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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Dave5Cs on November 13, 2021, 05:47:55 PM

Title: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Dave5Cs on November 13, 2021, 05:47:55 PM
Cleaning the heater hoses from outlets to furnace. Anyone do this and how did you do it. There is always dust that comes out the first time you start them up and it still smells like dust sometimes. Is there a tool or a trick? :^
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: luvrbus on November 13, 2021, 05:59:49 PM
Dave they use what is called a skipper ball powered by air you should find one on Amazon get the right direction they come forward or reverse I got the wrong one of course from a heating supply   
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Dave5Cs on November 14, 2021, 05:00:43 AM
So Amazon didn't have them. But a lot of other companies did. I think the reverse would work on a 1/4" inch hose. Thanks for the info. :^
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: luvrbus on November 14, 2021, 07:27:23 AM
Quote from: Dave5Cs on November 14, 2021, 05:00:43 AM
So Amazon didn't have them. But a lot of other companies did. I think the reverse would work on a 1/4" inch hose. Thanks for the info. :^

They are not exspensive I paid like 20 bucks 
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: chessie4905 on November 14, 2021, 08:51:28 AM
They make a brush kit for dryer vents. Long flexible drive shaft. Run with battery drill with  shop vacuum cleaner attached at opposite end with 2 to 4 inch aluminum hvac duct reducer. Lowes, Walmart, etc
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Jim Blackwood on November 14, 2021, 09:38:19 AM
Didn't seem to be a lot of info on those skipper balls, how they work, which one should be used, etc. First time I've seen that. Now I want to clean out my dryer vent.

Jim
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Dave5Cs on November 14, 2021, 12:52:32 PM
They say you want one that blows back toward the entry point you use. They spin and blow with compressed air.
I would think a brush would tear up the hose unless it is solid material.
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: buswarrior on November 14, 2021, 01:07:36 PM
This is great! I am going to ask the next unsolicited phone call for duct cleaning services what brand and size of skipper ball are they going to use...

And whatever they respond with, unfortunately, that will not be sufficient for my ducts...

The stuff you learn on the bus boards!

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: chessie4905 on November 14, 2021, 01:13:17 PM
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dryer-Vent-Venting-Exhaust-Duct-Cleaning-Lint-Trap-Removal-Brush-Vacuum-Kit-12-Drill-Flexible/998462068

I have used it three times to clean dryer ducts annually. Does a great job. Bristles aren't stiff enough to damage vinyl duct.
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Van on November 14, 2021, 03:16:52 PM
Quote from: Dave5Cs on November 14, 2021, 12:52:32 PM
They say you want one that blows back toward the entry point you use. They spin and blow with compressed air.
I would think a brush would tear up the hose unless it is solid material.

Dave if you have flexible ducting besure to include a video after you do this lol!
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: luvrbus on November 14, 2021, 05:50:35 PM
Quote from: Van on November 14, 2021, 03:16:52 PM
Dave if you have flexible ducting besure to include a video after you do this lol!

They clean the flx duct on the make up air in the restaurants with those looks like rubber head ,they are neat the guy adds a degreaser to the air supply for any grease build up 
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: chessie4905 on November 14, 2021, 06:06:28 PM
If those flexible ducts are same vinyl material as on 4905, they are very tough. Very difficult to puncture. Now if you are talking about a propane hot air furnace, would depend on material used.
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Jim Blackwood on November 15, 2021, 08:34:39 AM
I ordered one with the reverse spinning skipper ball and 30 ft of hose. About $125 and that's probably less than a service would charge to clean out the dryer duct. 20+ years of lint build up I expect, probably explains why the dryer has to run 2 or 3 cycles for a medium to large load.

Jim
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Dave5Cs on November 15, 2021, 08:36:01 AM
Yep propane furnace. We have turned it on and every time day after I get horrible sinus infections and we figured out it was that aweful dust burning smell for it that causes it. headache, clogged sinuses and a lot of pain and nose blowing with a nettie pot.
Will use the air and spinning ball that HVAC companies use and just do it at the beginning of the cold seasons. Have 5,5 to 10 foot hoses connected to furnace and want to do them all. A few good size turns under cabinets etc.
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: chessie4905 on November 15, 2021, 12:59:40 PM
Speaking of dryers. Cleaning just the duct doesn't cut it. I found that out with our dryer. The blower and internal piping gets layered with lint and moisture that makes it resistant to just blow out. Works like new after all the work taking all apart.
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Dave5Cs on November 15, 2021, 04:28:43 PM
No one was speaking of Dryers by the way LOL. Thread title 4" heater hose?
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: chessie4905 on November 15, 2021, 07:55:39 PM
Look at Jim's post. Think of it as bonus info.lol
Title: Re: Cleaning the 4 inch heater tubes.
Post by: Jim Blackwood on November 16, 2021, 10:21:04 AM
 ;)
A new element helps some too. Those run about $15 IIRC.
Thinking about gas dryers for the bus...

Jim