Vaillant ecoFIT pure 415 - Faulty Panel Seal

[BF]

I had my boiler serviced today, it's about 8 years old, and the engineer noticed the foam seal around the inside of the front panel was sticky and had deteriorated.
He had not witnessed something like this previously so I contacted Vaillant technical services and sent them this picture.

Their reply was:

"The foam seal on your door has completely deteriorated due to excessive heat from a passing burner seal.
There should be foam covering the entire door.
The door will need replacing as this will not compromise the doors room seal."

Is this an issue normally experienced with this boiler after 8 years and is it dangerous?

 

[CountryFan]

I think that looks like one of the newer ones, if so, then it’s fine. The older types had the cover sealed all the way across. If the pcb housing is fine and the cover forms a seal all the way around the outer edge then it’s fine. They’re only classed as At Risk as there’s no current danger (from what we know).

 

[BF]

I think that looks like one of the newer ones, if so, then it’s fine. The older types had the cover sealed all the way across. If the pcb housing is fine and the cover forms a seal all the way around the outer edge then it’s fine. They’re only classed as At Risk as there’s no current danger (from what we know).

Thanks for your reply.
When they said about the foam covering the entire door, I thought it strange as it's never been fully covered.

 

[BF]

I contacted Vaillant today to enquire about the cost of replacing the cover.
They told me they have a fixed repair cost which includes all the parts except for the heat exchanger which I presume is the most expensive part.

To replace the cover they told me the cost would be £440 under this fixed pricing scheme!
Off their heads!

 

[jj4091]

I would think you have to order a new front panel https://www.heatingspareparts.com/boiler-spares/partno/0020237673/372312
But ask if it includes the seal because I can't find them seperately.

 

[CountryFan]

I would think you have to order a new front panel https://www.heatingspareparts.com/boiler-spares/partno/0020237673/372312
But ask if it includes the seal because I can't find them seperately.

The seal isn’t available separately

 

[BF]

I would think you have to order a new front panel https://www.heatingspareparts.com/boiler-spares/partno/0020237673/372312
But ask if it includes the seal because I can't find them seperately.

Thanks for the link.

 

[dilalio]

And now you know why repair costs from independent engineers always seem pricey!

Parts prices are through the roof and we lose jobs because customers think we're getting them cheap and loading the prices.

 

[endecotp]

"The foam seal on your door has completely deteriorated due to excessive heat from a passing burner seal.
There should be foam covering the entire door.

I think that looks like one of the newer ones, if so, then it’s fine. The older types had the cover sealed all the way across.

That’s a terible reply from Vaillant (assuming CountryFan is right). You should complain. We should be able to rely on boiler manufacturers’ “support” people to know what they are talking about, as the results could be very serious if they don’t.

I mean - can anyone imagine how a “passing burner seal” could have melted away all of that material while leaving a shiny while metal panel, with a neat square of intact insulation around the sides? Common sense says that wouldn’t happen. I wonder if Vaillant support is actually an “AI”?

 

[ericmark]

I am not a heating engineer, but this

looks wrong, I would have expected a seal above the open window in the panel.

I found with a boiler in the garage, the seal was important, if damaged opening garage doors could blow out the pilot flame. But in my mothers house, removing the front cover, clearly it did not need any seal, as open to the bottom.

As an electrician I find this a problem, with an EICR I should check wiring, and having seen some plumbers wiring, yes it needs checking. But there seems to be a general lack of conformity, clearly electrical terminals should be where there is no gas seal, or the cable needs to be of a type where is can form a gas seal.

Having worked with flameproof systems, I know what cable and glands can be used, I have many times used flameproof glands, mainly on gas exploration ships, and 42" gas pipelines, and I know twin and earth is not rated flameproof, so where a boiler is fed with twin and earth, I know I can assess it without compromising any seals. Or at least that should be the case, but I have removed panels to find inappropriate cable has been used, and it was a sealed compartment, or should have been, I have looked at the glands, and all I could do was shake my head, and think either gas safe is a farce, or that was not done by a gas safe guy.

I have even seen flues sealed with gaffa tape? And he claimed to be gas safe. Carbon monoxide can kill, all my training in petrol chemical tells me this is a no no. Today I simply don't trust Gas Safe, lucky I don't need to, my central heating is oil.

 

[denso13]

I would have expected a seal above the open window in the panel.

That opening is completely different to the old boiler view glass. There is no gas/combustion seal needed there on this newer one.

 

[CountryFan]

I am not a heating engineer, but this View attachment 418539 looks wrong, I would have expected a seal above the open window in the panel.

That opening is completely different to the old boiler view glass. There is no gas/combustion seal needed there on this newer one.

The seal for that opening is what makes it room sealed and is formed by the newer Vaillant by having the rubber seal form part of the pcb housing. If its damaged etc then it becomes At Risk only unless leaking products of combustion/carbon monoxide, then it becomes Immediately Dangerous.

 

[denso13]

The seal for that opening is what makes it room sealed and is formed by the newer Vaillant by having the rubber seal form part of the pcb housing.

Yes, not on the outer case though, on the housing.

 

[BF]

And now you know why repair costs from independent engineers always seem pricey!

Parts prices are through the roof and we lose jobs because customers think we're getting them cheap and loading the prices.I

I contacted the company that identified the issue and they have quoted £156 to supply and fit a new panel. They are an approved Vaillant installer/repairer. Credit to them, they asked me to check if I could get it done under warranty, but that expired last year.