Do You Really Need Fireplace Heat Exchanger Cleaning Equipment?

Before deciding whether heat exchanger cleaning equipment is something you need, it's best to take a step back and make sure you know exactly what a fireplace heat exchanger is. Simply put, it's a device used to make sure no cool air from outside of your home is brought inside when the fireplace returns air it's using from inside your home. So what happens when your heat exchanger breaks or gets built up with gunk and dirt? The fireplace becomes quite ineffective and starts actually cooling your house rather than heating it, the opposite of your intent.

This is where the cleaning equipment comes in to play! The tools are used to clean the exchanger making it possible for your fireplace to function properly at all times, keeping your house as warm as you'd like it to be. Unfortunately, finding the right cleaning gear can be kind of intimidating when it comes time to determine whether it's what you need, or whether there's another problem with the fireplace. Before investing in heat exchanger cleaning equipment make sure you're experiencing the right signs for the need, instead of signs of some other kind of trouble.

These signs include suddenly feeling much colder in the room than usual, especially when the difference seems to have taken place literally overnight. Also make sure that everything else seems to be working right on the unit. Finally, you may want to consult a professional so they can tell you whether you need such cleaning equipment or not. There's a chance the professional can simply take care of the problem for you right then and there, or even rent you the proper heat exchanger cleaning equipment.

If the tools are something you end up having to purchase, don't do so without comparison shopping first. Make sure you find the best deal possible for the highest quality. You'll also want to verify what the return policies are (in case the equipment is something you don't really end up needing or it doesn't work) and whether or not parts on the equipment can be easily replaced.

Sanno Zaye covers more about heat exchanger cleaning equipment at Heat Exchanger Equipment.

Refinery Heat Exchanger Tubes Cleaning

This video presents how a typical high pressure tubes cleaning process seems like. Check it out.

Better Heat Exchanger Cleaning Through Technology

Maintenance of a platform's Waste Heat Recovery Unit (WHRU) and similar shell and tube heat exchangers can be an extremely dangerous process. It needs to be disconnected, taken off line, and moved to shore for repair. Shell and tube heat exchangers are made of coiled tubes and can become fouled with carbon deposits. The traditional methods for clearing the blockage include bypassing the fouled unit, cutting off bends and cleaning the tubes, then re-welding the U-bends, and complete unit replacement.

The old methods are becoming more outmoded due to advancements in technology. It is inefficient to bypass the unit. Just as it would be less efficient to run your car with 2 cylinders not firing. This inefficiency, of course, also increases operational costs. It is time consuming and costly to cut the U-bends and re-weld them. Sometimes it can be difficult or impossible to get access to reattach them.

Some of these new methods include the ability to clean areas with limited access, and clear deposits from U-bends without ever removing them. This can sometimes be done without even taking the unit offline, and usually takes less time and results in a higher degree of defouling. In fact, many units can be restored to near-factory efficiency. For big refineries, petro-chemical plants, or power plants, this can amount to six figure savings.

The U-bends themselves also retain many deposits, and continue to be a bottleneck to the system. Full replacement carries the cost of completely replacing equipment that, other than the heat exchanger tube fouling, is still in working order. This method also requires the unit be taken offline for the full duration of replacement. obviously this carries a heavy expense and serious loss of production.

Traditional heat exchanger cleaning methods and heat exchanger cleaning equipment have changed very little over the last few decades. Pressure jetting is still the primary means used by many companies, but it is slow, inefficient, and ultimately very costly. Additionally, many companies are skeptical of newer methods, falling back on the "that's the way it's always been done," chain of logic. They are also weary of trying new techniques that are not as "proven" to be effective. Finally, many have long term tube cleaning contracts that do not allow for a change in heat exchanger cleaning technique, unless the contractor were to adopt the new methods.

Newer heat exchanger cleaning equipment and techniques are more technologically advanced, and by extension, require a higher skilled laborer than old style pressure jetting. These new developments include the ability to clean tight radius bends, clean units while keeping them in place, and even while keeping them online. It has also resulted in faster, more efficient cleaning. Many tube bundles can now be cleaned more effectively than with pressure jetting, and jobs that used to take days may now take only a few hours. Difficult to access units are now accessible with these new technologies.

Some of the technology that has been developed includes special nozzles that can be used on tight bends, laser cleaning, and new "smart" metals that respond to changes in density and pressure to prevent damage to the tubes. With these methods, jobs can be finished with less downtime, because cleaning and descaling can be done more quickly. Equipment is also less likely to be damaged in the process. Many of these new processes are safer, create less waste, use no chemicals, and have a significantly reduced environmental impact.

Alex Parry writes about heat exchanger safety at his heat exchanger cleaning equipment site

Cleaning Shell and Tube Crude Oil Heat Exchangers

Tube Tech International proved that previous industry standards for cleaning such equipment with U bends were inadequate and, for the first time on this unit, Tube Tech gave not only the straight legs, but also the U sections a complete internal clean.

Heat Exchanger Tubes Cleaning Basics

Clean your heat exchanger tube is a job everyone can do if they know how to do it. If you are a handy type of person, then you should have no problems with this task.
There are several methods for cleaning the heat exchanger tubes. Here are some of them; one of them is the use of chemicals for cleaning. Another is the use of water with high pressure in the system. The final method is to use mechanical cleaning with brushes of balls scrapers and abrasives. These are the best ways to clean the tubes.

Regular cleaning of the heat exchanger tubes should be the life of the whole unit. It helps to work at the heat exchanger maximum efficiency.

Many people use heat exchangers for heating swimming pools in nowadays. With the ability to clean by its own, heat exchanger tubes would be a good way to save money and your operating system.

It would be helpful to the clean the tubes of the heat exchanger every few months. At least check to see if they need to be cleaned. If they do not need to be cleaned, make sure that they are thoroughly cleaned twice a year.

To properly clean the heat exchanger tubes, they must be removed from the system. Remove all in bulk, near the ends of the pipes and inside of them. Use a brush and press down to the tubes as cleaning begins. The brush should be good strong nylon bristles. This help to resolve and remove all the material such as scale and debris in the tubes.

During the brushing process you will find material adhered to the wall of the heat exchanger tube. A plastic of metal scraper, will help eliminate, those unwanted thing stuck to the tube wall. Be careful not to damage the tube. Don’t use anything that is harder than the tube.

Try not to scratch the wall of the heat exchanger tubes in which the tube could not work. This will scratch the tube internally. This means, a plastic scraper is a good tool to be used.

As a final step, of cleaning the heat exchanger tubes, you can use jets to force out all loosen particles, which have been missed with the previous methods. If you have deposits of calcium in the tubes then you need chemicals to eliminate them.
Now you have the basics for cleaning your exchanger tubes. Collect as much information as possible before you do this work.

Chemical Cleaning - Methods and Applications

Chemical cleaning is a method relevant in freeing walls and surfaces of various equipment, heat exchangers, pipelines, vessels and kettles from unwanted residues and bacterial contaminants. It is also essential in water purification, treatment, disinfection and conditioning. With varying methods to its name, several industries benefit from the procedure.

The most important facets of chemical cleaning gear on providing environment-friendly alternatives to consumers. No matter where it is applied, the aim is to primarily free the surface from contaminants. Below are the different methods listed under this cleaning process.

Chlorine dioxide method

Biofilms and legionella are two of the most common microbes that reside in water. Biofilms are residences or havens for organisms that contaminate products in water solutions. Legionnaires disease is caused by legionella or a Gram negative bacterium.

With the aid of chlorine dioxide, the biofilm or legionella may be removed from the water system. It is a favored technique because it has the capacity to prevent future formation of contaminants plus it can also be used in both hot and cold water systems. Chlorine is proven to have a safer solubility in water and has the capability to destroy THM precursors. It also increases coagulation while it destroys phenols. It is not hazardous to health and does not have any distinct smell.

Ultraviolet radiation

Another proven chemical cleaning process for water disinfection is the ultraviolet or UV radiation. Aside from water, it may also disinfect air and solid surfaces contaminated by microbes. Its capacity to disinfect was reported since biology and light waves were introduced in the fields of science research.

Ultraviolet radiation has several advantages. It is considered safe because there is no need to monitor any dangerous chemicals thus the results of disinfection are quickly attained. Any household or business establishment does not need to spend a lot since the initial system and operating costs are very minimal. It does not change the taste and smell of water as well plus they are easily installed and maintained.

Ozone purification

Ozone is one molecule that contains three atoms of oxygen and is naturally produced by a series of chemical reactions. It may come from the ultraviolet rays of the sun as well as from waterfalls and thunderstorms. It is also a chemical cleaning process used in wide areas of water treatment and purification. It is used in potable water treatments and in the broader municipal wastewater sites. It is also being widely recognized in several industries.

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Positive Effects of Air Duct Cleaning

As air indoor pollution becomes more of a hazard, the state of our indoor air quality is becoming more of a health concern. According to the American Lung Association, "Indoor Air Pollution is wide spread. You are more likely to get sick from pollution in your home and office than from pollution in the air outside. Poor indoor air quality can lead to a number of health problems such as respiratory illnesses. As well, microorganisms such as mold and bacteria can be harmful to one's health. One way of improving indoor air quality is to have your air ducts cleaned.

Duct cleaning consists of cleaning various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems such as air ducts and registers, grills and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, drip pans, fan motor, and the air handling unit.

When you have yur ducts cleaned, you will experience the following effects:
Improved Heating and Cooling Systems: Your heating and cooling systems will run better and less often thereby improving energy efficiency. You will save money, conserve energy, and have a longer lasting system.

Dry Ducts: Moisture in ducts is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi which can cause respiratory illnesses when inhaled. When your ducts are cleaned, organisms will be removed and the ducts will be clean and dry preventing further growth.

Eliminate Rodent Waste: If there are mice or rats running through the ducts, they will leave their waste in the ducts. Air blowing the droppings through the system can contaminate indoor air. This can lead to health problems if inhaled. Cleaning your air ducts will get rid of any rodent waste.

Eliminate Accumulated Debris: By having your ducts cleaned, you will eliminate the debris such as plaster and drywall particles, wood, dust, and insulation particles that may have accumulated in the ducts over many years. Dust mites and ants feed on debris found in air duct so you will remove the mites along with the debris. You and your family will breathe easier and feel less ill.

Better Health: Air circulation will be improved because you will have eliminated contaminants that have built up in the ducts. Symptoms of indoor air pollution include: allergies, illnesses, eye irritation, sinus congestion, headache, sore throat, nausea, cold and flu symptoms, asthma and increased asthma symptoms, diseases, fatigue, cough, congestion, tightness in chest, wheezing and hypersensitivity, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Removing dirt, dust, and contaminants will improve your overall health. The home will be cleaner and less dusty because there will no longer be any dust blowing into rooms. You will see a reduction in allergy symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and wheezing when you breathe. You will also be able to sleep better, concentrate better, and feel more awake and alert.

Improved Odor: When ducts accumulate material over a period of time, one may often start to detect an unpleasant odor. Clean ducts will help keep air fresh.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency EPA, -6 out of 10 homes are 'sick.' This means that -they are too hazardous to your health to occupy as a result of airborne contaminants. Because people spend the majority of their life indoors (60-90%), the air you breathe should be of the highest quality. There are many positive effects that clean indoor air provides. Duct cleaning technicians have the knowledge and experience to thoroughly clean ducts for both homes and businesses. Enlisting the services of a certified professional duct cleaning once or twice a year will greatly improve the health of families, pets, employees, clients, and customers.

Duct Cleaning Toronto Company servicing residential, commercial and industrial customers. Visit one of our locations at : duct cleaning Pickering