Any clever ideas for cleaning soot blockage from Grant Condensing Heat Exchanger?

[Vee]

Anyone got any suggestion on how, if possible you could clear soot from the condensing heat exchanger of a Grant Vortex. Have many of you encountered blockages like this? Have any of you been able to avoid condemnation of the boiler the due to the stainless heat exchanger being blocked? What can be done? Seems a shame to replace as otherwise in reasonable condition.

 

[gmartine]

No experience with oil boilers but what about Sootbreaker? You'll need a functioning or at least partially functioning boiler though.

FlueSnug - CorgiDirect

FlueSnug

www.corgi-direct.com

 

[exedon2]

A lot of the products for cleaning oil heat exchangers are not recommended for condensing boilers .
I take it the spiral turbulators are stuck solid?

 

[Vee]

Yes it’s the stainless one with the turbulators.

 

[exedon2]

Just had a chat with my oil service engineer (I subcontract all my boiler servicing) He confirmed its a scrape and vacuum job Grant don't recommend any of the soot breakers .

 

[SimonG]

Elbow grease, patience and a dust mask. Followed by a big bill at the end.
The worst part of working on oil is a sooted boiler. Especially when they tell you it's been smoking for 3 or 4 days before it locked out.

 

[John.g]

Is this a yearly event on a well serviced boiler?.

 

[SimonG]

Is this a yearly event on a well serviced boiler?.

No, only on neglected boilers or if there's a problem with regard to air inlets etc.

 

[Chuck]

Classic car enthusiasts often use an ultrasonic bath for de-coking cylinder heads. A couple of minutes treatment and they come out looking like new. Might be worth a try, perhaps?

 

[Vee]

An update. Boiler cleaned and running fine. Could do with some new turbulators and blast tube. Needed setting up properly. The boiler flue had been replaced by someone following vandalism by tenant. Sootbreaker not applied. (Although Grant Technical were a recommending party too). Appears customer was fed some bull from other engineer trying to get a boiler change.