Ok. First, if you are a St. Croix owner and have not used this trick yet, you are wasting your time. I have spent hours with all the other tricks doing what took me 5 minutes today.
I apologize if this has been listed before. I am sure others have definitely experimented with it.
I started by just unhooking the tube from the vacuum switch and not cleaning the stove at all. I left ashes in different parts of the stove to see what got cleaned. I found that after I did the leaf blower trick this way, all the hard to clean places were cleaner then they had ever been. (All those places behind the ash trap doors). Ash was left near the burn pot and by the heat exchange tubes.
Next, I experimented with doing it with the ash trap doors off. Then with the plate below the heat exchange tubes off. Then combinations of the two. Each time more ash was coming out of the blower. I always kept the door to the stove closed. It would be interesting to try different things like this when you apply the trick.
I would have to note that my vent pipe has never been cleaner. I am wondering how often I will actually have to remove the combustion blower in the future. When I clean in the spring, I am going to do the leaf blower trick first to see what other maintenance is no longer necessary. I probably won't need the rubber mallet or plumbers snake.
By the way, I found this cheap blower/vac at Lowes that fit perfectly over my vent pipe and rested right up against the wall to hold the suction. I only used half the vacuum tube. (It got bad reviews because the bag rips when used as a leaf vacuum, but for $40 and never planning on using it that way its great. 235 MPH & 380 CFM).
http://www.lowes.com/pd_126753-53393-25193_4294747189_4294937087_?productId=3140771&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL;=/pl_Blowers_4294747189_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo;=
I apologize if this has been listed before. I am sure others have definitely experimented with it.
I started by just unhooking the tube from the vacuum switch and not cleaning the stove at all. I left ashes in different parts of the stove to see what got cleaned. I found that after I did the leaf blower trick this way, all the hard to clean places were cleaner then they had ever been. (All those places behind the ash trap doors). Ash was left near the burn pot and by the heat exchange tubes.
Next, I experimented with doing it with the ash trap doors off. Then with the plate below the heat exchange tubes off. Then combinations of the two. Each time more ash was coming out of the blower. I always kept the door to the stove closed. It would be interesting to try different things like this when you apply the trick.
I would have to note that my vent pipe has never been cleaner. I am wondering how often I will actually have to remove the combustion blower in the future. When I clean in the spring, I am going to do the leaf blower trick first to see what other maintenance is no longer necessary. I probably won't need the rubber mallet or plumbers snake.
By the way, I found this cheap blower/vac at Lowes that fit perfectly over my vent pipe and rested right up against the wall to hold the suction. I only used half the vacuum tube. (It got bad reviews because the bag rips when used as a leaf vacuum, but for $40 and never planning on using it that way its great. 235 MPH & 380 CFM).
http://www.lowes.com/pd_126753-53393-25193_4294747189_4294937087_?productId=3140771&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL;=/pl_Blowers_4294747189_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo;=
(well, I'm not really sure 'bout that)
