OT - Scraping off creosote

[CB in central NY]

Quite a bit OT...

I have a Tarm wood-fired boiler which I have connected with my oil-fired boiler. I"ve had the setup for two or three years and it really saves on oil use.

My question is: how do you get rid of creosote that builds up on the heat exchanger? There is quite a thick layer and not too easy to scrape off (not much room to reach with any kind of scraper).

The Tarm folks just say: scrape it off. Is there a better technique or some kind of chemical that can be used to loosen the creosote? I know a lot of the build-up has to do with burning underseasoned wood but that"s all I had at the time.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Walt Davies]

Get it real hot then spray it with water that will brake it up and it will fall right off.
Walt

 

[Bob Kerr]

You might go to a local hardware and see if they have Creasote remover. You put it in with the wood when you are first lighting it. I bet if you take the powder and sling it on the glassy creasote it will help "dry" it out. I think it is nothing more than TSP, tri sodium phosphate. My stove is a NON airtight, old type and I still get some build up but not as bad as if I ad an airtight with the draft choked way down. Remember what the old timers told me about "seasoned wood" it takes a full year for most wood covered in a wood shed, and takes 2 years to season oak. Pileing wood up in a heap is not seasoning, it must be stacked and allow air to move through it and really should be up off the ground and I cover my stacks with a sheet of plywood cut in half. I have them stacked up on old RR ties. Also wood that is just left in a downed tree does not season. I had someone say yesterday they are cutting up an oak that has been down for a year and plans on burning it this winter. He will have creasote problems! That glassy stuff is what really can set a house on fire quick! It gets on fire and melts and runs down the chimney and can run down the stovepipe onto the floor, Saw that in the neighbors basement, they had fire evwerywhere on the floor and almost lost the house. Lucky yours is away from the house, but good dry wood is a must with those boilers as they are really choked down on just the cooler days and a choked down fire really builds up the creasote. and creasote acts like an insulator, until it catches fire and melts off.

 

[Wardner]

I used to run a HS Tarm wood/gas combination boiler. I used an ice scraper and made sure the edge was sharp. Ten or fifteen seconds every day would keep things clean. The scraper/chipper was bought at a hardware store and comes with a long handle. Parts of the boiler were unreachable.

My brother took over the house and replaced the boiler with an all gas unit. My boiler is for sale.

 

[Wardner]

Boiler walls can't get any hotter than 212 degrees. Moreover, that water will subsequently have to be evaporated. Lots of energy consumption there.