mouse turds on Munchkin HX?

K. Ralia

My first year with a Munchkin T80, so I've been monitoring efficiency. Over time, nat gas usage (therms per degree-day) has increased 20%. Now the weather is the same as last November, and the Munchkin is using 20% more gas per day than in November.

I opened it up today. The HX has a large number of little loose pellets on it (see photo). They are dark gray, irregular pellets less than 1/16" in size. Some crumble when squeezed, others are quite hard.

Now I'm an amateur and I've never opened up a boiler before. (Yes, I was able to vacuum and clean and put it back together, it seems to be running fine and not leaking, although I haven't had time to measure efficiency yet.) So my question is, are these pellets normal?

Also, there is some white powder, coming from the ceramic backing. Is this normal?

BigRed

Mouse turds

Im sorry I know nothing about your boiler, but I do know mouse turds and munchkins have been discussed here befor try the search.

Keith_8

Just learning about these units myself

But it sounds as if the unit was not set up with a combustion analyzer at start up.

The fuel and air mixture probably needs adjustement.

Keith

hr

Yearly cleaning is a MUST

with this type of boiler, in my opinion. I have seen the same condition in two of my Munchkin installs.

Not sure what creates those 'droppings" most feel a combination of air they breath, impurities in the fuel, temperature, and moisture conditions.

They seem to be rather greasey when you squeeze them.

Two issues, first they tend to plug the spaces in the HX coils, and enough of them will cause the drain trap to plug and back up condensate.

There has been talk of air filters like the old GlowCore units had. But this wouldn't handle the crud in the fuel.

I've had it present in both LP and Natural. In dirty environments and very clean residential conditions.

Plan on a yearly opening, for now. The unit should run more efficiently with the crud cleaned out.

Cleaning out the droppings also cured a problematic F09 lockout in one of my installs

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Dave Yates (PAH)

easy clean-up

I guess I'll need to brush off the dust on my old GC air intake filter(G).

CLR does a remarkable job for speedy clean-up. A quick brush & vac to gather up the loose stuff and a healthy dose of CLR. Either remove the target wall or keep it covered to prevent it getting wet. If the HX is hot, you'll want to be very careful to avoid the fumes and overspray as CLR is tough on skin, eyes & mucus membranes. We're thinking a piece of plexy with a small center opening for a sprayer's wand will give us both added protection and a view.

At present, a high-tidewater mark on the target wall means it should be replaced. Quite easy to do and once removed, no worries about wetting the entire comb chamber during the cleaning. New target wall materials will be available in the near future that won't sweat getting wet.

Massaging the trap at its outlet while flushing the chamber during the rinse will aid in flushing away any debris.

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Constantin

... and if you want to use a vacuum...

... I'd suggest going to Sears and buying the yellow "allergenic" vac bags they offer for most brands of vacuum cleaners. Filters stuff down to 0.1 microns and worked great when I cleaned Ms. Vitola. Naturally, the sulfur and other detrius may have a appreciable effect on the service life of a civilian vac.

I'd clean the HX once you detect a drop in efficiency in addition to any annual services you've probably already scheduled.

hr

I use a plant sprayer

the kind up pump up and add your own concotion of cleaner.

Also a pet supply, or vet supply store has a lot of brush options. A kitchen plate of the correct diameter protects the target wall.

I'd have an extra flame rod gasket on hand. They seem to breaK easily.

I've heard some suppliers offer a Munchkin tool and cleaning kit. Has all the correct size sockets, torx, proper length screwdriver for adjusting the gas valve, and maybe cleaning products, and spare parts.

Problem is now I need a kit like this for 4 different brands of condensors I have installed

Nothing worse than showing up metric intolerant, for a service call

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