If your radiators are cold at the bottom but hot at the top, or your boiler isn’t performing as well as you’d like, it’s possible that your central heating system could benefit from a powerflush.
If you have a large home it could take a full day to perform a power flush, so it will be necessary to arrange a day that suits you. While it sounds like a dirty job, I have everything required to ensure that I leave your home clean and tidy—with the exception that the inside of your radiators, pipework and boiler will be cleaner than ever before.
What is a powerflush?
Over time, your pipework, radiators and boiler will deposit unwanted material such as rust. Limescale will also build up in the system and combine with the rust and any other debris to form "sludge", which can reduce the efficiency of your central heating system. This will typically result in radiators that are cold at the bottom and noisier than usual, but in some cases will cause significant damage to the boiler itself, requiring expensive repair or replacement.
To carry out a power flush I will connect a machine to your central heating system that pushes water and specialist chemicals through the system, dislodging any built-up accumulated rust, limescale and other debris. This process removes sludge from your system to be replaced by fresh, clean water and the addition of an inhibitor - chemicals that will prevent sludge from building up in the future.
How often does my system need a powerflush?
While inhibitor chemicals are very effective, a powerflush is recommended every five or six years to ensure the water in your system remains sludge free.
In some cases I may also recommend the addition of a magnetic filter such as a MagnaClean, which is designed to capture sludge before it reaches your boiler components. For example, sludge can quickly build up in a boiler’s heat exchanger, causing the boiler to shut down and sometimes resulting in leaks.
Signs that you may need a power flush:
- Radiators cold at the bottom but warmer at the top.
- Cold radiators but pipes are hot.
- Heating slow to warm up.
- Water discoloured when radiators are bled.
- Noisy radiators and/or boiler.
- Boiler shuts down and needs restarting.
- Intermittent hot water (combi boiler).
- No water comes out when radiator bleed valve opened.
If any of these problems seem familiar, it may be time for a powerflush. While that’s often all that’s needed, I will also assess the condition of your central heating system and your boiler to determine whether any damage was caused by the sludge in your system. It’s possible that your heat exchanger requires cleaning or affected components replacing.
Benefits of a central heating power flush
- Hotter radiators that warm up more quickly.
- Quieter radiators and boiler.
- Cheaper energy bills due to efficient system.
- Higher hot water temperatures.
- More reliable boiler and less repairs needed.
- Extends the life of your boiler and radiators.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions about the power flush process or to have me assess the condition of your central heating system.
