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Heating and cooling: Windhager Firewin pellet boiler owners - primary air pin query

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2016 edited
     
    Hi all, I was wondering if any of you out there have a Windhager Firewin pellet boiler. I have one and I'd really like to pick the brains of other owners about the life expectancy of the primary air pin - that's the domed bit in the burn pot. My boiler has been in for fifteen months and has never missed a beat. It's burned 3.3 tonnes of pellets - (only ever used Verdo), done 1200 starts and has been on for 2098 hours. My issue is that the primary air pin has been crumbling since it was six months old and has now fractured completely in half around the circumference. It is still usable thankfully as I live in the Highlands of Scotland and it was minus 5 last night! I've spoken to my installer who is baffled as to how this could have happened - he's never heard or seen anything like it. I've spoken to Windhager too and they say that it's a wear and tear part and so not covered by warranty. They wouldn't say how long they would normally expect a primary air pin to last.
    I accept that things wear out but I would have thought that this was a bit soon for a boiler that cost 7 grand from a reputable Austrian company.
    My question is - have any of you had to replace a primary air pin and if so - how much work had it done? If you all tell me that it was 4 tonnes of pellets then I'll hold my hands up and get my hand in my pocket. It would be really helpful for me to have real life information as it's difficult to argue my case otherwise.
    Many thanks in advance
    • CommentAuthorArtiglio
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2016
     
    Evening, i don't have the same boiler ( 40kw trianco, agricultural compared to a winhager) however from the figures you give, i'd guess it may be a problem of excessive cycling, as an average you're only burning 2.8kg of pellet each time to extract around 12kw of heat, so the components will be spending a fair bit of time going through ignition and cooling for a relatively short burn, possibly spending little time at optimum temperatures.

    Does the system incorporate a buffer tank, if so what size? In our system, efficiency is good when the boiler works hard in the winter ( ash and clinker minimal) over the summer when hot water is the omly requirement, its cheaper running immersion heaters for hot water , if the boiler is used ash and clinker need cleaning far more often and boiler barely runs at optimum for 20 mins before buffer is replenished. If i were doing the system again I'd have gone for a far larger buffer/store (2500l against 1000l) and specify a much better insulated tank.

    Atb
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2016 edited
     
    Thanks Artiglio for your answer - really interesting and I think that you may have a point. In summer the boiler only comes on for short periods to heat the hot water really so probably doesn't ever get up to full efficiency. as you say the cycling on and off may well have affected this particular component. I have to say that there is very little build up of ash or clinker at any time of year - so perhaps the efficiency isn't affected but the heating up and cooling down cycle may be the issue. I have wondered if it's more efficient to use the immersion in the summertime. I'll speak to my installer and get them to raise it with Windhager. Will keep you up to date with developments.
    • CommentAuthorgyrogear
    • CommentTimeNov 22nd 2016
     
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeNov 22nd 2016
     
    Thanks Gyrogear. I do indeed live right by the sea. The Moray firth is about 25 yards from my back gate. All interesting stuff and perhaps something to add into the equation. Loving this forum!
    •  
      CommentAuthornigel
    • CommentTimeNov 22nd 2016
     
    I have a firewin, its been in place for over 6 years.
    My air pin is the original and I have burned about 15 tonnes and its still in good condition.
    Sounds to me like a manufacturing defect to me.
    I also have another windhager and thats been in over 8 years, still on the same pin and has burned 25 tonnes.
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2016
     
    Brilliant Nigel. I think it's a defect too. I have had word from people also having burned upwards of 25 tonnes and still on the original pin. I really appreciate your message.
    •  
      CommentAuthornigel
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2016
     
    Correction: one of the boilers has actually burned about 50 tonnes over 8 plus years its not a firewin but the bigger model and yes its the original pin.
    • CommentAuthormike7
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2016
     
    The parts list for this boiler lists the air pin as "primary air pin from batch 10" - a curious title suggesting other batches may have been defective?
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2016
     
    When I chatted to Windhager on the phone to ask them what the life expectancy for a primary air pin was, they didn't answer me. When I said that it had done 3.5 tonnes, the man I spoke to said 'yes that sounds about right' which made me slightly suspicious - hence my enquiry here. It would be interesting to know if there are different batches.
    • CommentAuthorgyrogear
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2016
     
    What does the warranty certificate say ?

    gg
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeNov 30th 2016
     
    It's a part that is subject to wear and tear so isn't covered by the warranty which I would accept if it had had a lot of use and if other users told me that they had a similar experience. I think it's defective and that Windhager should replace it - warranty or no warranty. If something isn't fit for purpose then it should be fixed.
    • CommentAuthorgyrogear
    • CommentTimeNov 30th 2016
     
    I would agree with you on that. Maybe it requires a registered letter, to get some formalism other than telephone.

    Then another letter to "WHICH STOVE" etc.

    gg
  14.  
    Re worn primary air pin

    Out of curiosity what is the cost of replacement?
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeDec 6th 2016
     
    I'm still waiting for a resolution to this and for someone to give me an idea of how much a replacement will be. I'm guessing that it's going to be more than a fiver!
    • CommentAuthorspeysider
    • CommentTimeJan 16th 2017
     
    So the outcome is that I had no choice but to buy a new primary air pin as the stove refused to light one day before Christmas and I couldn't risk being left without heating over the festive period whilst I was away. To say I'm furious is putting it mildly but either that or burst pipes.
    The list price is £123.73 plus vat so not cheap. I got a discount from Windhager and from my plumber which took the price down a lot but then had to pay £18 to get it posted ASAP.
    I had previously been happy to recommend Windhager and to sing the praises of the Firewin but this leaves a very bad taste in the mouth so my attitude has changed. If the customer service and reliability are lacking then what else is there to recommend it. I've been asked to be a part of the Green Homes initiative in Scotland where prospective installers can arrange to come round and view the equipment and ask questions. I'll definitely be signing up to that now and I'll be honest when I'm asked. What a shame it's ended like this but you live and learn
  17.  
    Speysider, do you do Twitter (I don't, but my son does)? He would suggest that you tweet your experience.

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