Regular Guest
We had our 3rd Amtrol Boilermate start to leak in less than 10 years. They have replaced the system 2x, only to have it start to leak again. The last system started to leak in less than 1 year. This last time, the Extrol Tank failed and now is filled with water. We have engaged in dialog with Amtrol close to 6 weeks without resolution. They tried to blame the problem on our water being acidic. We recently had an independent lab that does testing for the DEP do testing on the water with it coming back as PH 7.5,TDS 346, Alk 216, CA 63,6. The tech specialist from Amtrol told us over the phone there should not be any problems because of the water. based on this analysis and that he would contact the warranty department to replace the unit.
We started working through our Oil Company and the local Amtrol Dealer to resolve the problem and get the replacement in as soon as possible. The Amtrol Warranty Head told our Oil Company that the soonest they could have a tank available would be 2-3 weeks, and that we the owners would have to foot the cost and would be rebated after the tank was returned to them and that they determined if the problem was a defect. The cost of completion of the work would be $ that we would have to eat until they made a determination. Then on top of that, the Warranty Dept said they would not warrant the new unit in the future.
Currently we are without heat in the house since the leak is so profuse that the water is being piped through a hose to a drain in the basement. We are receiving enough hot water to bathe, but the cost of heating water for heating the house is so prohibitive. We have (2) fifty-five gallon tanks of oil, of which we have utilized 1/2 of the oil in 6 weeks (the amount of oil that is utilized to make it through the winter months.)
We are open for any suggestions that can be given. Based on Amtrol's inability to stand behind its products, we are very reluctant to go with another Amtrol Boilermate.
Last edited by beenthere; 10-20-2009 at 05:16 PM. Reason: Removed price
Professional Member*
Wow! I guess I'm not charging enough......I thought Boilermates had a plastic tank? Does bad water chemistry eat the plastic? Why don't you have heat? You should be able to isolate the tank and still have heat.
If the coil is leaking, ask them why the rest of the copper pipes in your house aren't leaking....
I stopped selling Boilermates years ago because of the leaking problems. Tell them to reimburse you for a Superstor and be done with it.
Regular Guest
I can see why there are so many complaints about the BoilerMates -- poor quality and they don't stand behind the product.Originally Posted by subcooler-65
Wow! I guess I'm not charging enough......I thought Boilermates had a plastic tank? Does bad water chemistry eat the plastic? Why don't you have heat? You should be able to isolate the tank and still have heat.
If the coil is leaking, ask them why the rest of the copper pipes in your house aren't leaking....
I stopped selling Boilermates years ago because of the leaking problems. Tell them to reimburse you for a Superstor and be done with it.
We have used approximately 35-40 gals of fuel oil in 6 weeks just to heat the water going down the drain. If we tried to heat a 4000 sq ft house with the hot water -- we wouldn't make it through the week. The water going down the drain looks like we have a facet going.
We are starting to look at other manufacturers to get heat by next week since we have been averaging 55 degrees inside the house. At the same time, we are going to file in small claims. Can you imagine a company saying we'll honor the warranty this time, the new one no -- to us it is when and not if it fails.
We have already spent over $1200 in labor on the last ones for replacement.
Regular Guest
My cousin has had issues with a leaking boilermate. Don't know what she's got now though. A couple of years ago I had the POS Vaughn unit replaced in my house. Had to use the backhoe to get that sucker up the basement stairs. Put in a Weil McLain Gold Plus 40, works greatAlso installed a large 5-micron whole house sediment filter to keep the crap out of the system. Dad has a Superstor and has been very happy with it for 4 years now. I agree that replacing it with another Boilermate will just be asking for more pain.
Professional Member
What was the warranty on the original unit? In some cases the warranty on a piece of equipment is from date of original install, not install date of a piece of equipment provided as a replacement.
When a product sees multiple replacements at the same location there is usually either a problem with the environment(in this case the water used in it) or there is a problem with the installation, it is rarely the products sole fault.
Where is the boiler mate leaking from? Potable water side or boiler water side? Have any chemicals or antifreeze been added to the boiler water?
How about some pictures of the installation, pictures tell a thousand words.
Regular Guest
The original warranty was for 10 years and we are at 9 years 10 months right now. We had the water tested through an independent lab that is used by the DEP and the results came back as non-corrosive, and on the soft side of the normal range. The installation was originally OK'd by the Amtrol Distributor.
We have not added any chemicals at all to the water. When the well was drilled, the company was sampling the water and went down to 260 feet until they found the best supply. We have no minerals except calcium showing up in the water at a level of 63.3. On the Langelier Index, the water showed 0.13 with desired >0 and on the Tyznar Stability 6.9 with desidered 4.0-7.0.
The leak is from the boiler side. We have hot water pouring out and the plumber placed a hose on it to redirect to a drain vice flooding the basement as original. This is the first time we have seen the Extrol tank take on water.
Will work on getting more photos uploaded. Took several of them for the records.
Regular Guest
After seeing the pic.... are you sure it's the boilermate? There are other things that can cause the boiler relief to pop off. Not good for boiler to be constantly filled with make-up water either.
and
Romex? really?
Regular Guest
As with the last three, the relief popped off. We had the valve replaced several times on the last two, to no avail. When the plumber used a stethoscope on the outside of the tank, you could here a very loud hissing internally. Both previous tanks were sent back and we were advised by Amtrol that the coils were rusted through. This time when it happened, they automatically blamed the water source. So preclude any questions we had the independent lab conduct the water test; with results noting that the water was not the issue.
We have our Oil Company complete yearly maintenance on the unit before each cold season -- it didn't even make it to our appointment when we had a flooded basement almost overnight in August.
Professional Member*
Have your Oil Company replace the coil only...you don't need a new tank. Call an Electrician to fix the wiring while your at it.
Professional Member
I don't see how the heating coil could be rusted though, every boilermate coil I've pulled out has been made of copper/brass, if it was steel I guarantee the guys at the scrap yard would catch it.
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