Boiler tube cleaning and repair are essential to ensure that your heating system is working properly and efficiently. It is very possible for your boiler to develop a fault at any point during its service life, although most problems will have occurred by the time you’ve bought it or used it for the first time. You may not even be aware that there’s a problem with one of the tubes feeding the boiler. Small cracks or breaks in the boiler tube can allow oil or other substances to get into the system. These can turn into major problems if they are not repaired as soon as possible. If the crack or break is small enough, it may be possible to fix it yourself.
There are two main methods of boiler tube cleaning; using high-pressure water and using carbon dioxide. The method that you use to clean your tubes depends largely on the cause of the problem. If the boiler is not running, for example, it isn’t necessary to use pressure-based tube cleaning. This process is completely inefficient and usually results in more damage than good.
In most cases, high-pressure water is used to stimulate the flue gas from the boiler. When the flue gas rises through the chimney it combines with oxygen in the air and creates carbon dioxide. The mixture causes a gush of hot water which then goes up the chimney. In older boilers, this gush of hot water is often carried out manually. However, modern boilers often have a sensor that opens the flue to let the water out. As long as the sensor is in a working order, this is the best method of cleaning the system.
Carbon dioxide is generally considered the better cleaning agent, since it causes the least amount of damage. This method uses pressurised water that is pumped under high pressure through the tubes. Although carbon dioxide can damage some items, such as copper piping, it is unlikely to do serious structural damage to the boiler itself. The problem is that carbon dioxide is a gas and can be forceful enough to cause a tear in the pipe. This forces water into the flue and carbon dioxide mixed with hot water becomes a powerful gas that causes structural damage to the boiler.
The solution is to use a low-pressure pump that can force water through the flue. Low-pressure pumps are available and they can be used in combination with low-pressure water. When water reaches a certain point, it expands in the flue. If it is pushed further up the flue, it pushes water against the side of the flue and carbon dioxide builds up, causing the pressure to drop and the system to leak. If this water is allowed to continue moving up the flue, then the pressure will drop further and the whole system could burst.
To prevent this from happening, you should prevent the build up of carbon dioxide by regularly maintaining your boiler. Use a boiler service every so often to change the filter or to have the combustion chamber serviced. Make sure that you don’t leave your boiler unattended, either in your home or while you are at work. Keep your boiler clean and avoid using harsh chemicals and solvents to clean the exterior of your boiler. These can build up inside the flue causing the boiler to burst.
