Advice needed on cleaning solid fuel back boiler.

GlynD

We have a Baxi Burnall fire and it's fantastic. Our chimney sweep advised me to cut a length of garden hose to knock the soot down between the panels of the high output back boiler and that has helped me maintain even better heat for the radiators from it (It's a dual system, coal and oil).

I've noticed recently however that there is a buildup of hard soot/tar between the panels. I'm wondering if there is a way of knocking that off maybe by cleaning with a wire brush? I've been advised by the sweep to be careful because it's possible to penetrate the boiler skin and obviously I don't want to do that.

Do any of our posters have any knowledge or experience of this and could advise me what I should use to clean between the boiler panels. I'm presuming some sort of stiff brush but obviously that would have to very flexible. Can something be purchased in Northern Ireland to do that job?

rexel

A length of bicycle chain dropped between both panels grab both ends pull backwards and towards this will clean it out

steveymp

I use a paint scraper on mine from below and above (if you can get your hand in above) obviously don't go too hard with one, I do it every weekend and am amazed at the amount of soot I get out of the back boiler.

GlynD

steveymp wrote: »

I use a paint scraper on mine from below and above (if you can get your hand in above) obviously don't go too hard with one, I do it every weekend and am amazed at the amount of soot I get out of the back boiler.

Good suggestion. I might try that although with the very limited room there is in there it might be difficult to get more than just the top and bottom 2 or 3 inches done.

I've been thinking about some sort of metal brush on a flexible handle, maybe brass, as that wouldn't penetrate the boiler. With regular brushing I'd get it down to the metal again.

The house is about 40 years old and my best guess is that the oul fella who lived here before neglected this task and that's why there's so much of a buildup at the moment. Although the sweep has given it a good raking out on the three occasions he's been here since we bought the property.