In the cellar located below an underjet-type of battery of coke ovens are gas distribution pipes. A gas dispensing nozzle is located within each of the separate pipes which extend from a distribution pipe through the regenerators into the burners for a row of heating flues between two coking chambers. These nozzles are cleaned by injecting compressed air from a pipeline that extends parallel to the rich gas distribution pipe. A nipple opposite each nozzle interconnects the air pipeline and the gas pipe. The nipple receives a plug having either an orifice or a nozzle tube to direct compressed air toward the gas dispensing nozzle. A supply header for compressed air extends along the battery of coke ovens and this header is connected by a valve to each compressed air pipeline in the cellar. A controller responsive to a timer operates the valves during regenerative heating reversals for periodic cleaning of the gas dispensing nozzles with compressed air.