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Frequently
Asked Question Categories:
Your
tes
Machine |
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QUESTIONS: |
ANSWERS: |
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Where do I buy my
tes? |
tes
TES is manufactured by
Bridgepoint Systems and sold exclusively through the
Interlink Supply network of
carpet cleaning supply and
restoration supply
distributors. Visit
www.InterlinkSupply.com to find your local Interlink
Supply distributor. |
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What is included in
the basic
tes
package?
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The
tes
base unit includes the Stainless steel power plant, 4 roto-molded
thermal exchange (tex) boxes, 600’ of insulated hose
including quick connects, insulation wraps, owner’s manual
and basic instruction guide.
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What accessories or
options will I need?
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This will depend upon
the type of job you do and the equipment you already have.
You need five air movers to be able to run all four tex
boxes and the exhaust. If you need dehumidifiers, the
Phoenix 200 HT is a perfect compliment to
tes.
A dual or single stage
exhaust controller and lay flat ducting will also be needed
to run the system. Sand bags, pad pins and foam wedges are
helpful time savers that you will also want. Floater Pins
will be needed to float carpet with furniture that stays in
the room. One set of 4 floaters for each piece of furniture.
If the unit is not
permanently installed in a trailer or van, the wheel kit may
be necessary. If installed in a trailer or van, the manual
must be consulted to ensure proper ventilation and ducting.
Other items are helpful for some jobs but may not be needed
on a regular basis.
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Is there an accessory
to fit into the window that allows the hoses to go through
without allowing people or pests in through the window?
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The hose rods and foam
inserts can be used to block the windows to only allow the
hoses to pass through the window. Some contractors will cut
a piece of wood and place in the window and place a large
wooden dowel in the window track to hold it in place for
security reasons.
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How powerful of air
mover is needed for each tex box? |
Most centrifugal air
movers (whistle style) will work fine (1/3 Horse Power or
larger). More powerful air movers are helpful when drying
larger rooms of carpet but are not needed on most jobs. In
fact, the smallest amount of air flow possible, while still
maintaining a proper float is what works the best.
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What is the warranty on
this machine? |
The exchanger inside
the
tes
unit is warranted to be free from defects in material or
workmanship for five years from the date of purchase. The
roto-molded body of the tex box is warranted to be free from
defects in material or workmanship for five years from the
date of purchase. All other components of the
tes
Thermal Energy System are warranted to be free of defects in
material and workmanship for one year from the date of
purchase.
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What is the life
expectancy of a
tes
unit? |
Tes
is built to the highest standards and built to last.
Stainless steel and other rust proof metals make
tes
a very durable machine. Virtually all the components are
rated to much higher limits than they will ever reach
running on the
tes
unit. The
tes
Thermal Energy System is designed to give you years of
reliable service. If a problem should arise, use the
troubleshooting section in the operation manual to diagnose
and correct the problem if possible. If you are unable to
determine the cause or solution to the problem, contact your
distributor or Bridgepoint Systems for assistance.
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Operation |
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QUESTIONS: |
ANSWERS: |
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How many square feet
can be dried with the basic
tes
package? |
The drying capacity of
tes
is only limited to how quickly you would like a structure to
dry. If the area is quite large and only one
tes
unit is applied, drying may be extended to typical dry times
using currently available technology. As a guideline, here
are some estimated coverage’s where average dry times range
from 18 to 72 hours depending on the class of loss.
Commercial applications with glue down carpet or other hard
surfaces: 5,000 sq. ft maximum per
tes
unit. Additional fans/air movers may be required.
Residential: 3,000 sq feet when combining stretched in
carpet over pad and other hard floor surfaces.
Tes, using
all four tex boxes will float up to 1,200 sq. ft. of carpet.
This would be for class 2 losses (floor wet and walls wet up
to 24”). Where a class 3 loss (walls wet from floor to
ceiling, ceilings also wet) is involved, less square footage
may be dried or drying times may be somewhat extended.
Tes
is designed to be used in conjunction with the buildings
existing HVAC system. If there is no heat or air
conditioning available from the HVAC system, then the amount
of an area you can cover may be reduced depending on outdoor
conditions.
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How much propane will
it take to dry an average job? |
The
tes
boiler uses 1 ½ gallons of propane per hour at full heat in
most cases. However, the efficiency of the 2-stage boiler
means it will not always have to operate at full heat. How
many tex boxes are attached and the current ambient
conditions will determine how much propane will be used. 2
or 3, 100 lb tanks is recommended for optimum performance.
Using only one tank may cause it to freeze up and not allow
sufficient propane flow. When propane is flowing too quickly
from only one tank, it is possible to freeze the regulators.
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How long does it take
to set-up / take down the
tes
unit? |
This will vary with job
site conditions and the experience of the person doing the
set-up. 60 to 90 minutes may be required the first time a
technician sets up
tes. This should reduce greatly with
experience. Once you have done it a few times, you should be
set up in 30 to 45 minutes. A trailer mounted unit would
reduce this time even further. Significant time savings are
experienced by
tes
users because daily monitoring is cut to only one visit in
most cases as opposed to the 5 or 6 visits needed with
conventional equipment.
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What is the difference
between the single stage controller and the two stage
controller? |
The single stage
controller simply turns on/off one fan at a preset
temperature. The two-stage controller will turn on/off two
fans at two different temperature settings. The advantage of
the two-stage controller is one exhaust fan could be set and
running between 80 and 95 degrees and a second fan could be
set to turn on at 95 degrees to ensure that the temperature
never exceeds that setting.
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Can the furniture be
left in the room during drying? |
Yes and there are
special accessories that will allow the carpet to float
under furniture that is left in the room. However, we do
recommend removing as much furniture from the room as the
situation will allow.
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What about security?
People don’t want to leave the windows open when no one is
home. |
Security is a concern
in any loss situation and has been dealt with on jobs using
trailer mounted desiccants, etc. If it isn’t a whole house
loss, many times the owner can and will remain in the
structure over night. In the jobs done to date with
tes, all
homes and businesses have been secured with little or no
concern from the owner. Here are a few suggestions should
this concern arise on one of your jobs:
1. Windows are usually not opened far and can easily be
blocked so as not allow entrance into the structure.
2. Restorers have been very creative in designing special
access points that are placed in windows or can replace an
outside door.
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Why do you float the
carpet? Don’t people object to this? Don’t they expect to
get new carpet? |
Floating carpet has
been done for 30+ years; however this is not the typical
float. We are simply lifting a corner and installing the tex
between the carpet and cushion. We also use sandbags where
the folded carpet is off the tack strip to keep the carpet
from “flopping” which can cause damage. We are using the
carpet to contain the energy (heat) and need only a “soft
float” to accomplish this. An answer to objections to
leaving the carpet is simply to say that the carpet is used
for containment for the system. The decision to remove the
carpet can be made once the structure is dry and evaluation
of the contents and structure can then be made. Studies have
been conducted and it is verified that a flooded and then
dried carpet is stronger than when new. This is inclusive of
carpet that has been floated. When heating, while drying,
the increased strength is even greater.
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What does 2-stage
boiler mean? |
This means
tes
has a high and a low fire. The machine senses how much heat
is needed and adjusts accordingly. This can also be adjusted
manually. For example, if you are using all four tex boxes
it will be in high fire mode to keep up with the demand, if
you use only two tex boxes the demand for heat is reduced
and the boiler will fire in low to use less propane. This is
adjusted manually at set up by a valve that is on the
tes
machine.
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How many tex boxes can
you run off of one
tes
unit? |
Four tex boxes is the
maximum for one
tes
machine for optimum efficiency. You can buy an extra box,
hoses and tees to connect another box, and it will not hurt
the machine, but the performance will be reduced. It is
recommended that you never use less than two tex boxes with
the
tes
unit.
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What is the maximum
length of hose you can run to a single tex box? |
Tes
has been run out to
lengths of 300 feet to a single tex box with good results.
Hoses have been run up to 4 stories (40 feet). Higher runs
may be achievable but have not been tested. Any extensions
in length or height should be made using the ¾” hoses.
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Are there any
temperatures, or weather or atmospheric conditions that make
it so
tes
cannot be used? |
Tes
is designed to work
outside in the elements – snow, sleet, rain, etc. It can
operate in temperatures from -30°F to 115°F. When mounted in
a closed vehicle or trailer, good ventilation is a must. For
temperatures below 60*F, at least 200 sq. inches of
ventilation must be available. For temperatures above 60*F,
a forced air fan (see operator manual) must be used to
prevent overheating in the vehicle or trailer.
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What if the ceiling is
wet or what if the walls are wet all the way to the ceiling?
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The energy from
tes
can be utilized to dry all structural materials. Just allow
the temperature in a room that is completely wet to go
higher. Increase the energy to the water using additional
fans if needed. Ducting tex and/or pointing
tes
directly at the ceiling may be effective ways of getting the
energy to where it is needed.
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What if I have a room
full of wet contents? |
Tes
can be used to dry
those contents in place. Just allow the temperature to get a
little warmer and put airflow over the contents.
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What are some of the
limiting factors with
tes? What is the downside or what can
it not do? |
It can be used in any
drying situation you would use conventional equipment. For
ultra high speed drying, the size of the loss is somewhat
limited to less than 1200 square feet, however it may be
used as a large loss unit if you choose to heat the entire
structure, but this will be a little slower process. For
very small jobs of one room or less,
tes
may not be the most economical solution.
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Is it safe to run
around people, pets or plants? What are the hazards if left
outside? |
1. Heat may have
dangers and people should be made aware of the areas to
avoid such as quick connects, (should be wrapped)
2. Pets and plants should be removed from the areas to be
safe. Pets and plants are hard to predict as to how they
react to ambient temperatures and air movement. Children,
pets and plants should not be in any type of drying
environment.
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What do I do with all
of my dehumidifiers and fans I currently own? |
Continue to use them as
you have. Your
tes
system(s) will soon become your primary unit(s), but when
you have surges and multiple jobs, you will need equipment
to cover those situations. They can be utilized on very
small jobs where
tes
may not be economical or they can be utilized for contents
drying when needed. They can also be utilized in a wet area
until a
tes
unit becomes available.
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Do people need to move
out of their homes? |
As with any drying
method people (other than the restoration technicians)
should be kept out of the area being dried. Occupants may
stay in unaffected areas if this is practical. According to
almost all the adjusters we have talked to, by far the
greatest number of jobs continue to have the people living
or working in them.
Tes
makes this much more feasible because the process is over
much quicker, the noise is greatly reduced, and with the
usual negative pressure, no odors or humidity reaches the
other areas of the structure.
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Is this covered by Blue
Book, Exactamate and other estimating software?
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Both of these companies
are very excited about
tes
and have been to our location or classes to view it
personally.
Tes
is now in the 2006 updates for both programs.
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What happens if I have
materials with visible microbial growth? With the air
movement the way it is, can
tes
still be used?
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Mold should be dealt
with according to the S520 guide. However,
tes
can be used to dry these jobs once the microbial growth has
been dealt with properly. |
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What happens if I spill
the fluid in the home or if the hose leaks? |
Tes
uses a food grade
glycol mixture with water. It dries to a non re-soiling
residue but should be wiped off hard surfaces or extracted
from soft surfaces. A general pre-spray such as Zone Perfect
should be sprayed on the affected area and extracted
thoroughly. The Spot Claw by Water Claw may be a good option
in this instance.
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Maintenance |
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QUESTIONS: |
ANSWERS: |
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How hard is this unit
to work on if something goes wrong? |
Tes
is quite easy to
work on and troubleshoot. The panels are easily removed for
easy access to components should the need ever arise.
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How long does the fluid
last and do I have to change it? |
The fluid should be
filtered after the first 200 hours of use and should be
changed out every 2,000 hours. This can take place at the
distributor location and be completed in about 30 minutes.
Tes
does not “use up” the
tes
fluid while in operation. It is possible however, to lose
approximately one teaspoon of fluid when the quick connects
are disconnected. There is a sight tube on the front of the
tes
machine. If you notice the fluid getting low, you need only
to add additional fluid to the storage tank on the top of
the machine. You can purchase the
tes
fluid in gallons at your local ILS dealer.
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What do all the lights
and gauges mean? |
The lights indicate the
processes going on with the machine during operation and are
important to pay attention to. Refer to the Owner’s Manual
for a more complete description of what each individual
light indicates.
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What do the low flow
and high limit lights mean? |
These are safety
switches referring to the flow and temperature of the liquid
in the machine during operation.
Tes
must maintain a certain flow in order to work properly. If
the flow rate drops below a certain point, the machine will
shut off. If the temperature rises above a certain point,
the high limit switch will kick in and also shut the machine
off.
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Technology |
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QUESTIONS: |
ANSWERS: |
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Does drying floors that
fast damage wood? |
Using energy (heat)
improperly, to dry can be abused as with any system.
However, when properly monitored, we have not had any
problems with damage using
tes
and the Reets Evaporation System.
The greatest enemy of
wood flooring is moisture! Evaporating excess moisture is
good for wood not bad. Some experts think wood floors can be
harmed by the sudden changes in moisture content produced by
an accelerated drying system such as
tes. However, there is
no testing to prove this one way or the other. To date, we
have had no reports of damage done by accelerated drying on
hard wood floors. We can be sure that if any damage is done
by faster drying, it is less damage than if the wood were to
remain wet.
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How is
tes
different than other heat based systems? |
All heat based systems
have merit when utilized properly and in the right setting.
What makes
tes
special is the application of heat directly at the source
which greatly increases evaporation and drying. This is why
tes
is able to achieve these amazing dry times (Most jobs in 30
hours or less). We encourage you to listen to and/or read
some of the testimonials of current
tes
owners, or contact your local ILS Dealer for a
demonstration.
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What is the evaporation
calculator and how does it work for me on the job? |
The Evaporation
Calculator measures the drying potential that you have
created with your equipment no matter what type of equipment
you are using.
To use the calculator you only need 3 pieces of information:
1. Temperature of the air
2. Relative humidity of the air
3. Temperature of the wet surface that you are trying to
dry.
Plug these numbers in and you get your Evaporation Potential
(EP)! Try the Evaporation Calculator for free at
www.tesdryingsystem.com. Adjust the numbers that you enter
to simulate what conditions you might create with your
equipment. Then plug in the conditions that
tes
can create to see what Evaporation Potential you are
missing. Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-660-5803 if
you need assistance. |
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How is
tes
different than the Dragon? Why would I pay $18,000 when I
can get a Dragon for less than $4,000? |
It would take multiple
dragons to equal the true BTU output of a
tes
unit when efficiency is factored in.
A Dragon cannot be used to reheat warm air in the structure
like
tes
can. That means the Dragon must heat the outside air. If
outside temperatures are below 60ºF, the Dragon will never
produce the temperature output that
tes
can because the Dragon can only add approximately 81ºF to
the air that it draws in. Since you cannot control the
outside air temperature, you cannot control the inside air
temperature either. You can liken drying with a Dragon to
driving a car with no steering wheel, brakes or accelerator.
You will go somewhere, you just can’t control when, where or
how fast.A
Dragon can only be ducted a maximum of 15 feet. Ducting it
farther than that can cause the unit to overheat. You are
given 30 feet of duct with unit but there are two ducts so
the unit must be within 15 feet of the wet area.
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Marketing |
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QUESTIONS: |
ANSWERS: |
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Who can I talk to that
has actually used
tes
in their restoration business? |
The list of satisfied
tes
owners is growing every day. Your ILS dealers receive a
newsletter on a regular basis and have access to several
testimonials.
Contact your local ILS Dealers for copies of these
testimonials or contact Interlink Supply in Salt Lake City,
UT. (800-658-5314)
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Are ServiceMaster, Serv
Pro and some of the other large restorers currently using
this unit?
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Several franchises are
evaluating
tes
and have had or will have demonstrations scheduled. So far
the feedback has been very positive. Many franchisees have
already purchased a
tes
unit.
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Are the insurance
companies agreeable to this new technology? |
Yes! Where
tes
has been in use for some time, major insurance companies are
actually coming to the restoration contractors asking to
work with them. What a great way to market. The insurance
companies call on you, the restorer!
Putting the insured back in their home or getting a business
back in operation days faster saves additional living
expenses (ALE) and pay outs for business continuation
coverage. In addition, there are usually fewer repairs &
replacement and other construction work on most jobs. Carpet
and pad are more likely to be saved. This is a major savings
to insurance companies.
Adjusters can close files sooner. This is another benefit
that makes accelerated drying an attractive technology.
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Pricing |
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QUESTIONS: |
ANSWERS: |
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What are the insurance
companies willing to pay for
tes
rental? |
Restorers would not
want to invest in a system that makes them less money. The
restorer should charge about what he would have charged for
equipment rental if he had dried by conventional methods.
The advantage to the insurance company is that they get
their policy holder back in their home sooner. This saves
the insurer in many ways.
See suggested price sheet below:
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DESCRIPTION |
RENTAL / LABOR |
Delivery &
Set-up
(90 min., 2 men–1
skilled,1 unskilled) |
$95.00 |
Power Plant
(200,000 BTU Boiler;
pumping heated formula through 600 feet of insulated
hoses) |
$600.00 |
TEX -
Tes
Exchanger Units (4)
(Receives and exchanges
heat into contained areas) |
$200.00 ea.
(up to 4) |
Air Movers (4)
(To transfer heat to
affected / wet materials) |
$25.00 ea.
(up to 4) |
Thermostat and
Exhaust Control System
(Controls Air Temperature
and Humidity; Air Mover included) |
$75.00 |
Propane Usage
(includes handling) |
$120.00 |
Dismantle and
Pick-up
(60 min., 2 men) |
$60.00 |
Additional hour charge
(after 24 hours) |
$55.00 |
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How does the distributor charge their customers for using
tes? |
As with other rental equipment, most distributors are
charging 40% - 60% of the end-user’s rental. Some will
charge an additional fee for consulting and monitoring, etc.
Contact your local ILS Distributor for their specific
charges.
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What do I tell an
adjuster that is unfamiliar with
tes
and does not want to pay our fee?
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The pricing should be
comparable to conventional drying in 3 or more days. Compare
job cost and not per day cost. Adjusters so far have been
delighted with the results, as well as the insured.
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Frequently Asked Questions