Willow and Hearth

A technician servicing a gas boiler ended up with a broken jaw, and that single detail tells you how seriously regulators are taking this one.

On October 29, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of 4,726 NTI and HTP residential gas boilers in the United States. Another 2,261 were sold in Canada.

The full notice, recall number 27-051, is posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

A Cracked Dish Inside The Boiler Lets Gas Build Up Behind A Sealed Cover

The commission explains the problem in one sentence: “The condensate dish inside the boiler can crack during a delayed ignition.”

When that happens, unburned gas can build up inside the sealed cabinet. If that gas ignites, the front cover can suddenly come off.

The risks listed are serious injury or death from fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and impact.

The company has received 34 reports of the condensate dish breaking. Three of those reports involved the front cover detaching. In one of them, the technician who was servicing the boiler suffered a broken jaw.

These Boilers Cost Between $3,200 And $7,700

This is not a cheap gadget from a discount site. The boilers were sold through independent heating and plumbing contractors and wholesale distributors across the country from May 2021 through July 2026, for $3,200 to $7,700.

Ariston Canada, formerly NTI Boilers, makes them in Canada. Ariston Thermo USA of Providence, Rhode Island, imported them.

The recall was issued together with Health Canada.

How To Spot The Models On The Recall List

The NTI models are the FTVN150, FTVN150C, FTVN199, FTVN199C, TFTN150 and TFTN199. The NTI FTVN and TFTN boilers are gray.

The HTP models are the EFTU-150WBN, EFTU-150WCN, EFTU-199WBN and EFTU-199WCN. These are the Elite Fire Tube Ultra boilers, and they are black.

All of them are metal, rectangular units with “NTI” or “HTP” printed on the front. The serial number is on the rating plate on the left-hand side. Each model only counts if its serial number falls inside a listed range, so the quickest route is to call the company with your number.

The Repair Is Free, And You Are Told To Stop Using The Boiler

Owners should stop using the recalled boiler right away and contact Ariston to schedule a free repair by a certified technician.

If you have to run the boiler before the repair, the commission says to make sure the home has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

The phone number is 800-688-2575, open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. You can also write to [email protected], or visit ntiboilers.com/safety-recalls or htproducts.com/safety-notice.html.

What To Do If Your Heat Is Your Boiler

Stopping a boiler in early November is easier than stopping it in January, so make the call this week.

• Call your heating contractor, too. They installed the unit and often know the fastest way to get on a repair schedule.
• Ask about temporary heat while you wait, and ask what the safest option is for your house.
• Close doors to unused rooms, and use warm layers and blankets to hold in comfort.

Renting Or Managing A Property With One Of These? Pass It Along

These boilers were sold through contractors, which means they could be heating a duplex, a small apartment building or a rental house you own or live in.

If you are a landlord, check the rating plate on every boiler you manage and send the model and serial number to Ariston. If you are a tenant, take a photo of the plate and send it to your landlord in writing so there is a record of the date you reported it.

Families who rent have the same right to a safe home as anyone else, and a written note keeps everyone on the same page.

Questions Worth Asking The Contractor

When the technician arrives, a few plain questions are fair game. Ask what exactly was repaired or replaced, and ask for it in writing on the invoice. Ask whether the unit was tested after the work and what the technician checked.

Keep the paperwork with your home records. If you sell the house someday, a buyer’s inspector may ask about it, and having the receipt on hand makes the conversation easy.

It is also smart to write the model number, serial number and install date on the wall next to the boiler or in a notebook by the furnace room. When a recall hits, you will not have to hunt for them.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms Are Not Optional

Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled, which is why working alarms matter in any home with gas appliances.

Put an alarm on every level of the house and near the bedrooms. Test them monthly, and replace the batteries on schedule. Alarms wear out too, and the date to replace them is printed on the back.

If an alarm goes off, get everyone outside into fresh air first, then call 911 from outside. Do not stay behind to figure out the cause.

Smell Gas? Leave First, Call Second

If you ever smell gas, do not flip light switches or use the phone inside the house. Walk everyone out, then call your gas utility or 911 from a safe distance.

Never open up the sealed front cabinet of a boiler yourself. That is a job for a licensed technician.

It also pays to book a yearly checkup for your heating system, ideally in early fall. A trained technician will look at the parts you cannot see.

If you own one of these boilers, you are one phone call away from a free fix. Make that call today, and check your alarms while you are at it.

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