70,000 Boilers Recalled After Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Deaths

Federal safety authorities have issued a recall for nearly 70,000 gas boilers in the United States and Canada due to a defect that has already been implicated in the carbon monoxide poisoning deaths of two people. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the safety action on Feb. 27, affecting 60,000 Prestige Solo, Prestige Excellence and Aerco Esteem condensing gas boilers sold in the U.S., in addition to 7,500 more sold in Canada.

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The boilers — manufactured by Burnsen SA, of Belgium, and imported by Triangle Tube/Phase III Co. Inc., of West Deptford, N.J. — can release carbon monoxide due to delayed ignitions or component damage, posing a serious risk of injury and death. According to Triangle Tube, the vent adapter, which attaches the vent exhaust tube to the boiler, can allow flue gas to escape if not correctly reattached to the boiler after maintenance or repair.

“In 2015, a 47-year-old woman died from CO poisoning associated with a Prestige Solo 175 boiler, and in 2016, an 85-year-old man died from CO poisoning associated with a Prestige SOLO TriMax 175 boiler, following a repair,” the commission stated. “Triangle Tube has also received 25 reports of CO leaks from the recalled boilers.”

Recalled boilers were manufactured from December 2011 through April 2019, and were sold by wholesale distributors and installed by independent contractors across the nation for between $3,400 and $9,700. All are wall-hung units housed in a white metal box, and “Prestige” is printed on the white front panel of the Prestige Solo and Prestige Excellence boilers, while “Aerco” is printed on the front of the Esteem boilers. Owners can identify whether their specific unit is under recall by locating the serial number — which can be found either on the Boiler Rating Label on the white front panel, on a panel on the right-hand side of the boiler or behind the boiler’s front door — and checking it against the list of affected models, found here.

Consumers who suspect their boiler is among those recalled should contact Triangle Tube immediately to schedule a free boiler inspection; if that inspection determines the defect to be present, a new boiler ignition system will be installed for free. The repair involves the installation of four screws to attach each adapter to the boiler housing to prevent separation. Triangle Tube stated that the estimated wait for a repair is about four weeks, but owners can opt to have their own preferred contractor make the necessary modification, provided that technician uses the company’s repair kit and instruction.

The company can be contacted by calling 877-574-5036 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Easter Time, Monday through Friday, or by email at productrecall@triangletube.com.