Cleaning the Central Boiler Classic Edge Reaction Chamber
Cleaning the Central Boiler Classic Edge Reaction Chamber
The Central Boiler Reaction Chamber is fairly easy to clean
Cleaning the Central Boiler Reaction Chamber - Step by Step
As pictured above, you will need a shovel, the Central Boiler-provided "cleaning rod" and "hoe," and something to use for moving the potentially still-hot ashes, when cleaning the Reaction Chamber.
Step 1: When ready, open the bypass damper and power off the control.
Step 2: Remove the wing nut and open the Reaction Chamber door for cleaning
Step 3: Have a look
Be careful; avoid damaging the Reaction Chamber temperature sensor with the cleaning tools. You might as well go ahead an remove the Heat Shield, as you are using the hoe and cleaning rod it will likely come unhinged anyway. The hoe is also the "special tool" for removing the heat shield.
This was after about 3 weeks of operation; as a result of this look, I decided to set this maintenance interval for cleaning the Reaction Chamber to bi-weekly. Your mileage may vary. Experiment to establish how often you need to clean the Reaction Chamber; the type of woods you are burning, the heat loads you are satisfying, the amount of moisture in the wood, and other factors, may impact the need for cleaning.
Step 4: Clean the Reaction Chamber (and lower section of the Vertical Heat Exchanger)
Use the hoe to pull the ash towards the front of the Reaction Chamber, then use the shovel to remove the ash. You can see in the image above the lower section of the Vertical Heat Exchanger at the back of the Reaction Chamber. When the cleaning chains are used to clean the Vertical Heat Exchanger the ash drops into the Reaction Chamber. If not cleaned as required, ash and creosote will build up on the Vertical Heat Exchanger, restricting flow of the super-heated exhaust across the heat exchanger, and reducing the efficiency of the furnace. I would estimate that flow has been reduced by half or two thirds due to the build-up of ash at the bottom of the Vertical Heat Exchanger.
Use the cleaning rod to clean the lower section of the Vertical Heat Exchanger, and the hoe to again pull forward for removal the ash.
Step 5: Reinstall the Heat Shield, close the door and restart the control
After you have removed and reinstalled the Heat Shield a few times, it becomes quite easy. After the Heat Shield is reinstalled, you have cleaned the Reaction Chamber, and there's nothing left to do but to button up the Reaction Chamber and restart the control.
See my other posts on the Central Boiler Classic Edge 750: Central Boiler Heat Exchanger Maintenance and Sustainable Heat - Year 2 of our Journey.
Kind regards,
John
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