(57) A method for preventing deposits on or removing deposits from heating and ancillary surfaces of boilers and like equipment, which method comprises continuously or intermittently introducing into the combustion chamber of the equipment or into the flue gas stream in atomized form by means of at least one injection device a liquid additive comprising an aqueous solution of a mixture of ammonium nitrate, at least one nitrate of an alkali metal, optionally at least one nitrate of an alkaline earth metal and an indicator, monitoring the pH value or the additive and, if necessary adjusting the pH value to within the range of from 7 to 9, monitoring the dewpoint of the flue gas stream and adjusting as necessary, the amount and composition of the additive supplied to the metering device in order to adjust the dew point of the flue gas stream to the desired level.