Regular maintenance and cleaning of pellet boilers is necessary to ensure product functionality and long-life operation.
Regular weekly cleaning consists of following operations (detailed steps are xplained in text below).
- Emptying ash-trailers of the boiler
- Removing ash from the bottom part of the boiler chamber
- Cleaning of burner pot
- Cleaning of the holder of burner pot
- Moving the bar in the heat exchanger of the boiler. This would force the ash to fall down from the difficult-to-access heat exchangers area.
Occasional (seasonal) cleaning consists of regular weekly cleaning plus detailed cleaning of the heating chamber from above.
How often do I need to clean the boiler? This depends on several factors, most important is the quality and purity of the wood pellets used. Weekly cleaning has to be performed 1-2 per week, seasonal cleaning 1-3 times during the heating season.
However if pellets of extremely bad quality are used, the cleaning frequency can change dramatically. Boiler would not last long.
What tools do I need to clean the boiler? Simple cleaning set is delivered with the boiler. However, ash-vacuum-cleaner would make things faster and easier.
Before performing any of the steps described below, boiler must be turned off and completely cold. This is especially important for heat-exchanger cleaning. If they are still hot while bar is moved up and down, they will be damaged.
It is obligatory to wear gloves for any operation described below.
I Regular weekly cleaning.
Necessary equipment: Gloves, Ash removing vacuum cleaner OR manual cleaning set (delivered with boiler).
- Open the main boiler door and remove the ash-tray outside the boiler.
2. Also remove burner pot, remove the ash from the pot int the ash-tray first, then empty the ash-tray.
3. Clean the area where burner pot is placed.
4. Clean the area at the bottom.
If no vacuum cleaner is present, use the hand tools as shown below.
Dont forget to clean the top of the tube where resistance heater is placed. When putting parts back to its place make sure the position is the same as before. Otherwise, boiler will not operate properly.
5. Now release the boiler panel below the door by moving it up and forward (to yourself).
6. Release the screw-balls that hold the plate below.
7. Clean the area inside with the ash cleaner or using manual tools.
When screwing back the holders, screw completely, so that no air can pass inside.
II Weekly cleaning of the heat exchangers.
Necessary equipment: Gloves, Ash removing vacuum cleaner OR manual cleaning set (delivered with boiler). Boiler KEY (delivered with the boiler).
Make sure you perform this operation while boiler is cold.
TOBY H: open the doors on the top panel of the boiler. There are two openings depicted in the image below. Now take the boiler KEY, mount on the bar and move up-down to release the ash from the heat exchanger tubulators. Do this for both bars.
III Occasional (seasonal) cleaning.
Necessary equipment: Gloves, Ash removing vacuum cleaner OR manual cleaning set (delivered with boiler). Boiler KEY (delivered with the boiler) or fork key 13, inbus key 4.
1. Release and unscrew all holders of the upper boiler panel.
2. Release the regulation display cable.
3. Cable is released and placed below.
4. Carefully remove the upper boiler panel.
5. The insulation coat is attached below the metal cap. To unsrew the cap use boiler KEY.
6. Put the metal cap aside.
7. With fork-key size 13 or boiler KEY, unscrew the upper cover of the heating chamber.
8. Remove the front panel as well for easier access (TOBY H only).
9. Lift the cover and put it on side.
10. Perform detailed cleaning of all parts that can be accessed. Remove the ash.
11. The use of the ash-vacuum cleaner would make this job faster and easier.
12. After the cleaning put back the cover and screw the holders.
14. Put everything back in its place, connect the display.