Methods for Cleaning Boiler Tubes

Cleaning boiler tubes, maintenance and care are the best ways to prevent overspeed and protect the pipe system, thereby maximizing the performance of the equipment. The less deposits there are, the healthier the pipes are, with no threat of leaks, bursts or further contamination of the heating infrastructure.

OFTEC (Oil Combustion Technology Association) as well as the Gas Boiler Management recommend that boilers be serviced at least once a year.

Soot buildup can reduce boiler efficiency by up to 8%. Therefore, looking after this end of the boiler is just as important as cleaning the pipes that carry boiling water to your home.

The pipes at the boiler outlet carry water heated by heat exchanger tube. They can also become dirty due to mineral deposits. Over time, fine deposits can damage boiler tubes, reduce heating efficiency, and lead to weakened pipes and or boiler failure.

The flue pipe is also an important part that you need to keep clean at all times. It carries excess gases away from the house through the pipe.

Most flue pipes are horizontal seamless steel pipes that are easy to repair. Because there are strict regulations on where flue pipes are placed (away from human activity), it is necessary to have a plumbing engineer inspect them for safety reasons.

Specialized engineers have the right equipment for each specific pipe section.

How to clean boiler tubes?

1. Water-side pipes

You may have power-flushed your heating system before, but before your next power-flushing, you must clean the pipes without chemicals.

You can use water pressure to clean the water side of your boiler between using chemicals to remove sludge and rust. This ensures that the pipes remain in optimal health year after year, as it will need a power-flushing every five years or so.

An abnormality in the pipes may be a sign of scale or corrosion problems. If hard scale is found inside the pipes, the valves should be checked and readjusted to prevent future mixing of foreign steam water with the boiler's internal system.

In short, the best way to take care of the health of the water-side pipes is prevention. That's why it's crucial to maintain and clean your boiler regularly, addressing issues like oxygen retention before they cause bigger problems, and they will almost certainly always be there.

2. Furnace-side pipes

As for the furnace-side pipes, they are easier to access and clean. They are also dry and can be cleaned thoroughly with a brush without making a mess.

The type of brush used depends on several factors. The type of deposits will also influence the engineer's decision whether to use a soft nylon brush, steel brush to scrape off the sludge or water pressure or compressed air device to remove rust.

3. Flue

You should have the flue cleaned at least once a year by a registered technician. Since it spews fuel gas, they install it where it will not come into contact with human activities. Therefore, only trained staff can inspect it.

4. Clean the filters and strainers

When you are done, the pipe system should be as good as new!

Boiler tube cleaning methods

1. Chemical cleaning

This is a method of removing scale inside the boiler using chemical cleaning agents. According to the composition of the scale, choose a suitable cleaning agent such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc. When chemical cleaning, special attention should be paid to choosing the right acid and corrosion inhibitor to avoid corrosion to the boiler material. For example, although hydrochloric acid has a strong ability to dissolve scale, it is corrosive to stainless steel and aluminum, so it is not suitable for cleaning the surface of these materials.

2. Mechanical cleaning

Use equipment such as high-pressure water guns for physical cleaning to remove scale, blockages or surface attachments inside the boiler. This method is suitable for removing various deposits such as rust, iron oxide, resin, etc.

3. Cleaning steps

First, understand the structure, material and heat exchange method of the boiler, and then carry out descaling cleaning, clean water cleaning, stripping anti-corrosion cleaning and passivation coating treatment. Before cleaning, analyze and test different regions, different water quality and scale quality, configure different chemical cleaning agents, and formulate a scientific and reasonable cleaning plan.

4. Boiler cleaning agent

Boiler cleaning agents are divided into liquid and solid. Liquid descaling agents are widely used because of their convenient construction and ideal descaling effect. The cleaning agent can quickly and thoroughly remove various scales on the inner wall of the boiler, and has no corrosion to the metal. After use, a protective film is formed on the metal surface.

5. Safety and environmental protection

During the cleaning process, ensure safe operation, avoid contact between the cleaning agent and the skin and eyes, pay attention to environmental protection emissions, and ensure that the treatment of cleaning waste liquid meets relevant standards.

6. Inspection after cleaning

After cleaning, the cleaning quality should be inspected and accepted to ensure that the metal surface is clean, there is no residual oxide and welding slag, and there is no over-washing phenomenon. At the same time, the average metal corrosion rate and the total amount of corrosion should meet the standard requirements.

Who performs boiler cleaning?

It is best to contact a pipe cleaning engineer to clean your boiler tubes. The registered engineer you choose will ensure that your boiler is shut down and all safety regulations are followed when cleaning the boiler tubes. If you own a water tube boiler, the above advice still applies.

Explosive deslagging

This is not a cleaning technique used for ordinary households, but for large facilities that can withstand explosions. Small explosives generate pressure and shock waves to destroy and remove accumulations in the system.

Summary

Based on the above information, boiler tube cleaning is a process that requires expertise and technology, and should be carried out by a qualified cleaning unit, and strictly follow the cleaning plan and safe operating procedures.