Disolving creasote in heat exchanger

[fhon]

I'm currently building a gasifier and am concerned about creatose build up in the heat exhanger. I wondering if there's something that can be used to remove any build up inside. I was thinking an alkaline cleaner suck as sodium hydroxide or PBW (used for brewing but can take tar off the driveway ) Is alkaline the way to go?

 

[GENECOP]

I use a product by Rutland twice a week, turns everything into a nice fine brushable powder...Rutland creosote cleaner.

 

[huffdawg]

I heard potatoe peels work

 

[brenndatomu]

If it is a gasifier, and you have dry wood, there should be no creosote. Only brushable soot

 

[fhon]

I use a product by Rutland twice a week, turns everything into a nice fine brushable powder...Rutland creosote cleaner.

For a gasifier?

 

[GENECOP]

For a Greenwood 100, a couple of scoops gets added to the fire, if there is a flame its applicable, like someone pointed out if everything is perfect, there should be little or no creosote...but often everything is not perfect, so the Rutland is a little cheap insurance..

 

[maple1]

I have never had creosote in my hx tubes, part way into year 4. If you can prevent idling, it shouldn't happen, but storage is likely key for that. Some have posted about buying or making tools to chuck in drills to scrape tubes with. I have no experience with Rutland stuff, but might be worth a try? Or the potato treatment.

 

[fhon]

Thanks guys.

 

[brenndatomu]

Since the potatoe trick was brought up...supposedly burning an aluminum drink can once in a while works too

 

[maple1]

When I had my old boiler, I did try those magic creosote logs once (think I got a box for Xmas), and also used to throw potatoe peelings in the odd time. Didn't notice them doing anything, but I might have seen some kind of result if I had swept the next day, or something like that. There might be a very short window immediately after using some of these things where they might make a sweep give better results?

Could be the stuff of pixie dust too, I suppose.