Shut down and cleaning KAA2
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- Member
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- Location: Western Michigan
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KAA-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer model 30-95 EZ Flow Sadly Retired
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Propane furnace/elec. water heater
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
- nepacoal
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- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
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.
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- Member
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Thu. Jan. 23, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Western Michigan
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KAA-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer model 30-95 EZ Flow Sadly Retired
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Propane furnace/elec. water heater
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.
- nepacoal
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
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.Tryingitout wrote: ↑Wed. Jan. 16, 2019 12:26 pmThanks 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.
- oliver power
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
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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.
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- Member
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Thu. Jan. 23, 2014 10:23 am
- Location: Western Michigan
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KAA-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer model 30-95 EZ Flow Sadly Retired
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Propane furnace/elec. water heater
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.