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October 18, 2008
BE ADVISED: RECALL ON BOILER PARTS RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARD
BE ADVISED: RECALL ON BOILER PARTS
RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARD
A recall has been issued by the manufacturer of automatic electronic vent dampers, a part found on nearly all steam and hot water boilers, sold between August 2007 and July 2008.
Popular boiler manufacturers that use this part include the following:
Weil-McLain, HydroTherm, Crown, Lochinvar, Smith, New Yorker, Burnham, Peerless, Laars and others. Please follow the link below for complete list.
Please note that under this program the installing contractor is not responsible for providing free replacement vent dampers. Responsibility lies with the homeowner to follow the instructions provided through the recall program.
Effikal, the manufacturer, has set up a special website and hotline to handle this. Please see below.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09008.html
Gateway Plumbing and Heating will replace the vent dampers free of charge for its clients where they installed those units meeting the criteria for replacement.
We ask that the client pre-arrange for the new damper to be on site at the time of our arrival. We also ask if you haven’t yet scheduled your paid annual maintenance service, or your free first year service, you have the new vent damper on site for that date.
If you have questions about this program or the recalled part, please do not call our office. Rather, call the number in the recall notice or post your questions here as others may have the same concerns.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09008.html
Thank you for your cooperation.
John Cataneo
(Master Plvmber)
VP
Gateway Plumbing and Heating
www.GatewayPlumbing.com
Comments
CORRECTION:
The instructions have changed.
According to the website, you'll have to provide your installing contractor with the necessary information and the contractor must provide the replacement part.
Please find our contact page at:
www.GatewayPlumbing.com
Thank you.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at October 18, 2008 4:56 PM
Wow that's a great warning, Master Plumber. This part fails by closing the damper when it doesn't need too, backing the CO into the boiler room? are other controllers made earlier at risk too?
Posted by: Smokychimp at October 19, 2008 11:44 AM
Apparently the defect is found only in the models within the listed serial numbers.
It seems like a very low risk of actually happening as the recall says something like "stop using immediately...weather permitting".
Posted by: Master Plvmber at October 19, 2008 12:10 PM
Thanks for the heads up master plumber
Posted by: troll at October 20, 2008 9:39 AM
MP,
Great meeting you on Thursday and glad to see you haven't become the centerpiece of the McCain campaign (you're licensed, an apparent disqualifier).
We need a new vent damper (our contractor and his electrician and plumber all split without replacing the old, rusted, immobile one). Should I get an electrician or a plumber? How much should the part and the work cost? How much is it adding to my heating costs that I do not have a functioning damper?
Posted by: slopefarm at October 20, 2008 10:36 AM
Nice to meet you, too, Slopefarm.
The damper adds about 1%-2% efficiency to your boiler.
Yeah, you definitely don't want a non-functioning vent damper. That's dangerous. It could turn to the chimney-closed position while the boiler is running. Not good.
So, to answer your question, a plumber or HVAC professional should install or replace a vent damper.
The cost depends on the size you need, but somewhere between $100-$200 for the part.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at October 20, 2008 10:38 PM
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