MAINTAINING YOUR BOILER PAGE 51
MAINTENANCE
Your Tarm EXCEL boiler requires periodic maintenance and cleaning to work correctly and
efficiently. Most of the routine maintenance procedures are usually quick and easy to perform.
WARNING: Failure to properly maintain and inspect your boiler will reduce the
performance and life of the boiler, void your warranty and may create
hazardous conditions.
ASH REMOVAL
With routine firing, before you add new firewood, work the ashes on the sides of the firebox
towards the slot. Do not allow a deep build-up (more than 2”) of ash on the surface of the
refractory. Ash build-up will insulate the wood from the heat of the refractory reducing
combustion efficiency. If you are not firing the boiler correctly, you may find a buildup of
creosote will creep onto the surface of the refractory at the corners. If this buildup occurs, it
must be removed.
Most of the ashes will be worked down through the secondary combustion slot during routine
firing, as above. Twice a week, or as needed, remove ash that has accumulated in the
combustion tunnel and on the refractory floor through the ash door. Place your ash pan on the
floor in front of the ash door and pull the ash in this area into the pan using the ash removal
tool. Be sure to remove ash buildup under the heat exchange tubes behind the combustion
tunnel. Remember to be careful when working around the refractory. All ashes should be
placed in a steel container with a tightly fitting lid and moved outdoors. Other trash shall
not be placed in this container.
SMOKE BOX AND HEAT EXCHANGE TUBE CLEANING
The smoke box, the flue outlet and the heat exchange tube areas should be cleaned twice a
month with the boiler brush. Let the boiler cool and shut off the power switch. Remove the
cover plate under the rear top jacket panel. Push the cleaning brush to the bottom and pull
back up several times in each heat exchange tube. HINT: To reduce dust spillage when
brushing the heat exchange tubes, place a piece of sheet metal over the tubes not being
brushed, this reduces the size of the opening so that chimney draft will pull the dust up the
chimney. Remove fly-ash from the smoke box area above the heat exchange tubes.
It is important that the by-pass damper close and seal tightly for optimum boiler efficiency. If
you are operating your boiler properly you should not have a problem with the by-pass damper
sticking closed. Clean the by-pass and flap each time you clean the smoke box and heat
exchange tubes.
It is recommended that the oil-gas heat exchange tubes be cleaned by your burner serviceman
as he will want to clean the burner and combustion chamber at the same time.
DRAFT FAN AND AIR DAMPER CLEANING
Clean the draft fan blades at least once a year. Dust buildup in the fan blades can significantly
reduce fan performance. Remove the screen and carefully clean the blades with a bristle brush
and vacuum cleaner. If there is creosote on the fan you have a chimney draft reversal problem
that needs to be fixed.
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