Main Frequently asked questions Cleaning the chimney of a solid fuel boiler

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Chimney cleaning: how to clean the chimney of a solid fuel boiler

During the combustion of fuel, soot and resins are formed, which settle on the walls of the chimney. Over time, their deposits harden, becoming similar to concrete. If they are not removed in time, a corrosion process begins to occur under them, which leads to metal destruction and equipment failure. Breakdowns can be avoided by periodically cleaning the chimney.

Do I need to clean the chimney?

Cleaning the chimney avoids serious consequences and breakdown of the solid fuel boiler. During the operation of the equipment, soot, tar and other deposits can form on the walls of the chimney for various reasons.

The causes of soot are:

    A small amount of oxygen entering the system;
  • insufficient combustion temperature.
Tars can appear for the following reasons:

  • use for heating crude fuel;
  • boiler operation at low temperatures;
  • Laying too much fuel.
Tar can accumulate on pipes when:

    insufficient oxygen entering the combustion chamber;
  • insufficient chimney height;
  • incorrect equipment design.
Regular cleaning of the sandwich chimney will avoid the following consequences:

    Breakdown of the main elements of equipment responsible for the quality of heating the room.
  1. Decreased heat transfer, uneven distribution of heat and heating of the room.
  2. Increased fuel consumption due to narrowing of the lumen in the chimney.
Ways to clean the chimney

How to clean the chimney of a solid fuel boiler? There are 2 ways: mechanical and chemical. Each of them has its own characteristics and procedure.

The mechanical method

Cleaning the chimney of a solid fuel boiler mechanically allows you to effectively get rid of the crust that has accumulated inside the pipe. To carry out mechanical cleaning, you need:

    Scrapers. They are used to clean the chimney pipe directly.
  1. Brushes and brushes are suitable for eliminating contaminants in the heat exchanger.
  2. Trope with a core for cleaning the pipe from above.
  3. Suitable clothing (non-slip shoes, gloves, goggles, mask) and safety cable.
How to clean the chimney from tar and other deposits mechanically? Do it as follows:

    The boiler is preheated. This is necessary so that the tar and resin, which have a rather dense texture, become softer and easier to clean.
  1. With the help of scrapers and spatulas, mechanical removal of deposits is carried out.
  2. If there is no window for inspection in the chimney, you will have to clean it from above, climbing to the roof of a private house. Here, a core suspended from a strong cable is used. By alternately lowering and raising it, dirt is removed.
The chemical methodCleaning the chimney of a solid fuel boiler using this method is based on the use of chemicals (surface active gels, powders, liquids) that can dissolve even stubborn deposits on the walls. Their advantage is ease of use. The substances are simply added to the furnace of a solid fuel boiler, after which they rise up, settling on the deposits and destroying them.

But if there is a large amount of contamination in the chimney, the use of chemicals may not be enough. In this case, it should be combined with mechanical cleaning.

How often do I need to clean the chimney of a solid fuel boiler?

The frequency of cleaning the chimney from soot and other deposits depends on the type of fuel used for heating. For example, if you use coal, firewood or other high-quality fuel, you need to carry out the procedure once every 30-40 days. If the fuel is of low quality and high humidity, it should be done at least once every 14 days.

It is important to constantly monitor the condition and operation of the solid fuel boiler. Having noticed any failures or malfunctions, the boiler chimney should be cleaned unscheduled.

Prevention

To clean the soot in the chimney as little as possible, you must adhere to certain rules:

    Insulate the chimney to avoid sudden changes in temperature and prevent condensation from forming on the walls of the pipe. To do this, you can use mineral wool, plaster.
  1. Do not use wood with a high resin content. It is it that releases the most substances that create dense deposits on the surface, which are difficult to cope with.
  2. Do not throw various household waste and garbage into the boiler furnace.
  3. Do not use wet firewood.
Knowing how to clean the chimney from soot at home, you can get rid of deposits yourself and avoid equipment damage.

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