Now don't laugh ...

[stephen44]

An acquaintance who has had a OWB for years - says that at the end of the season - he sprays the inside of his boiler with diesel fuel and ignites it to clean off the creosote.

Does this do any good and is it safe - i don't think he sprays tons on - just a coating. ?

 

[mike1234]

Diesel burns so HOT, I don't see how this could be good for the firebox. It does not explode however, so it would tale the creosote off of the firebox while shortening it's life by??

 

[LeonMSPT]

He's not going to hurt the firebox, if there's water in it... Somehow, I just don't see me doing that in my basement... nope. Wouldn't do it unless the OWB was far enough away from the house that the flames and heat wouldn't reach...

An acquaintance who has had a OWB for years - says that at the end of the season - he sprays the inside of his boiler with diesel fuel and ignites it to clean off the creosote.

Does this do any good and is it safe - i don't think he sprays tons on - just a coating. ?

 

[steam man]

I sometimes use diesel oil in a normally heavy oil boiler. Regardless, any fumes can seriously explode and blow out a boiler casing if the mixture is in the combustable range. This is caused by not thoroughly purging before lighting. Why do all stove/wood boiler mfgs specifically state not to use flammable liquids for starting fires? Think about that. Ask any oil burner tech about what happens when someone has hit the reset switch a dozen times after not lighting and then it decides to light. It will blow.

Mike