Old timer told me I was overcleaning boiler tubes and he was right

Was on a job in Gary last month prepping for an inspection and spent 3 hours scrubbing tubes till they shined. This guy in his 60s walks by and goes "you're gonna wear em out before they see steam." Laughed it off but then the next day the boiler came up 8% lower on draft loss compared to my last cleanout where I was aggressive. Turns out leaving that thin oxide layer actually helps heat transfer. Now I just knock off the heavy soot and leave the rest. Any of you guys go easy on tube cleaning or am I still doing it wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

betty_perry2412h ago

Heard a similar story from my buddy Mike who works at a plant in Ohio. He spent a whole shift polishing tubes like they were his kitchen sink, and the old foreman just watched him and laughed. Next startup the boiler was surging like crazy because he removed too much of that layer. Took them an extra day to get it back to normal. Mike said he felt like a real fool when the foreman showed him the old manuals that said to keep the oxide intact. Now he just does a quick scrape and wipe, no more scrubbing till it shines. You still ever catch yourself going overboard on a bad day?

wright.leo11h agoRising Star

Mike polished for six hours straight once before I stopped him.

grant15511h ago

Yeah I've been there. After a long shift I sometimes get too aggressive with cleaning just to feel like I accomplished something. Then the next morning I see the damage and kick myself. Now I stick to a light wipe unless the boss specifically says otherwise.