Coil Insulation Wrap

[AquaMan]

I just pulled my coils and de-sooted them. What would the result be if I dont wrap the coils back up in the ceramic insulation?
I have an RK something...
I thought I would put some back in the belly of the stainless steel housing to cushion the coils. And some on the sides. Seems like with less of the wrap, the chamber would get more air flow and burn better.
The last time I pulled the coils I bought a new wrap for it for 40$. I dont feel like ordering and waiting for it to get here.
Is the only reason for the wrap, to keep people from getting burned when they touch the housing?
Also, is there an alternative insulation I could find locally to wrap the coils? thanks! Bill aquaman@charter.net

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[tzahlman]

Bill
I have an RK-21 but have yet to pull the coils. I think insulation means just that. Not an expert but think useing less could do damage to the stainless shell and probley the coils themselves if not more. Its put on the coils for a reason so I wouldn't mess around with it.

Just my opinion, best of luck Tom

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[This message has been edited by tzahlman (edited March 28, 2001).]

 

[Hotwaterwizard]

The insulation keeps the heat in making it more effecient and therefore the water gets hotter. It is made out of ceramic fiber. The cost for a 50 ft roll is about $50 enough for about 4 machines.

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Hotwaterwizard@aol.com If You have a problem with your machine, just ask I'll help if I can.

 

[Larry L.]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT COLOR="Blue">
Like the rest said its important,make sure you get a good wrap on the coils if you have bare or tear spots in the wrap it will burn the outer shell making it look bad.I tape the wrap around the coil before trying to replace it in its shell,makes it alot easier.I've tried the other and its hard to get enough wrap around the coils b/c of its thichest,nomatter how much tape you put on it,its hard to get back in the shell and you'll get burn spots if not done will.</FONT c></FONT f>

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[tzahlman]

How often should I replace the wrap on coils? I only run K-1 as fuel so I dont see a need to desoot the coils. Any suggestions??

Thanks Tom

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[Hotwaterwizard]

When they are saturated with fuel.
When you install a new coil.
Otherwise never.

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Hotwaterwizard@aol.com If You have a problem with your machine, just ask I'll help if I can.

 

[AquaMan]

I thought once every year or two a good cleaning would be good for the coils. Alot of soot builds up in there. I did re-wrap it with some left over ceramic wrap from last time . And what I could salvage from the old.
It is amazing how much black soot I washed out of the coils. I took them to a car wash and used a degreaser.
Anyway, I plan to start using Kerosene 100 percent of the time. Desiel soots too bad. PEace! Bill

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[oguard]

The insulation has a use as stated. However some manufacturers use a cold wrap coil design that allows them the luxury of not needing the insulation.

If your coils are sooting up then you are getting incomplete combustion; either start up, shut down or even running. A local professional pressure washer dealer will be able to do a smoke test to see how green the smoke is. The closer to white the more complete the combustion the less likely to soot the coil and the greatest efficiency for your fuel.

K-1 will not have the lubricity of diesel so you run a risk of prematurely damaging your fuel pump. Most every manufacturer sets their air bands to burn diesel fuel, a small adjustment will burn the K-1 better. As a rule adding a bit of Jet fuel will help every so often to burn out potential soot deposits.