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HTP Boiler humidity dislike + Error Code 11

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mrodriquenz
mrodriquenz Member Posts: 5
in Gas Heating

Hi everyone

New member here. I have had an HTP boiler (Model UFT-140W), I reside in Massachusetts and whenever the weather gets humid outside the unit throws a Error 11 code. I have to pull the bottom off of the condensation collector that sits at the bottom of where the condensation drips down into, a gray gross watery mess comes out and then it fires right up. The unit vents outside with the help of a flush mount vent cover (DiversiTech HVENT-2). I called HTP to see if they could recommend a servicer of their products to clean out the drip chamber (ive put my pinky up in it, and i can feel that grey build-up, sludge and even some that is cooked and hard).

Does anyone have any experience with this? Cold showers before a day at work is NOT a way to start the day.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,436

    Should be able to take the whole condensate trap out and clean it in like a laundry tub. I think it is just held in with a screw or 2 and connects to plastic tubes.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,209

    Where in MA?

    You can check "Find a contractor on this site"

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,164

    That grey gooey mess is condensate — with some additions — and is not supposed to collect. It should be draining away through a drain line and trap. Which is probably plugged…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,231

    Have you been doing annual preventive maintenance to the boiler? We do preventive maintenance on all brands of mod/cons. Boston based company.

  • mrodriquenz
    mrodriquenz Member Posts: 5

    yes ive raken the trap off and cleaned it. Where it has connected to the boiler is a 1” hole and i can place my pinkie up there and i feet the crusty grossness. Pull my finger out, all gray mess.

    id LOVE to do preventative maintenance, but no one around here does it. Im out off of 495 in Mass.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,436

    you took the whole trap out, not just the little cap that comes off the bottom?

    if the outlet from the hx is full of goo you'll have to open the hx and flush it through. If it is bad enough you'll have to use a little pump to recirculate descaler through the hx.

  • mrodriquenz
    mrodriquenz Member Posts: 5

    that’s something id prefer a professional does. Now if there was one near me that could do it…

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,556

    If you stuck your finger into where the condensate trap connects and found goo then you need a cleaning on the fire side of the heat exchanger, not the water side. Clean the fire side of the heat exchanger first, nothing here indicates an issue in the water side

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,436

    btw those "additions" are the aluminum from the fins in the stainless hx.

  • mrodriquenz
    mrodriquenz Member Posts: 5

    now i just need to find a qualified pro that can do the cleaning job.

  • mrodriquenz
    mrodriquenz Member Posts: 5

    update. Had a new plumber come in, add a ball valve w a clean-out hookup, he descaled the whole system and all my home’s hot water pupes to boot. Still get the Error 11 on my HTP boiler.


    it is VERY hot and humid here, so when i shut off the boiler off, open the condensation collection tube and the little (and clear) water falls out, i wait about 10 min and the unit fires up.


    i checked my 2 propane tanks (125 gal each), and they are at 20 and 40. I contacted my provider and they said theyll come fill them.


    Wondering if this is just a “trait” of the boiler (or any boiler), is it the way it is vented, just looking for possible answers.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 2,466

    Maybe excessive contamination on the fire side of the heat exchanger is messing with the ignition when the condensation can not drain properly or sufficiently.

    image.png

    looks like this and more is yearly.

    image.png

    https://www.htproducts.com/literature/lp-542.pdf

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,556

    Yeah I still don't see how we went from clogged condensate and an ignition error to descaling the pipes. Sounds like a fire side problem. All of the advice prior to calling a plumber was to service the fire side, you should never aim to descale the closed system boiler piping unless there is a massive problem with that water. The condensate that is coming out of the boiler is NOT from the closed system (unless there is a hole in the heat exchanger) again what you have is a fire side problem, you need burner service, and to clean the FIRE SIDE, not to descale the inside of the boiler piping, that will not fix your problem and very likely will cause new ones.

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