Spring Maintenance

I just cleaned the flyash out of my horizontal pipes for the second time this season. With the T's in place, it takes all of about 30 seconds. As for spring maintenace, I used to do the whole baking soda LPS-3 treatment. I was tough to do because of the way the 8 heat exchanger tubes run through the inside of the boiler. You can never get to everywhere. Last year I did this. I vacuumed out the inside and disconnected and cleaned the vent pipe. I removed the stoker, disassembled and cleaned it. As for the actual boiler, I capped the vent on the boiler and sealed off the opening for the stoker. Stuck a drop light inside and let it run all summer. This fall the boiler looked just like it did when I shut it down. No corrosion. I'm sold on the drop light now.

Yeah, I did the LPS baking soda thing my first year also and have to say it actually created rust. So I stopped that and now just clean her out good, put in a damp rid container and hang a 60 watt bulb in there all season...keeps her looking the same with very very minor surface rust "discoration".. if at all.

The light bulb/heater thing is the way to go. Just seal or plug all the openings (stoker, combustion air, etc) and let it run all summer. I use a 60 watt heat emitter from a pet store because they last a lot longer than a bulb.

I am convinced that if you use baking soda it must be thoroughly rinsed off or it will cause almost as much corrosion as it will prevent. I clean my stovepipe by rinsing it with a garden hose, spraying a baking soda solution with a little dish soap and then hosing it out after a few minutes. Comes out looking almost new.