FERROLI BOILER
If you are thinking of buying a Ferroli boiler in Spain then take care! I have never had so many problems with a boiler – nor have I ever experienced such a complete lack of care as I have with my Ferroli boiler, which I bought new from Mercafont in Gandia.
Indeed, the catalogue of problems that I have faced would have been comical – had the on-going expense and frustration not been so terrible.
Below is a report from an English, fully qualified boiler technician together with some pictures showing some of the damage caused by the incorrect installation and commissioning (by the Ferroli technician) of the boiler.
Needless to say, Ferroli did nothing to correct the situation and were uncaring to an extraordinary degree. Indeed, their Valencia office refused even to send down a technician to view the boiler, its set up or the evident problems resulting from its incorrect commissioning. This is despite Ferroli Valencia receiving from me a full report accompanied by photographs. All they did was send the same Ferroli technician from Gandia who commissioned the boiler – who, needless to say, denied there were any problems!!
Frankly, Ferroli could not care less and showed a lack of after-care that, at best, could be called arrogant and, at worst, shocking – particularly given the health issues that accompanied the defective commissioning.
Meanwhile, the supplier of the boiler (Mercafont of Gandia) have also behaved dreadfully. The boiler was bought from them and they recommended the installers, who were clearly totally and utterly incompetent. Incredibly, Mercafont even appear to have delivered the wrong Ferroli boiler, as their invoice states a different make. Their response to the problems has been simple and incredible – namely ‘you know where the law courts are!’ This should be a warning to anyone buying any products from Mercafont of Gandia that, if you have a a problem – then the courts is where you will have to go to obtain a remedy!
So, if you are thinking of buying a Ferroli boiler (or using Mercafont of Gandia) then I would suggest that you look elsewhere. If you do not – then you may suffer the same problems as me and wish that you had never, ever heard the name Ferroli.
English Technical Report
Following I list the issues associated with the installation of your Ferroli Boiler.
Incorrect flue installation
The current flue installation is installed with a fall, from atmosphere ( outside ) back to the boiler. This is an installaion suitable for a condensing boiler whereby the gases/condense run back in to the boiler.Your boiler manufacturers instructions state tha the flue should rise, then run away with an incline from the boiler. So the gases rising will, when cooling, leave by the flue to atmosphere.
Currently the flue gases are cooling/condensing in the flue pipe, not clearing fully to atmosphere and therefore not allowing the boiler to operate safely or efficiently.
The flue is of a co-axial construction with the exhaust outlet pipe on the inner and air intake on the outer.The outer of the flue is severely melted in 2 positions. This is due to there being small gaps in the inner flue pipe. This is due to only 3 of the 6 joins being taped, also not enough support brackets bing used ( only 2 used ) and only two internal spacers being used. Additional spacers and brackets would have prevented the inner and outer pipes touching and melting.
The flue pipe is also, too short. The inner pipe does not protrude past the outer tube at atmosphere. Again causing the gases to return down the air intake flue.
The boiler should not be igniting at all as the internal flue gas anyliser would detect that there are gases present in the air intake. However a “finger ” size hole was discovered on the pipe inside the boiler from the flue connector to the the flue gas anyliser.This would appear to have been tricking the boiler in to believing air/gas mixture ok.
The only way to rectify this situation is to run a new flue. The flue should rise from the boiler to the ceiling, then run down to the flue outlet and out to atmosphere.This means cutting a new flue access in the wall at a higher level. Supplying 3 new sections of flue pipe. 2 additional brackets and studding.Taping all joints in heat resistant tape.
Additional Recommendations.
There is no rigid pipework or Tundish from either the pressue relief valve or temperature relief valve, as recommended in the manufacturers instructions.
The only current provision is a piece of garden hose attatched to the temperature relief valve.
The power cable is currently passing over the body casing and under the top casing rather than in the purpose made rubber cable inlet on the boiler casing.
To be honest Nick I find it very surprising that in the 3 weeks of the installer and Ferroli technico attending, that nobody was able to see that the flue was incorrectly installed or that there was a finger size hole in the top of the anyliser pipe which is immediately visible on removal of the top casing.
As there were exhaust fumes being constantly released in to your utility room I cannot stress how serious these issues are.
I wish you success with a satisfactory conclusion.
The manufacturer normally gets the rebuff. In the end manufacturers can only best design their products for safe and simple installation. The EU has gas safety regulations but only a few countries abide by them. I don’t know if there’s a CORGI type scheme in Spain.
Badly installed appliances can be very dangerous.
No surprise at a lack of service. This is Spain.