15 year old Triangle Tube Prestige Excellence combo leaking

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Bob Vennerbeck
Bob Vennerbeck Posts: 109
in THE MAIN WALL

I just discovered that my 15 year old Triangle Tube Prestige Excellence combo is leaking - just a dribble but not a good sign. While I research a viable replacement I'm trying to understand what happened and where it's leaking from. Near as I can tell the potable side is OK - city water pressure about 70 psi. I was careful during my troubleshooting to follow the manual warnings to drain boiler side first, then potable and refill potable side first then boiler. The dribble is coming out from behind the insulation around the potable mini tank inside the system enclosure, but only when the boiler loop is pressurized to 12 psi, NOT when just the potable side is pressurized to 70. I thought the boiler loop was a finned coil inside the potable tank, so that doesn't quite make sense to me. I can't imagine a replacement tank and loop are available, nor would they be easy to swap without cutting the entire system apart, at which point it clearly makes sense to start fresh. It's all complicated by being installed in a tight closet inside a rental living space - I suspect I'm going to have to steal a closet for an indirect tank or electric stand alone water heater while I negotiate getting a new mod con heating only system shoehorned into the current combo location. I just discovered this about fifteen minutes ago, so I'm mostly just oversharing while I collect my thoughts and hide my checkbook. But I welcome any input!

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Posts: 18,348

    maybe a borescope or mirror or phone camera can let you see exactly where it is leaking. it could just be a fitting or something.

  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Posts: 2,682

    Are you aware of the recall on those boilers? Triangle Tube is now out of business and replacement parts are limited. I prefer seeing a boiler with an indirect tank but if space is limited why not go with another combi boiler? You have plenty of options.

    You should post pictures of the leak, it could be repairable. But if you keep the boiler in service make sure you get the recall addressed, especially since it's your rental property. You don't need your tenants suing you if the boiler leaks carbon monoxide.

  • Bob Vennerbeck
    Bob Vennerbeck Posts: 109

    My TT Prestige Excellence is an earlier model than those recalled for CO issues…which means it's lasted about as long as I could expect anyway. I musta got spoiled growing up with 50-60 year old cast iron boilers…

    Leak seems to be behind rigid foam insulation jacket on the potable 'tank within a tank' heat exchanger - so I now suspect the INNER tank is the potable 'storage' and the outer annular tank is the boiler water jacket - and the outer tank has pinholed behind the insulation. Not likely repairable, nor do I plan to try - I just like knowing how things go wrong. Every once in a while you get lucky and something is just loose - today is not my lucky day.

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