SYSTEM FLUSH
The importance of a system flush. Never install a new boiler without one. Expensive kit, let it work in a clean environment. In fact boiler manufacturers insist you do so as part of an installation.
According to British Gas 87% of boiler breakdowns are due to dirty water in your heating system
Sludge settles at the bottom of the radiator sending the heating flow across the top of the radiator creating cold spots
BEFORE
SYSTEM FLUSH
Darker the colour the lower the temperature
AFTER
SYSTEM FLUSH
WHY FLUSH MY HEATING SYSTEM?
Well your heating system most likley contains ferrous magnetite sludge caused by a reaction of water, air & heat in contact with your steel radiators. Its a black sticky mess that generally sits in the bottom of your radiators causing cold spots. These cold spots may still feel warm but the rest of the radiator will feel toasty.
With the flow through your radiators restricted the boiler pump is working harder and the flow rate through your boiler maybe slower.
Some of that sludge can find its way back to the boiler, partially blocking the heat exchanger which intern can cause iregular distribution of heat & subsequent boiler damage.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A SYSTEM FLUSH?
Well apart from the protecting and extending the life of your boiler. Your radiators will heat more evenly and more effectively, improving their heat out put and your room comfort levels. Convection around the radiator improves allowing warmed air to circulate bettered spread across the room further.
Then there is improved efficiency resulting in reduced energy costs and therefore lower carbon emissions.
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Extend your boiler life expectancy
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Improve radiator out put and performance.
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Reduce energy cost by up to 7% or £90 per home per year
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Reduce Carbon emissions
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Slow the rate of corrosion
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I HAVE A SYSTEM FLUSH?
Its generally recommended that your system is flushed every 4-6 years however fit a MagnaClean and top up with inhibitor every two years and a flush every 10 years would be acceptable.
It does depend on your heating system. Big old cast iron radiators in a heating system will generate sludge at a faster rate than quality modern radiators from a premium manufactuer such as Stelrad. Cheaper radiators will often use a lower grade of steel which corrodes quicker.
Compliance Guide to Part L of the UK Building Regulations for England and Wales
Requires a central heating system to be cleaned and flushed before a corrosion and scale inhibitor chemical is added during commissioning of a new boiler.
Many boiler manufacturers now make the warranty dependent on flushing and cleaning in accordance with BS7593 and Part L.
DOESN'T THE INHIBITOR PROTECT MY HEATING SYSTEM?
Yes to a degree but it is as it says its an inhibitor not a preventer. You can never add too much inhibitor. Only economics stops us filling the whole system with the stuff. In Germany for example they fill their heating systems with demineralised water. A rare practice in the UK.
So topping up with inhibitor every couple of years makes good sense. You could ask your local engineer to do it for you during a boiler service.
WHAT ABOUT FITTING A MAGNETIC FILTER?
Definitely a good idea and if you do? Fit an Adey Magna Clean Pro 2.
Again get your gas engineer to clean it for you during a boiler service.
The MagnaClean was the original magnetic filter and still the best, everything else is a cheap copy except the Worcester Bosch magnetic filter which is actually made for them by Adey (MagnaClean).
Around 2003 we read an article in a trade magazine about Chris Adey and his MagnaClean.
Genius we thought and started installing them before the
wholesalers had even heard of them. We have installed them on every new boiler installation since. Long before boiler manufactures started demanding them to qualify for extended warranties.
Now MagnaClean offer variants for tight spaces such as the MagnaClean Micro
orthe Atom. Both great
Or the Pro3 Sense that has built in WiFi connectivity. Good idea as it gives you alerts for when it needs a clean but maybe a bit a gimmick.... ?
We have fitted 1 and thought what's the point. Fit a Pro 2 cheaper, no batteries to worry about.
Topping up your heating system with inhibitor?
Any brand is ok. You can add Fernox F1 with Adey MC1 or Sentinel X100 etc or visa versa.
Many of the trade brands come in the same bottle with a different label.
We generally use Adey MC1 or Fernox F1 because its concentrated and enables a one dose fill via the Magna Clean as a dosing pot.
If your system has a Feed & Expansion header tank just pour it in. We like to drain the system slightly to pull the contents of the header tank down so its now circulating around the system. Top up on completion.
HOW DO WE CARRY OUT A SYSTEM FLUSH?
We use a MagnaCleanse. Basically two large twin MagnaClean's temporally fitted in the heating return to your boiler. We dose them with a Adey MC5 cleaner then with your boiler running get your heating system up to temperature and allow the cleaner to circulate.
We shut sown all radiators bar 1. Which remains in full flow. Using an agitator we vibrate the bottom of the radiator to free any sludge that's stuck, this speeds up the process by 25 minutes per radiator. We repeat the process to all the radiators stoping occasionally to inspect the filters and intermittently clean if required.
Once the process is completed we will flush your whole heating system with clean cold water.
Add the inhibitor and balance your radiators.
HOW MUCH DOES A SYSTEM FLUSH COST?
If we are fitting you a new boiler it is included in our quotation.
If its an existing system it varies depending on the size of your home
but we will also carry out a FREE BOILER SERVICE for customers
with a domestic Gas or LPG boiler. Sorry we don't do oil.
See below for our current costs
Average Central Heating System with up to
10 Radiators
plus Free Boiler Service. £285 inc vat
Gas & LPG Boilers only
Average Central Heating System with up to
10 Radiators
plus Free Boiler Service. £285 inc vat
Gas & LPG Boilers only
SYSTEM FLUSH v POWER FLUSH
Different method same result. A MagnaCleanse System Flush is cleaner and uses less water. We have had mixed results with Powerflushing, often finding that debris still collects the Magnetic Filter. Which ever method is used a final flush with mains pressure cold water through the system to drain gives the perfect result.
Option
Install a MagnaClean Pro 2 at the same time
add. £129 inc vat
Install a MagnaClean Micro at the same time
add. £114 inc vat
MagnaClean Atom at the same time
add. £105 inc vat
For Each Additional Radiator in excess of 10
add . £17 inc vat
Hours of operation
Mon-Thu: 9AM to 5PM
Friday: 9AM to 5PM
Sat-Sun: Closed