TT Prestige Solo 110 Potential Replacement

JustinS

So I have a 110 installed about 12 yrs ago. Was going to have the CO recall done today but when the tech arrived, he indicated to me that the venturi gas flow meter had some issues. He put his finger inside the tube, it came out black and sooty when he removed his finger.

He had some concerns about moving forward with the recall work, something to do with needing to potentially needing to adjust the flow meter afterwards and being unable to do that successfully.

I am going to try to replace the meter but there are concerns as to availability of parts.

He raised the prospect of replacing the boiler with a Lochinvar which I'm naturally not too excited about. Curious what you all think?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

My experience is that the venturi is often shedding blackness, especially for a 12 year old boiler. But just in case, I would see if there's any chance exhaust gases are being sucked back into the boiler which causes deterioration/failure of the venturi.

By flow meter, I assume you mean the gas valve? Adjustment of gas valve shouldn't be a concern. I'd be suspicious that he didn't have a combustion analyzer or didn't know how to use one. No one should adjust or replace the gas valve without a combustion analyzer.

EdTheHeaterMan

Does he sound like he was a salesman dressed in mechanics clothing? With Carbon monoxide recall repairs I would expect dome soot to be on the burner parts. Call the recall line and ask about this technician and see if there might be another technician that can come to do the work.

JustinS

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1888608#Comment_1888608

Hmmm, I'm not really sure… he did raise the topic shortly after arriving, for whatever that might indicate.

I don't recall exactly what he said about how the venturi might fail but just that it could leave me with a non-functioning boiler. If I am understanding you correctly, you are saying that the nature of the CO issues would result in soot due to the improper/incomplete combustion?

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1888607#Comment_1888607

I believe that he was referring to the device that regulates the gas flow into the combustion chamber. Called it the venturi which I thought was a type of flow measurement device.

He didn't mention any combustion analysis, maybe he didn't get to that point.

wrxz24

I had the recall done on mine and now am getting failed ignitions sometimes between a dhw and heating calls. I am in the same boat of possibly having to replace sooner rather than later.

EdTheHeaterMan

Venturi questions? There is a part without a part number, just a size -002. That is the section of the air intake where the gas valve will add fuel to the combustion air based on the speed of the combustion blower motor. the faster the blower motor turns, the more gas and combustion air will be forced into the burner to burn in the combustion chamber.

Soot in that location might be a problem since that location is before there is any flame. Seems like a place where there should be no soot. I wonder if that is the reason for the recall. Delayed ignition is causing CO to enter the home. That sounds like the flame may be forced out of the venture backwards as a result of the delayed ignition. Too much fuel in the small combustion chamber will look to escape in all directions, the exhaust, the inlet, and any gaskets that may be suspect like the condensate trap.

If the proper adjustments are not made during the procedure, then you may end up with the failed ignition problem described by @wrxz24 .

With this information I can only recommend that you get a second person that is authorized to make the recall repairs and see if you can get ALL of the kits (I think there are 4) installed on your boiler. If that turns out to be a hassle, then you may be better off with a new boiler. But I would go with another contractor. Look for the smaller plumbing and heating company. the guy that has his name on the side of the truck, not some national franchise company. They always have higher prices because they have higher overhead, and they employ salesmen dressed in mechanics clothing. That is just my opinion from having competitors that have signed up for those national franchises. 

GGross

PSRKIT81 for the prestige 110 venturi. will need to adjust combustion with an analyzer after installing.