Hydronic Questions

Hello out there,

On a typical hydronic gasifier, how much powder or creosote is brushed out during an annual cleaning of the exhaust and heat exchanger tubes?

thanks in advance,

Alex

I clean the tubes monthly - after I clean the ashes from the lower firebox, I reach into the top access, bang each turbulator up and down a couple of inches to knock the ashes off and then scrape the base again. Usually not much ashes but worth doing. 2 or 3 times a year I get the brush out, but never run into creosote, so no big job. I clean the horizontal section of the flue a couple of times per year, but never find more than a thin coating of fine ash at the bottom.

thank you,

Alex

My dad and brother are in the once a year club. Through the entire chimney there's maybe a gallon and a half of creosote. That's probably 30 feet out so of chimney.

Hello,

Is the creosote in the boiler or just in the chimney? Thanks for your reply.

A properly tuned and seasoned wood burning gasser produces no creosote, just a grey-black flyash. Creosote is an indication of something not correct or a lot of idleing.

TS

I agree. I'm on my 5th season with my Tarm Solo 30, and I have yet to see any creosote in my chimney. I clean my heat exchanger tubes a handful of times each year, and all I get is fly ash. I've burned a fair share of softwood in my mix, too, but still no creosote.

Ok, i guess i call fly ash creosote. I get a little creosote in the firebox near the door, i open the door too often, its still new to me. Anyway, i clean out the secondary every burn or couple of burns and get about half a gallon of fly ash.

I run a brush through my horizontal tubes once a week as part of the regular cleaning cycle. Takes only a few minutes and I get maybe a cup of dry ash a week from the tubes themselves.

thank you,

Alex

Thank you,

Alex

Thanks,

Alex

Alex,

I clean my exchangers (eight of them) once a year and I get less then a soda can of residue out of them. I've never had creosote in my chimney. The only blockage I ever had was a starling that decided to fall down the chimney and wedge himself in there. After I put a "roof" on my chimney, I've never had anything to clean out. I hope my two cents help you.

Bob

Thank You Bob,

Alex