Power Flushing
Power flushing is the recognised industry best practice (to adhere to BS7593:2006) method of cleaning central heating systems thoroughly, and is normally a pre-requisite of new boiler installations to validate the manufacturer's warranty.
It will involve connecting a powerflush machine to your central heating system, pumping a power flush cleanser throughout the system at high velocity (not pressure), then, one radiator in isolation at a time, capturing the suspended magnetite sludge in a magnetic filter, dumping the central heating cleanser, and rinsing out with clean water until all traces of cleaning chemicals are removed, topping back up and the adding a system inhibitor chemical. All the time, the water is heated by a heating element to provide a superior clean.
* Now flushing with a Kamco CF90 Quantum2 Powerflush machine, which delivers an impressive maximum 150 litres per minute velocity to dislodge all the dirt in a central heating system very efficiently. Compare this with the less effective service given by older machines typically used by engineers at 1/3 of the power at only 50 litres per minute.
It will involve connecting a powerflush machine to your central heating system, pumping a power flush cleanser throughout the system at high velocity (not pressure), then, one radiator in isolation at a time, capturing the suspended magnetite sludge in a magnetic filter, dumping the central heating cleanser, and rinsing out with clean water until all traces of cleaning chemicals are removed, topping back up and the adding a system inhibitor chemical. All the time, the water is heated by a heating element to provide a superior clean.
* Now flushing with a Kamco CF90 Quantum2 Powerflush machine, which delivers an impressive maximum 150 litres per minute velocity to dislodge all the dirt in a central heating system very efficiently. Compare this with the less effective service given by older machines typically used by engineers at 1/3 of the power at only 50 litres per minute.
If you bleed your radiators and notice that you have black deposits on the tissue you use to avoid water spilling on the carpet, or notice that some radiators take forever to heat up, or have cold spots, then you likely have corrosion internally on the radiators, due to a lack of system corrosion inhibitor over a prolonged period, or simply the age of the system.
What is this black dirt in my radiators? This is magnetite sludge, the by-product of corrosion of the inside of radiators. It is potentially harmful to the boiler, particularly the 'wet' components, such as pressure sensors, valves, the heat exchanger(s), pump, etc, and ensuring that the system has no sludge in it will enhance energy efficiency of the boiler as heat is not 'stopped' from radiating into rooms where required and therfore the boiler has to work less. Combine this working less with the fact dirt is not building up in the components, and the life cycle of the boiler is prolonged and breakdowns less likely to occur!
This is a picture of a central heating pump caked up with magnetite sludge deposits: Needless to say this system greatly benefitted from a powerflush!
What is this black dirt in my radiators? This is magnetite sludge, the by-product of corrosion of the inside of radiators. It is potentially harmful to the boiler, particularly the 'wet' components, such as pressure sensors, valves, the heat exchanger(s), pump, etc, and ensuring that the system has no sludge in it will enhance energy efficiency of the boiler as heat is not 'stopped' from radiating into rooms where required and therfore the boiler has to work less. Combine this working less with the fact dirt is not building up in the components, and the life cycle of the boiler is prolonged and breakdowns less likely to occur!
This is a picture of a central heating pump caked up with magnetite sludge deposits: Needless to say this system greatly benefitted from a powerflush!
As a rule of thumb, the process typically takes approx 2 hours, plus 30 mins for each radiator on the system.
Pic of pump removed and electrically isolated, with powerflush machine now attached to the central heating system: (Now also using a pump adapter, shown on the right).
Pic of pump removed and electrically isolated, with powerflush machine now attached to the central heating system: (Now also using a pump adapter, shown on the right).
Pic of Powerflush machine and magnetic filter atached to the central heating system:
Pic of magnetite sludge captured from the powerflush process:
Pic of sludge removed from filter: This sludge is now no longer reducing the efficiency of the system, and the life of the boiler is prolonged! For new boiler installations, a condition of validating the initial warranty is usually to incorporate a powerflush...
Contact DJ Nelson Heating to inspect your central heating system, and provide a no-obligation quote for a powerflush to save you money on your heating bills and prolong the life of your boiler!
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