Hello 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
Hello,
Are you seriously considering installing another product from the same manufacturer after having nothing but trouble with your gas boiler for 5 years, which apparently also poses a significant safety risk? And on top of that, the manufacturer is bankrupt, so you can expect that in a few years you won’t be able to get spare parts anymore, turning the heating system into scrap metal?
Those are exactly the kind of customers I want!!!!!
No, seriously. The heating engineer just wants to get rid of his worthless stock. Such junk wouldn’t even come near my house!
A reliable gas boiler shouldn’t cause any trouble for the first 10 years, apart from servicing every 2 years. After 10 years, you might have to replace a few small parts, but nothing major.
And you can probably get that from any well-known gas boiler manufacturer, so why install another potential time bomb in your basement?
Best regards,
Andreas
Are you seriously considering installing another product from the same manufacturer after having nothing but trouble with your gas boiler for 5 years, which apparently also poses a significant safety risk? And on top of that, the manufacturer is bankrupt, so you can expect that in a few years you won’t be able to get spare parts anymore, turning the heating system into scrap metal?
Those are exactly the kind of customers I want!!!!!
No, seriously. The heating engineer just wants to get rid of his worthless stock. Such junk wouldn’t even come near my house!
A reliable gas boiler shouldn’t cause any trouble for the first 10 years, apart from servicing every 2 years. After 10 years, you might have to replace a few small parts, but nothing major.
And you can probably get that from any well-known gas boiler manufacturer, so why install another potential time bomb in your basement?
Best regards,
Andreas
andimann schrieb:
We also have a heating load of about 6 kW and a 19 kW heater in the basement.But does it modulate down properly then...? We were also installed a 22 kW unit... Modulation range from 7.8 to 21.8 kW... TikTak...
Hello,
I certainly hope so... You need the high output to heat water almost on a continuous flow basis. (That’s not entirely accurate since the boiler is always heating the tank) but for comparison: electric instantaneous water heaters usually have power levels in a similar range. Therefore, I assume that about 20 kW for domestic hot water makes sense. Otherwise, after the first shower, you would have to wait a long time for hot water again or, like with a heat pump, have a 300-400 liter (80-105 gallon) storage tank.
Best regards,
Andreas
Basti2709 schrieb:
But doesn't it modulate down significantly...?
I certainly hope so... You need the high output to heat water almost on a continuous flow basis. (That’s not entirely accurate since the boiler is always heating the tank) but for comparison: electric instantaneous water heaters usually have power levels in a similar range. Therefore, I assume that about 20 kW for domestic hot water makes sense. Otherwise, after the first shower, you would have to wait a long time for hot water again or, like with a heat pump, have a 300-400 liter (80-105 gallon) storage tank.
Best regards,
Andreas
Or realize that the storage temperature does not match the supply temperature. There are plenty of examples here in the forum of people who have a heat pump with small or integrated storage tanks and still manage for the whole family to shower without the water turning cold.
Hello,
I wouldn’t think of that. Better to determine/measure the system performance factor.
Best regards.
andimann schrieb:How much more?
.... And for that, you need more power than just for heating living spaces.
andimann schrieb:
...We also have a heating load of about 6 kW and a 19 kW heater in the basement.
I wouldn’t think of that. Better to determine/measure the system performance factor.
Best regards.
kaiserfranz schrieb:
But for me, it’s more about the technical reliability of the system.That is probably not achievable with this company.
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