Shut down and cleaning KAA2

Hello everybody, its been awhile since I posted, I wonder if you could answer a question? Do people shut down their boilers, and clean out the fire box during the heating season? I have a lot of fly ash, and such on top, and tubes in the boiler. Thanks Garey

I shut down at the end of December every year to do a quick cleaning of the flue pipe. It usually needs it and gets it prepped for the really cold weather coming in January and February. While I'm at it I'll do a quick vacuum of the water walls. I don't brush them like a do in September, but I do hit them with the vac. It typically takes less than an hour from shutting off the controls to re-lighting.

Thanks nepacoal for the advise, next warm spell I think I will do it. I was just thinking the layer of dust would insulate the metal some.

Tryingitout wrote: ↑

Wed. Jan. 16, 2019 12:26 pm

Thanks nepacoal for the advise, next warm spell I think I will do it. I was just thinking the layer of dust would insulate the metal some.

Cleaning the flue pipe is the important part. I typically need to clean it after 2.5 to 3 tons. It wasn't too bad this December, but last year it was 1/3 blocked. Vacuuming your tubes is just a bonus to add efficiency during the upcoming cold weather! Good luck with it.

For my Kaa-2, I pop the cap off the "T" , and take the shop vac to it. That's about it. Like already mentioned, a quick cleaning of the inside is a bonus. I've thought about it, but never did it.

Thanks OP, I hope it is ok if I call you OP, it is less typing. Today I did some work on the plumbing, so I was able to do a good cleaning. I have burnt about 1 1/2 ton there was a lot of fly ash, more than I have had in the 2 years I have had it.