What is power flushing?
We often get called to a heating system that is not working correctly; where some radiators are getting hot but others aren’t.
There can of course be different reasons why some radiators might not be getting hot and could be as simple as balancing or stuck pins in thermostatic radiator valves. It could also be due to dirt/sludge in the heating system. So having addressed/ruled out other causes we then ask has your system ever been power flushed? to which we get various responses.
A power flush is where, usually, the heating systems circulator pump will be removed and a large pump with a tank will be connected to the pump valves by way of hoses. This tank will then be filled with, preferably warm water, and the pump will then be turned on and circulate the water around the system. If the boiler is in safe working order (even though it may be being changed) it will be used for the power flush to provide the warm water.
Depending on if the boiler is being changed or not and the type of heat exchanger if the existing boiler is staying, certain chemicals will be selected and added to the tank and circulated around the system. Each radiator is flushed and cleaned in turn by opening and closing other radiator valves and the complete system is cleaned. The complete system is then rinsed using the same process.
For an average sized house of up to about 10 radiators, this process if done properly will take a full day. We’ve had a system that’s been so dirty that we’ve needed to go back for a second day to finish the job!
So, when we get the answer yes it has, and we then ask how long did it take and then get the response ‘oh a good couple of hours’ we know it hasn’t been done properly.
You can get chemicals that you can put into the system and circulate normally for a week or so and then drain and refill the system but this not a power flush.
System cleaning is a requirement by manufacturers when installing a new boiler to fulfil their warranty requirements. It also makes a big difference to the economy of a system. A dirty system is an inefficient system and therefore a more expensive system to run
Contact us if you are looking for a power flushing.
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