Anyone successfully unblocked a gas valve

[bacon_sandwich]

Got called out to boiler flame outs, old Osprey, 43KW, what was happening was the pilot would hold but when the main valve kicked in pilot would flame out. Suspected gas pressure so put meter on inlet 3.9mbar... ha.
Boilers either side were getting good pressure to thought WTF theres only a short length of pipe and a short section of the valve, so took the inlet off and found this below. Anyway thought oh dear, customer loaned me Henriette and i sucked and i sucked but after all that i could only get 6.5 Mbar so theres more suck in the valve.
I have ordered a "new" one off ebay but wondered if anyone has successfuly cleaned one out, or should i just throw it away.

cheers

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yep a bang, tap tap and a blow out with compressed air

 

[bacon_sandwich]

OK, so may not need to dismantle but no air available on site so will remove and take back to base. thx

 

[Last Plumber]

OK, so may not need to dismantle but no air available on site so will remove and take back to base. thx

Those air duster cans are ok for that to be honest.
The stuff is Copper Oxide. It forms inside the copper pipe in some areas. I tend to install a filter before the appliance to save that happening. They will hold more of it and get emptied at annual service. I would recommend purging the gas pipe work through with air to clear it. Cover the end with a rag to catch it.

 

[bacon_sandwich]

Actually have a air duster can, bought it cos Mrs notepad kept playing up. They have asked me to service all three anyway so looks like i will be having a peek at all the valves. cheers

 

[bacon_sandwich]

did not see any copper looked like all steel but its a complicated run so will check to see if there is any , either way its only come from the pipe.. lol

 

[mfgs]

Once it gets beyond the filter on the valve its very hard to properly clear.

 

[Last Plumber]

did not see any copper looked like all steel but its a complicated run so will check to see if there is any , either way its only come from the pipe.. lol

If it's light graphite textured grey stuff that turns to dust in your fingers it will be copper oxide. If you think it is steel check with a magnet

 

[firemant]

I suspect strongly that it is not copper oxide but Sulphidisation (spelling ?). Beware the stuff reblocking and the punter expecting you to cover the cost of a revisit.Offer the filter, in writing, as per Last Plumber, as this will cover you if they refuse


http://www.rgii.ie/_fileupload/installer files/Technical Info/TB-0105.pdf

 

[Last Plumber]

I suspect strongly that it is not copper oxide but Sulphidisation

My mistake!!
Accept my apologies.

I knew a man (many moons ago) who was an Industrial Chemist For the Gas Board. He was involved in the manufacture of Towns Gas and the Change over to Nat Gas, (Chemistry side obviously).

Very Long and boring story short, we did small experiments to find what this was, as it was a major issue for one customer and at one point we thought it may be CuO (Copper II Oxide) due to colour.

Firemant is of course right. Cu2S is the stuff.
My memory faded.

Once again, my apologies if I mislead anyone.

 

[bacon_sandwich]

Went back today with an "unused" valve off ebay as a backup.
Went for another clean of the existing and it was full of that orrible stuff again, thought WTF its only been a few days. Tried hoover and tapping and air duster, it only improved a bit. The pipe work is steel from meter to isolation valve, then the last metre is copper. It was this last meter that was full of that "stuff". I ended up removing that section of pipe and cleaning it. Put the new valve on and hey presto 12.2 burner pressure happy days..........

 

[firemant]

Went back today with an "unused" valve off ebay as a backup.
Went for another clean of the existing and it was full of that orrible stuff again, thought WTF its only been a few days. Tried hoover and tapping and air duster, it only improved a bit. The pipe work is steel from meter to isolation valve, then the last metre is copper. It was this last meter that was full of that "stuff". I ended up removing that section of pipe and cleaning it. Put the new valve on and hey presto 12.2 burner pressure happy days....

On the basis that not all copper is affected but your sample was, and it is only a meter, I would have been inclined to replace it.
It will be interesting to see if it recurs. Is he a "regular" of yours?

 

[bacon_sandwich]

I do the annuals, i need to go back to service the other two so i can have a good look at all the boiler valves. Only been looking after them for a year so dont have any history. Was surprised though how much crud could come from such a short length of pipe