why "lime scale remover" for fireside cleaning?

Nom_Deplume

The manual for our boiler (HTP Elite FT) suggests using a "lime scale remover" during fireside cleaning. I assume they mean something like CLR or Rydlyme.

My question is, why? Combustion produces water, but it isn't hard water! It also produces stranger things, namely coffee grounds; but CLR/Rydlyme don't dissolve coffee grounds, they have to be vacuumed out. So what's the purpose of lime scale remover?

Incidentally, the so-called "stainless" in our boiler has deep black stains that don't come off with scrubbing or CLR.

Derheatmeister

Nom_Deplume said:

The manual for our boiler (HTP Elite FT) suggests using a "lime scale remover" during fireside cleaning. I assume they mean something like CLR or Rydlyme.

My question is, why? Combustion produces water, but it isn't hard water! It also produces stranger things, namely coffee grounds; but CLR/Rydlyme don't dissolve coffee grounds, they have to be vacuumed out. So what's the purpose of lime scale remover?

Incidentally, the so-called "stainless" in our boiler has deep black stains that don't come off with scrubbing or CLR.

On SS HX we have used products such as Super Citrus, CLR all the way up to a oven cleaner to clean a HX..
Condensing boilers produce condensate at lower temperatures(>138F) which is similar to "Water" but very low in PH (Aggressive)
Under perfect conditions this condensate will actually clean your HX from any deposits therfore keeping deposits at a minimum and give the boiler a better heatexchange.
This is why we strive to operate our systems as long as possible in the Condensing/lower temperature range >138 F.
Not only will your AFC be lower but your boiler will get a Daily Condensate"shower"

Here is a German Company that makes Cleaners and Pressure washers for these situations.
https://www.sotin.de/

mattmia2

Aren't the fins in an HTP, at least in a UFT aluminum pressed in to the stainless tubes?

Nom_Deplume

Derheatmeister said:

On SS HX we have used products such as Super Citrus, CLR all the way up to a oven cleaner to clean a HX..

My question was, why?

Regarding the condensate being acidic, my understanding is that a properly tuned boiler does not produce much in the way of sulfuric and nitric acids, and so the water is acidic mainly because of the abundant CO2, which causes a pH of about 5. (Which is not that acidic.) But again, the question is, what does it matter whether the condensate is acidic? What is is helping to clean? There is no limescale on the fire side!

GGross

I believe they tell you to use a "limescale remover" because that is what the product is typically called, and would be most commonly available to use. Products referred to as "limescale remover" are capable of cleaning off things other than just limescale, it just so happens that is the most common application for use of the product.

So what is it helping to clean? You are correct in that you shouldn't really have "limescale" in your fireside, but there are sill the products of combustion that need to be cleaned periodically to restore the fire chamber to its proper condition and maintain good heat transfer