A method of identifying a parameter of a model for a rate of loss of boiler efficiency due to a sootblowing operation, in a boiler or other convection heat transfer device having a plurality of heat traps, comprises measuring a time since a last sootblowing operation in the heat trap in question, measuring an overall boiler efficiency at the beginning of sootblowing for the heat trap in question, measuring a change in efficiency due to the sootblowing operation and calculating the parameter using an equation. According to the equation, the ratio of efficiency change over overall boiler efficiency equals the time factor since the last sootblowing operation times the parameter minus a summation of factors for each of the other heat traps and their associated sootblowing operations. A method is also disclosed for enhancing a sootblowing operation wherein, with a plurality of heat traps, sootblowing is performed in an upstream heat trap in preference to a downstream heat trap, when both heat traps are near a fouled condition which would require sootblowing. This prevents premature fouling of a downstream heat trap which has recently been cleaned by soot blown off an upstream heat trap.