Abstract: A method of controllable cooling of a boiler (10) and removing exfoliated magnetite from the boiler tubes (30, 31) employs flowing dry gas through the boiler tubes (30, 31) at a flow velocity above the terminal velocity of the magnetite flakes as the boiler (10) is cooled from a temperature above the temperature at which exfoliation occurs. A method of removing magnetite blockages (100) from boiler tubes (30, 31) is also disclosed.