Triangle Tube Boiler Recall: What SF Owners Must Know

For many years, Triangle Tube was considered one of the leading names in residential heating. Their high-efficiency condensing boilers—particularly the Prestige, Solo, and Excellence models—were installed in thousands of homes across San Francisco and Marin.

However, over the last few years, a series of massive product recalls and subsequent business closures have left many homeowners stranded with potentially dangerous, unserviceable equipment.

If you have a Triangle Tube boiler heating your home or your domestic hot water, here is everything you need to know about the current situation, the safety risks, and your options moving forward.

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The Massive Safety Recall: Carbon Monoxide Risks

Starting a few years ago, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued sweeping recalls for Triangle Tube boilers manufactured between 2011 and 2019. This recall affected tens of thousands of units, including the Prestige Solo, Prestige Excellence, and Aerco Esteem boilers.

The Danger: The primary issue stems from the boiler’s venting system. Under certain conditions—especially if the boiler isn’t calibrated perfectly and flue temperatures exceed 140 to 150 degrees—the extreme heat begins to break down the PVC exhaust pipes from the inside out. As the PVC degrades, the protective seal fails, allowing deadly Carbon Monoxide (CO) to leak directly into the home.

Tragically, these leaks have resulted in dozens of reported injuries and multiple fatalities nationwide.

The Warning Sign in Your Garage: If you have a Triangle Tube boiler, go look at the white PVC exhaust pipe coming out of the top of the unit. If that pipe has begun to turn a yellow or brownish color, your venting is actively degrading. You need to have a professional inspect the unit immediately.

The Company Closure and the Parts Shortage

During the initial recall, Triangle Tube offered recall kits that included updated ignition modules and carbon monoxide kill-switch alarms. As certified installers, HydroFlow spent months retrofitting these kits onto existing boilers across the Bay Area.

Unfortunately, the situation has recently gotten worse. Faced with mounting lawsuits and financial pressure, Triangle Tube ceased operations.

As of late 2025 / early 2026, there is absolutely zero factory tech support for these units, and warranties are largely voided. Because the manufacturer is gone, replacement parts are becoming incredibly scarce. The few supply houses that still have Triangle Tube parts in stock are charging three to four times their normal price.

What used to be a standard $300 maintenance repair can now easily cost over $1,200 just in parts—if the parts can be found at all.

What Should You Do if You Have a Triangle Tube?

If your home currently relies on a Triangle Tube system, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Here are the three steps you need to take:

1. Install a Carbon Monoxide Alarm IMMEDIATELY

If you do not have one already, go to the hardware store today and buy a Carbon Monoxide detector. Place it in the same room as your boiler. If that alarm ever sounds, shut the boiler down and evacuate immediately.

At HydroFlow, we highly recommend hardwiring a CO detector directly to the boiler so that if it registers carbon monoxide, it acts as an automatic kill-switch, shutting off the gas supply instantly.

2. Get preventative maintenance

Because parts are so expensive and hard to find, preventative maintenance is more crucial than ever. You do not want to wait for a part to break. A full system flush, ignition cleaning, and combustion analysis can keep your system running cleanly and prevent the flue temperatures from spiking and melting your exhaust pipes.

Note: HydroFlow is one of the few remaining companies in San Francisco with a stockpile of Triangle Tube components, but our supply is strictly limited.

3. Start planning for a replacement

If your Triangle Tube is nearing the 10-year mark, it may no longer be cost-effective to repair. Given the astronomical cost of replacement parts and the inherent safety risks, many homeowners are opting to proactively replace their aging Triangle Tube units before they fail completely.

Companies like IBC (who originally manufactured the internal components for Triangle Tube), Lochinvar, and Navien are excellent, highly reliable alternatives that we regularly install.

Call HydroFlow to Inspect Your Boiler

We have successfully brought many Triangle Tube boilers back from the dead, and we know exactly what to look for regarding the venting recalls.

Don’t wait until winter to find out your boiler is unsafe or unrepairable. Contact HydroFlow today to schedule a comprehensive boiler inspection and maintenance service.