Crown Boiler Blocked Vent Switch Recall in NYC

Original blocked vent switch does not trip under spill conditions

The blocked vent switch on affected Aruba IV boilers is supposed to open when hot flue gases spill from the draft hood. On recalled units, the switch can stay closed long enough for the gas valve to remain energized even though the vent path is blocked and combustion products are spilling into the boiler room.

Standard sea-level burner orifices left in place on altitude-sensitive units

Velocity's recall documents a design conflict between the original burner-orifice sizing and the blocked vent switch calibration. When the gas-air mixture runs too rich under compromised draft conditions, carbon monoxide risk rises while the original switch may still fail to trip in time.

Aftermarket replacement spill switch with the wrong temperature rating

Some field repairs substitute a generic thermal switch instead of the calibrated Crown/Velocity recall part. If that replacement switch has a higher trip temperature, the safety loop may stay closed during a blocked-flue event and the boiler can keep firing when it should shut down immediately.

Actual chimney or flue blockage exposing the recall defect

Bird nesting, debris, snow, or a deteriorated chimney path can create the blocked-draft condition that the switch is supposed to catch. On a recalled Crown Aruba IV, that real venting fault is especially dangerous because the burner may continue operating instead of locking out normally.

DIY-Safe

• Locate the rating plate on the top-right side of the boiler jacket and write down the Crown Aruba IV model and serial number so the unit can be checked against the recall range.
• Confirm that carbon monoxide alarms are installed and working near the boiler room and outside sleeping areas before the boiler is used again.
• Look at the visible vent connector and chimney termination for obvious nesting, leaves, or blockage, but do not run repeated blocked-flue tests yourself.

Professional Required

• Verifying whether the boiler is an affected Aruba IV AWR-series unit and whether the official Velocity recall modification has already been installed.
• Replacing the original blocked vent switch with the calibrated recall part and swapping in the corrected burner orifices supplied in the recall kit.
• Performing a controlled vent-spillage / blocked-flue test to confirm the new blocked vent switch actually opens the safety circuit within the required shutdown time.
• Running combustion and draft analysis after the recall repair to confirm carbon monoxide levels and vent performance are safe before the boiler is returned to service.

What is the Crown Aruba IV blocked vent switch recall?

It is a March 21, 2024 federal recall affecting certain Crown Aruba IV AWR-series gas-fired hot-water boilers. The documented hazard is that the blocked vent switch may fail to shut the boiler down during a blocked-flue condition, allowing carbon monoxide-producing flue gases to spill into the room.

Is this the same as a normal Crown boiler no-heat problem?

No. The parent Crown boiler page covers general ignition faults, circulator issues, and pressure problems. This page is specifically about a recall-level vent-safety defect on Aruba IV AWR boilers, where the burner may keep firing instead of locking out when venting is unsafe.

What is the official recall repair for the Crown BVS issue?

The documented factory repair is a Velocity Boiler Works recall kit that includes a replacement blocked vent switch and replacement main-burner orifices sized for the affected platform. The repair is then verified with vent-spillage and combustion testing.