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kaiserfranz4 Jan 2017 00:43Hello everyone,
In 2009, I had a new heating system installed, a Rapido Econpact 18 kW (18,000 BTU/hr) model. It has required quite a bit of maintenance from the start (including replacing the control board twice). Lately, it developed problems with the fan, ignition, and so on (errors F15, A01). The chimney sweep also noticed this based on the flue gas measurements. The heating technician serviced the system again and, after multiple failures between December 20 and 31, 2016, had to restart it several times following these breakdowns.
Yesterday it happened again: the technician had to come out once more to restart the system (error messages: ignition electrode faulty, fan malfunction, A01, F15). After replacing some parts (ignition device, boiler seal), the system caught fire, as you can see in the attached photo.
What do you think about this? Is a boiler fire still considered "normal" when a system has problems? How dangerous is this? How could something like this even happen? Shouldn't these systems have appropriate safety features?
In any case, the system is now completely out of order. The technician can provide a replacement with a new Rapido Econpact 25 kW (25,000 BTU/hr) unit as soon as possible, and at a very good price (significantly below comparable offers from companies like Vaillant, etc.). Also, the existing connections and peripheral devices like the hot water tank can be reused. I am aware that Rapido/Ferroli is insolvent, so there is some risk regarding warranty, spare parts, and maintenance. But my main concern is the technical reliability of the system. Seeing a gas boiler catch fire doesn’t exactly help one sleep peacefully. I would prefer not to experience something like this again.
What are your thoughts? What could have caused this? Was it just bad luck? Or avoidable? Or is it inherent to the design of this device?
Thanks for your input!
Best regards
kaiserfranz
In 2009, I had a new heating system installed, a Rapido Econpact 18 kW (18,000 BTU/hr) model. It has required quite a bit of maintenance from the start (including replacing the control board twice). Lately, it developed problems with the fan, ignition, and so on (errors F15, A01). The chimney sweep also noticed this based on the flue gas measurements. The heating technician serviced the system again and, after multiple failures between December 20 and 31, 2016, had to restart it several times following these breakdowns.
Yesterday it happened again: the technician had to come out once more to restart the system (error messages: ignition electrode faulty, fan malfunction, A01, F15). After replacing some parts (ignition device, boiler seal), the system caught fire, as you can see in the attached photo.
What do you think about this? Is a boiler fire still considered "normal" when a system has problems? How dangerous is this? How could something like this even happen? Shouldn't these systems have appropriate safety features?
In any case, the system is now completely out of order. The technician can provide a replacement with a new Rapido Econpact 25 kW (25,000 BTU/hr) unit as soon as possible, and at a very good price (significantly below comparable offers from companies like Vaillant, etc.). Also, the existing connections and peripheral devices like the hot water tank can be reused. I am aware that Rapido/Ferroli is insolvent, so there is some risk regarding warranty, spare parts, and maintenance. But my main concern is the technical reliability of the system. Seeing a gas boiler catch fire doesn’t exactly help one sleep peacefully. I would prefer not to experience something like this again.
What are your thoughts? What could have caused this? Was it just bad luck? Or avoidable? Or is it inherent to the design of this device?
Thanks for your input!
Best regards
kaiserfranz
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Gartenfreund4 Jan 2017 06:26Why and how your heating system managed to warm the house especially well, I cannot say.
As you mentioned, the manufacturer is bankrupt. In that case, I would not install any equipment from this manufacturer, no matter how cheap it is—unless it was given to me for free. Keep in mind that in a few years you might face the problem of no longer being able to get spare parts, and then you will have to replace the heating system with one from another manufacturer. For me, investing in a heating system from a bankrupt company would be wasted money. It’s better to spend a bit more now than to have to invest a lot more again in a few years.
As you mentioned, the manufacturer is bankrupt. In that case, I would not install any equipment from this manufacturer, no matter how cheap it is—unless it was given to me for free. Keep in mind that in a few years you might face the problem of no longer being able to get spare parts, and then you will have to replace the heating system with one from another manufacturer. For me, investing in a heating system from a bankrupt company would be wasted money. It’s better to spend a bit more now than to have to invest a lot more again in a few years.
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Caspar20204 Jan 2017 08:06Never heard of this company. But if they go bankrupt first, your heating contractor probably just wants to clear out his inventory.
In recent years, there hasn’t really been a crisis in the construction industry.
That’s why I wouldn’t consider something like this for my home.
In recent years, there hasn’t really been a crisis in the construction industry.
That’s why I wouldn’t consider something like this for my home.
You must be very patient if your current boiler keeps breaking down, even catching fire (wtf?!?!), the manufacturer has now gone bankrupt, and you are still considering buying another product from them.
This is not a bargain, but rather a case of "greed eats brains." So your heating engineer can keep their lost investment to themselves.
This is not a bargain, but rather a case of "greed eats brains." So your heating engineer can keep their lost investment to themselves.
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