 

Does SMARTFLOW require any additional adjustments after the installation?

As per our installation manual, we recommend a final fine-tune adjustment sometime after installation. It can be done as soon as several hours after the installation.

 

Won't SMARTFLOW induce the choking of the airflow in the chimney?

SMARTFLOW stabilizes the airflow in the chimney and makes it independent on weather conditions. With a light wind, it enhances the draft creating a negative pressure; while during strong wind, it will prevent the pressure build-up. In order for your boiler to perform with the highest possible effectiveness, the airflow of a certain volume is required. By stabilizing the draft, our Regulator will ensure that the most optimal performance is achieved.

 

Do I need to replace SMARTFLOW when I switch the heating system from, for example, coal to gas?

If the shape and size of the chimney stay the same, the replacement is not necessary, only an adjustment is recommended. If however, the boiler replacement is associated with a change to either the size or the shape of the chimney, (e.g. by the installation of an acid-proof steel insert), we encourage you to contact us in order to arrange for the replacement of the base, which is the part of the Regulator that is inserted inside the chimney.

 

Can I install SMARTFLOW myself?

Yes, most of our clients have successfully installed SMARTFLOW as D.I.Y projects.

 

Does SMARTFLOW have to be installed by a qualified installer?

Using the services of a qualified installer is recommended but not necessary. SMARTFLOW comes with a detailed installation and adjustment manual, which will enable you to install SMARTFLOW yourself.

 

I own a modern boiler electronically controlled. Should I get a technician to help with SMARTFLOW installation?

SMARTFLOW installation is easy and simple, however, to maximize its effectiveness and ensure optimal boiler performance, a technician's assistance is desirable. It will guarantee that the Regulator has been installed properly and will contribute to reducing the heating cost.

 

Do I need to do a check-up of the heating system and maybe a cleaning before installing SMARTFLOW?

Definitely yes! Prior to the installation of SMARTFLOW, an inspection and cleaning of the heating system, including the chimney, are highly recommended. It should be noted that regular check-ups, will always contribute to the increased safety of the heating system.

 

Is SMARTFLOW easy to install?

Yes. Each Regulator comes with the Installation and Adjustment Manual that explains, step by step, how to install it. The electronic version of the manual can also be accessed by clicking here.

 

Does SMARTFLOW need to be uninstalled in order to clean the chimney?

No. The cleaning of the chimney will be performed in the same way as before. By clicking here, you can see a picture of the cap which, when removed, will open up access to the entire chimney.

 

Does the installation SMARTFLOW require the chimney to be cleaned more often?

The chimney should be cleaned at least as frequently as outlined in the related government regulations that can be accessed here.

 

Will the installation of tSMARTFLOW cause blocking of the airflow in the chimney and the boiler room and increase condensation levels?

If everything is installed correctly, the Regulator will optimize the airflow and not block it. The Regulator will improve the boiler's performance and help dry off the wet chimney.

 

I have a coal-fueled boiler and the walls of the boiler are covered with a hard-to-remove residue. Will SMARTFLOW improve the situation?

Yes. After 5 days of operation, SMARTFLOW should make the residue disappear. The boiler should be nicely “seasoned”. Just taking care of this issue will already contribute to significant savings in the heating cost.

 

I own a boiler that I am dissatisfied with. Can SMARTFLOW help?

The reason for your dissatisfaction with the boiler you own might not be the boiler itself but rather its performance. We are certain that the producer of the boiler intended for its worry-free performance. If however, that performance is far from optimal, it might be due to the fact that a suitable environment for the boiler's efficient functioning has not been created. Installing SMARTFLOW should positively enhance that environment and simultaneously alleviate the problems that cause your dissatisfaction.

 

Can SMARTFLOW be installed with all kinds of boilers?

Based on our experience, our Regulator will work with most types of boilers. We haven't tested it with condensing boilers yet, and we do not recommend it for this particular kind.

 

What's the use for SMARTFLOW if before each heating season a technician comes over and does the boiler tune-up?

Installing SMARTFLOW is still advisable in this case because it will significantly limit the influence of the weather on the functioning of the boiler-chimney system. A technician can perform a boiler tune-up and adjust it, and to optimize its effectiveness based on the weather conditions present at a particular time in the given place. This kind of service would be desirable however as frequently as the atmospheric conditions change. If you have ever watched ski jumps, you know how often winds can change their strength and direction. So in order to have the boiler working as efficiently as possible at all times, it would be necessary for a technician to adjust its parameters every time the weather changes.

 

I have a valve installed behind my boiler and I use that to control it, so what do I need SMARTFLOW for?

A valve could work with comparable effectiveness to SMARTFLOW on the condition that you would adjust it as often as the wind changes, which is practically impossible. Additionally, such a valve does not offer any protection against any other atmospheric conditions, namely rain, snow, or wind entering the chimney and causing smoke back-up.

 

Is it reasonable to install SMARTFLOW for a boiler with a forced draft blower, including those automated, with fuel suppliers?

Yes, because automated boilers also require a stabilized environment for optimal functioning and this is what SMARTFLOW provides. And while the cost reduction may be slightly lower than with a traditional boiler, it will still be quite significant.

 

If I install your Regulator, will it take care of the problems with the shut-off of the boiler that has automated fuel suppliers?

Since the Regulator establishes a stable working environment for all types of boilers, it should make the boiler function according to the expectations in most cases.

 

Is the use of chimney caps regulated by law?

Yes. In chimney zones II and III, caps protecting the chimney stacks from the wind are obligatory and required by the law. In other zones, they can be used depending on the need.

 

Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back – how does it work?

The conditions for the return are explained in the Warranty Card. Our warranty means that anybody who has purchased our Regulator has the right to return it within 3 months from the purchase date, regardless of the cause. If the Regulator has been purchased outside of the heating season, the period covered by our warranty is extended.

 

Is there a risk that the Regulator could be knocked off or pulled out out the chimney?

Provided that the Regulator has been correctly installed, according to our installation and adjustment manual, it will be securely fastened to the chimney. None of about 60.000 Regulators that have been sold so far has ever been knocked off or pulled out of any chimney.

 

What is the wait time for the Regulator from the date of purchase?

Each purchase of our Regulator is processed instantly. We do our best to make sure that your new Regulator reaches you the next weekday after the purchase was completed. In case we receive your order after the courier has already left for the day, the Regulator will be shipped out on the following weekday.

 

What are the outside dimensions of the Regulator? What is the diameter of the spoilers and the height of the base?

The Regulator spoilers are 45cm in diameter and the part of the Regulator that is fitted inside the chimney, also referred to as the base, is 25cm high.

 

Can the Regulator be installed in an old brick chimney?

By all means. Our Regulator is manufactured in different versions, and can be installed in all kinds of chimneys. For brick chimneys we recommend the RC-14 model, which has a base that can be adjusted to any desirable square or rectangular shape between 14cm by 14cm and 25cm by 25cm. If your chimney is of different dimensions, we encourage you to get in touch with our team so that we could work on a solution that would fit your needs.

 

Why is the Regulator so expensive?

Our Regulator is a device that will pay for itself after just one heating season. We have not heard of any other such device that would save you enough money to cover the entire cost of its purchase after only one year. Additionally, if you are not satisfied with the performance of our Regulator, or for any other reason, you can return it withing the three months from the purchase date (or within the six months if the Regulator was purchased in summer), and get your money back.

 

Does the Regulator also work with pulverized coal-fired boilers?

Yes. The Regulator will optimize the utilization of any fuel – whether it is gas, wood, coke, pellets of coal. Our Stack Effect Regulator will enable your heating systems to perform at their peak efficiency, including those fueled with pulverized coal.

 

Is it practicable to install the Regulator in the system with a forced draft blower boiler?

Our experience shows that boilers equipped with forced draft blowers work well with the Regulator. The forced draft blower serves the purpose of enhancing the stack effect and our Regulator will further optimize it.

 

Who is responsible for the installation cost of the Regulator?

The client pays for the installation. Don't let the installation cost discourage you however, as the savings in heating will cover the cost of the Regulator and the installation. Installing our Stack Effect Regulator will enable you to save on heating with almost any fuel – gas, coal, coke or wood.

 

Will I be able to install the Regulator myself?

Yes. Each of our Regulators comes with the Installation and Adjustment Manual that will enable you to install it yourself.

 

Can the Regulator be installed on chimneys extending high above the roof/roof ridge? And if so, how is it installed then?

The Regulator can be installed on all chimneys, including those very high ones. The installation on a high chimney is the same as on any other, although reaching the top of such a chimney will certainly be more difficult. We recommend taking precautions and seeking assistance from a specialist/company with equipment suitable for that kind of work.

 

Do I have to clean the boiler, chimney and the rest of the heating system before installing the Regulator?

The Regulator installation is a perfect opportunity for a heating system checkup. The highest efficiency of our Regulator or any other part of the heating system can be achieved when it is clean of soot, tar or other buildup. We strongly recommend a checkup and a cleaning if needed, and following the appropriate building code regulations relating to the frequency of checkups.

 

My boiler has been professionally fine-tuned by a technician, so what do I need the Regulator for?

Periodic fine-tuning of the boiler is very advisable as that certainly enhances its operating parameters. Unfortunately, it will not ensure a steady stack effect which is required for the optimum efficiency. Our Regulator can create a stack effect that is very close to optimal, and therefore it's installation will be an excellent addition to such a professional tuneup.

 

How to reduce the heating cost by using the chimney cap?

High heating costs are the result of excessive use of fuel which, in turn, is caused by inappropriate air flow in the chimney. Installing our Regulator will help create sufficient stack effect and that will lead to reducing the cost of heating regardless of the king of fuel used. The chimney cap will allow for up to 40%  savings in the cost of heating with coal and coke; wood, pellets and straw – over 40%; gas – up to 20%. How does our Stack Effect Regulator make such savings possible? First of all, it reduces the effect that atmospheric factors have on the functioning of the heating system. When the stack effect is steady and optimal, less fuel is used and this directly translates into savings.