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How do you clean this heat exchanger?

midiman143
midiman143 Member Posts: 61
in Strictly Steam
Hello everyone and thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge. I opened up the boiler tonight to see how dirty the heat exchanger was and while it's not bad I think I should go through and actually clean it at some point. From the couple of videos I've seen through my research it looked like typically the whole top of the boiler comes off and you actually have access to clean the little fingers out diagonally but I don't see how that's even an option on my boiler which is a Utica 3090ST. Could anyone advise about a way to clean this is as it doesn't look like I can really get all the rows from the small round opening on the top and even if I did take off the top piece and put a new seal I still wouldn't be able to get most of the area looks like. Ty!

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,822
    Looks like you need a good tech to set up that burner properly.
    HVACNUTSuperTech
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,358
    Remove the four screws on the top, and it lifts off giving you better access.

    BUT- you need a pro to properly tune that burner so this won't happen again. From the area codes on the tag, it looks like you're in the Boston area, right?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • midiman143
    midiman143 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2022
    Correct I'm in the North shore in the Woburn area did you know anyone? I believe this is the first time anyone's taking a look at the heat exchanger and probably over 4 years. In the past I've had a "tune and clean" just about yearly but it looks like they only really change the nozzles and oil filters and maybe do some adjustments but never really clean the exchanger or the bottom of the chimney.
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,283
    The Starfire 3 is a wide open boiler and excessive draft must be controlled. 
    Properly tuned with the AFG, they should burn a lot cleaner than what you show.
    You need a good tech who knows oil and steam.
    It's not DIY.
    Make sure to get a printout or email of the combustion report. 
  • midiman143
    midiman143 Member Posts: 61
    Thanks for the reply @HVACNUT . Why do you call the boiler a starfire 3? I thought the model was a Utica 3090ST which appears to be a starfire 5 Series 5. Is there any special information I should pay close attention to with the combustion report?
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,212
    Click "Find A Contractor" at the top left of this page and enter your zip code.
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
    midiman143
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,358
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes said:

    Click "Find A Contractor" at the top left of this page and enter your zip code.

    This.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    midiman143
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,283
    midiman143 said:
    Thanks for the reply @HVACNUT . Why do you call the boiler a starfire 3? I thought the model was a Utica 3090ST which appears to be a starfire 5 Series 5. Is there any special information I should pay close attention to with the combustion report?
    Sorry, I don't see them too often. Didn't know they made it up to 5. I wonder what revisions were made.
    As far as the combustion report, just stress that you want an oil and steam tech to go over the whole system. Cleaning (vac) adjusting where necessary, combustion, draft, and smoke tests. Cycling the system, check safeties and limits. 
    Most companies provide a list of what's performed on a maintenance. 

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