Cleaning a boiler is not a simple task. It involves many steps that must be performed correctly to ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of the boiler. First, of course, the power must be turned off, and the boiler allowed to cool. Then the burner assembly is removed. This is inspected and cleaned, often using brushes and specialized equipment to take care of soot and debris. The flue passages are also addressed. These must be clean to ensure proper ventilation and prevent anything from blocking the flue. Scale is the next item to deal with—and it is a big deal, as scale can cause plenty of problems and is a frequent cause of force-operated removal of scale by way of chemicals. Finally, after making sure all components are in good shape, the assembly is put back together, and the boiler is subjected to a series of tests to make sure everything is working as it should.