(AE, Fig. 3). Then operate the water pump to cir-
culate the water containing the cleaning chemical.
The cleaning chemical will probably work better
soon after the heater has been shut down, while it
is still warm.
The chamber that contains the floats for water level
switches (I, J, K, L, Fig. 3) should be cleaned
separately.
Chemicals
A variety of chemicals are available for remov-
ing calcium deposits. Some contain sulfamic acid.
Others contain citric acid. You may wish to use
stronger chemicals on the packing while it is out of
the heater and milder chemicals inside the heater.
Keep in mind that chemicals circulating through
the heater will contact non-stainless steel parts,
such as circulating pump, bronze valves, seals, etc.
We suggest that you contact a chemical supplier to
find out what they recommend.
Packing (removal & replacement)
Dissolving calcium from the packing may take
several hours after it is removed from the heater.
Consequently your heater will be out of service
for an extended period unless you could simply
exchange the original packing with extra packing
already cleaned. That would shorten heater down-
time and allow you to clean the coated packing as
long as necessary.
To do that you would need extra packing. It is
absolutely essential for the extra packing to be
identical to the original packing. Otherwise the
heater will not perform properly! Please contact
Heatec for information about your packing.
If you plan to use extra packing be sure to scribe
the wall of the heater to indicate the level of the
original packing. When re-filling the heater with
packing, increase its level about one inch higher
than your scribe mark to allow for settling.
CLEANING STRAINERS
All Firestorm heaters have an inlet water Y-strainer
(Z, Fig. 3). Some also have an outlet water Y-
strainer (P, Fig. 3). Clogged strainers can cause
the heater to malfunction. Symptoms of a clogged
strainer include tripping the inlet water pressure
switch and/or abnormally high flue gas tempera-
ture. You should routinely check the strainers to
make sure they are not clogged.
Cleaning inlet water Y-strainer
Manually shut off the inlet water valve (AA, Fig.
3). Remove the plug from the inlet water Y-strainer
(Z, Fig. 3). Allow the water to drain.
Only a small amount of water will drain from the
strainer, so a bucket is all you need to catch the
water. Remove the strainer basket and clean it if
it is clogged. Replace the strainer basket and the
plug.
Cleaning outlet water Y-strainer
Allow the heater and water it contains to cool
down enough to avoid being burned from contact
with the shell and the water inside.
On heaters that have an outlet water strainer (P,
Fig. 3), open the drain valve that you installed in
the drain connection at the bottom of the heater.
Or remove the plug from the drain connection (M,
Fig. 3).
Drain several gallons of water until the level
shown on the water level indicator is slightly lower
than the outlet Y-strainer. So you may want to con-
nect a hose to the drain valve so the water can be
directed to a suitable area away from the heater.
Remove the plug from the outlet water Y-strainer.
Allow the water to drain. Only a small amount of
water will drain from the strainer, so a bucket is all
you need to catch the water. Remove the strainer
basket and clean it if it is clogged. Replace the
strainer basket and plug.
Close the drain valve at the bottom of the heater or
replace the plug in the drain connection.
FREEZE PROTECTION
Be sure to protect your heater from freezing if it is
located where temperatures remain below freezing
for several hours while not running. Otherwise wa-
ter in the heater could freeze and cause extensive
damage to heater components.
Publication 1-10-218
Page 4
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