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Heat Exchanger Cleaning Procedure
If you use the proper chemical additives from
Wood Boiler Solutions LLC
you should
never have to clean your heat exchanger. This is a wise idea and keeps your warranty
valid.
A specialist experienced in chemical cleaning should perform this procedure.
The easy way out – if you didn’t use the proper chemicals for protection:
(1) Remove Heat Exchanger (takes about 10 minutes). (2) Drop off at local radiator
shop. (3) Pick up serviced and repainted heat exchanger, cost $20. (4) Reinstall unit-
another 10 - 15 minutes. (5) Job done, have a glass of wine..... What could be easier?
CLR works fine to clean exchangers. Even the label suggests cleaning heating coils,
coffee makers, etc.
Some people recommend using Phosphoric acid or Ph-Oshop-Ric. Muriatic acid causes
hydrogen embrittlement of metals over time, which Phosphoric acid (mostly) avoids.
Muriatic acid
is a MAJOR hazard if it spills - especially on you!
You can also try
Marsolve (203-834-8278) or
http://www.marsolve.com/marsdis.htm
Also recommended and much safer, is Safe-React Formula E is designed as a direct
replacement for Muriatic acid. It is effective for pH adjustment, industrial descaling,
cleaning heat exchangers and many other jobs that normally require hazardous acids.
Safe-React Formula E is a concentrated formula, to be used the same way Muriatic acid
is normally used.
http://www.safe-react.com/formu_e.htm
Fill a 5-gallon bucket with Safe-React or CLR per the instructions for dilution - or riskier -
a 10-12% solution of Hydrochloric acid (sometimes called Muriatic Acid) or Phosphoric
acid to water. It can be purchased at your local swimming pool supply store. MURIATIC
ACID is a liquid cleaner that dissolves rust, lime and other minerals on hard surfaces.
See
http://www.athea.com/label_PDFs/140muriaticlabel.pdf
Place both the supply lines and return lines in bucket with a submersible pump on the
supply side. You may have to run the pump for three to eight hours. You should be able
to see the process working as water flows into the bucket.
Sometimes reversing the flow can free up deposits encrusted in the heat exchanger in
stubborn cases.