Does my central heating system need power flushing?
If you have an older boiler and heating system you may ask: Does my central heating system need power flushing?
A power flush of your central heating can make your boiler work more efficiently, heating your home for less money.
A central heating system which has been treated by a power flushing engineer can save up to 15% on energy costs than a system which has not been treated.
For an average heating bill of £800, you could save £120 each year.
What is Power Flushing?
Power flushing uses a chemical solution to flush our dirt and debris from your heating system. A power flush will remove the build up of sludge, rust and debris from inside your pipes that can make your radiators perform poorly.
Once your central heating has been cleaned by a power flush, it will work more efficiently saving you money and avoid costly repairs caused by blockages.
Over time, your boiler, radiators and heating plumbing accumulates dirt, debris, rust and silt. This build up of sludge can create blockages, cold radiators and less efficient boiler performance.
Why should I invest in a power flushing of my heating system?
Power flushing your central heating system will offer your home an improved circulation of heat produced, a quicker hot water warming time, improvement in efficiency and a warmer home for less energy costs.
Having a power flushing service in your home will also reduce noise from your boiler and radiators whilst reducing emissions which are harmful to the environment.
How do I know if my central heating requires power flushing?
If you notice any of the following symptoms within your heating system, you should ask a qualified plumbing engineer to investigate your system to find out if you require a power flushing service:
- There is a reduction in the heat output produced
- Radiators require regular bleeding
- You find cold patches on the radiators
- You experience sluggish circulation
- Your pump repeatedly fails
- Noises come from the boiler
- You notice a gassy smell when bleeding your radiators
What causes my heating to require a power flushing?
Within your heating system, a dark sludge called magnetite can build up over time. This may be due to any of the following causes:
- The original installation not being completed with adequate cleaning
- A build up of oxygen and bacteria within the system
- Bad system design
- An inhibitor not being replenished following a system draining
- Different metals reacting within the heating system
What happens during a power flushing?
Using a specialist equipment, a qualified heating engineer will use a low pressure, high velocity pumping machine to flush out the heating system.
A heating engineer will use a combination of cleansing chemicals with magnetic filtration technology to break up the debris, scale and sludge so that it can easily be flushed away.
Once the whole system has been flushed, it is refilled with clean water and a chemical inhibitor is added to keep the problem from returning in the future.
For an average sized home with approximately ten radiators, power flushing the system should take less than a working day.
Two common questions for homeowners are: What is a Power Flush? and How does a power flush benefit my central heating?
We hope that this article has answered the question: Does my central heating system need power flushing?
Sometimes power flushing alone is not enough. If your boiler is older than 10 years, it may require replacement.
If you have an older boiler and you are considering replacing it with a new energy efficient model, we have created a page for finding the right boiler for you.
Read: Which is the best boiler to buy for my house? for more information about choosing a new boiler.