Triangle Tube settings.

SummitMechanic

Hello,

I am a Boiler mechanic in Summit County, Colorado. I have noticed over the past couple of years that the PA and PT models of triangle tubes seem to have a glitch at some point during what seems to be a dirty power situation where the DHW call setting will change itself from thermostat to sensor or vice versa causing the boiler to not make hot water for obvious reasons.

I am curious if anyone else has experienced this, and if so have you tracked down a root cause. I understand it's possible i just have some know it all going into the settings and changing them manually, but knowing for a fact a room hasn't been entered for days and the setting still changes is a bit baffling to me.

The only solution to this I can come up with is to install a brown out kit to the main power of the boiler system which i have done in the past, but some clients don't like spending that kind of money just based on an educated guess from a plumber that didn't go to college.

Any input here would be great.

Derheatmeister

This is why we recommend installing a UPS on systems up here in Summit County...Neighbor

APC makes good ones (Amazon)...Install a whip to the boiler..This also acts as a power disconnect.
Good luck with those Triangle Tubes ..Have you been able to obtain and change any Ignition/Flame sens. rods on these models lately

SummitMechanic

Derheatmeister said:

This is why we recommend installing a UPS on systems up here in Summit County...Neighbor

APC makes good ones (Amazon)...Install a whip to the boiler..This also acts as a power disconnect.
Good luck with those Triangle Tubes ..Have you been able to obtain and change any Ignition/Flame sens. rods on these models lately

If you are the Heatmeister i think you are, you are 1 of maybe 3 guys whose rooms i don't hate when i walk into them lol.

I know that is the solution, i guess i was hoping for something concrete i could refer to so my clients don't think I'm trying to up-charge them for something they don't need.

As far as replacements for ignition, really the only answer is an Ignition upgrade kit as triangle tube does not make just the igniter/flame sensor anymore due to combustion issues leading to broken head bolts. Which in my opinion was an installation/ maintenance issue to be begin with. the good news is, some models do qualify for an upgrade kit covered under warrenty, and least for another 12-24 months depending on install date.

I have been able to get by on shop stock of igniters and such for a while, but i am starting to have to use the kit. Still only around 250-300 Cost for the kit which in my opinion is not bad considering the new head gasket and control board it comes with.

Derheatmeister

Sorry...No pricing discussions allowed on this site...
The upgrade kit still needs to be installed even if it is under warranty.
We have not installed a upgrade kit but guess that it may take up to two hours for this ?
For now we have two Ignitors in the service kits that we can install as a "Loaner" until we recieve one of the five Upgrade Kits .
This "issue" may be a death sentence for a older boiler and some angered customer may replace it with a different make.
I can think of a handfull that are allready contemplating a changeout because of other issues.
Is the manufacturer helping out when you install these kits ?

GGross

They warrantied the labor and the cost of the part for about 2 years during the recall. Distributors were supposed to contact installers, and the manufacturer sent out blanket mailers to homeowners in markets where boilers were sold. to the best of my knowledge that has all come and gone and now you buy the kit, which is priced at about 50% standard cost of the parts combined. for what its worth I sell them wholesale and almost nobody took us up on the offer to install the upgrades while they were free, we do not have any models installed in my market that need the upgrade and are still under parts warranty period now so homeowners have to pay for it. It is unfortunate

SummitMechanic

Sorry was unaware of the price discussion rule, thank you for letting me know.

As far as labor goes it takes about an hour and a half which would include a clean of the heat exchanger and combustion analysis. If i notice a boiler will want or need one soon I just do a normal yearly test and tune and work the upgrade in for about an extra hour.

The manufacturer is only helping on certain models of triangle tube, however it is worth it in my opinion to do the upgrade regardless instead of just swapping the boiler.