Boiler Clean-out: Was I Misled by the oil company?

Steve Garson_2

I had the oil company in for the annual clean-out. Since I am converting to a gas burner (using a pro), I wanted to see for myself that the job was done correctly.

Obviously, the average customer doesn't open up his boiler. Take a look at the photos. I question whether he touched the inside.

Opinions? I paid $135 for a filter change and new nozzle. What do you think? Am I too sensitive and this is OK? I want this perfectly clean. What kind of brush do I ask for at the supply house? The flat portions are easy enough to clean with my wire brush.

Steve

Frenchie

Yuck

No, that was not touched inside. Yes, I would do it myself if I were you. Just be careful not to damage the target wall with your brush. I use a small, round, metal bristle brush to clean mine. You could find something similar pretty much anywhere I believe. If you clean the pins better, you will get better heat transfer. On the plus side, once you put in a gas burner it will(should) stay clean inside.

Robert O'Brien

Why?

bother with the oil co if you're putting a gas burner in?The gas burner installer should CLEAN the boiler to the fullest extent possible.What you have is not that.

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J.C.A._3

The \"Bullseye\"....

Starting to form on the "target wall" suggests that there may be a bad nozzle...right off the bat.

The dark spot toward the middle looks like the fuel is hitting it in liquid form. In short order...that would become what we call a "Christmas Tree"...sicking out of the target wall like a bra that Madonna used to wear on stage.

Did they leave a report for combustion testing at the unit? Chris

Steve Garson_2

The boiler is only three years old. They've left a combustion report every year.

R Mannino

Combustion Report

How about a photo of the service tag with the combustion numbers, shouldn't be too much writing on it in three years.

J.C.A._3

Or even better.....

The same numbers year after year...I see that a lot....and mine aren't even close to them, most of the time. Chris

jalcoplumb_8

Looks good.

That looks good compared to some I have seen.

mtfallsmikey

Wet soot much worse

I'll side with Jalco...this is nothing compared to a mess from wet soot. This looks like hard scaly accumulation, that's why it is soooo important to service it every year...especially after the first winter....when I sold a new boiler, I would do one or two follow-ups during the 1st winter's use...This kind of accumulation is hard to remove, short of bead blasting.

tommyoil

Forget the beads

Try water cleaning. Where applicable, it works like a charm.

Steve Garson_2

Tommy:

What do you mean by water cleaning? Spraying a water solution and then using the brush and then rinsing?

lee_7

Heat boiler up to temp, turn off, remove smoke pipe from boiler top and with a small spray bottle lightly wet down boiler pins. youwant to get all the pins wet but not have water sitting in combustion box. Reassemble smoke pipe and refire boiler. this basically steam cleans boiler. I have done this many times in really dirty stubborn boiler and cleans then nicely.

Note: you might have to do more then once to get fully clean. Be care not to get too much water as you do not want to flash water into too much steam in small area.

Leo_14

A waste of money

Why did you waste your money getting an oil tune up if you are switching to gas? As someone else stated the guy doing the conversion is suppose to clean the boiler. Did you tell the oil guy you were switching, if so his heart probably wasn't into what the was doing. It is tough from the picture but it may be able to be gotten cleaner. I would have to see it in person. The chamber floor could be cleaner. I do too many tune ups and what I see skimped on my many is brushing and vacuuming. It isn't an excuse but it happens.

Leo

gilligan

water cleaning

Yeah, that is not a pretty picture, most oil techs ( I work for a large oil company) never open the door and cleaning the chamber...on a reasonably new boiler you can carefully remove the target wall and blanket, scrape the heavy stuff out then hit it with water, I use a one gallon garden sprayer, you should easily be able to make all the surfaces spotless.

Mark Eatherton

Did they put a coat of racing wax on the outside of it?

I use to have an english (U.K.) boilerman who worked for me that would spray the outside of the boiler with WD40, and then wipe it down. Said it made the boiler LOOK like something had been done to it. It actually LOOKED like brand new Paint job only).Of course, he had DONE something to it, like a new gas valve or whatever. But junk in a silk suit is still junk.

It looks like you got what you paid for. A drive by inspection. "Yup, it's still there, and it's still working..."

A full tear down and clean up would have cost a LOT more than that... Unless it's a loss leader to gain and hold your confidence...

JMHO

ME

Steve Garson_2

Thanks for the advice everyone. I purchased a brush yesterday and cleaned the pins without a problem. The boiler is pretty spotless now. It took some muscle pulling the brush in certain part and I was worried that it was stuck, but I'm all set now.

I shouldn't remove the target wall to clean behind that, should I? Is it held with adhesive, or just sitting there.

Leo_14

The target wall

The target wall is a friction fit but it hardens with use. If you try to move it you may break it. If you have things clean to your satisfaction it is best to leave it alone. Two things, you never said why you had the oil compaqny in if you are leaving. Second you really should let them know you are unhappy with the job. It may be a lazy tech rather than a lazy company.

Leo

tommyoil

A little tip

If you EVER get the brush stuck, get out a claw hammer and grab the brush with the claw and pry it up. You'll never ever have a stuck brush again. Works for me. As for the water cleaning, I've NEVER shut the boiler down and water cleaned it. I've ALWAYS done them while firing and always after a full brush down and cleaning FIRST. The water strips the residual provided its done in a controlled fashion (a little at a time). I used to do school boilers with water. We'd fire them up, go play stickball in the gym for an hour and then wash them down with a garden hose (being careful NOT to allow any water to accumulate) The state inspector LOVED us. Gotta be careful with water cleaning.

ed wallace

boiler cleaning

he should have hired his installer to clean it

Al Letellier_21

boiler cleaning

I would take those photos to the oil company and talk to the President/owner. Tell him if that is the standard by which they treat their customers, then you want out and your money back. Offer to pay for the parts but demand a return on the labor. This is very poor work !!! Spouting off here on the wall may be soul cleansing and will give you support, but ignoring the issue by not addressing it with the guilty party will not make the problem go away. These companies need to be confronted with their less than professional attitudes and procedures....go get "em.

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