When it comes to central heating, as a homeowner, you’re always looking for ways to improve its performance and make it more energy-efficient. But over time contaminants like sludge, rust, and other debris take a heavy toll on the central heating system.
If you’re feeling a bit slow heat-up of your water and you’re not feeling as hot as usual, chances are your central heating system may have a blockage. The rust build-up in your boiler, pipework, and radiator is unavoidable. In such a scenario, a power flush is the only way to get rid of this annoying sludge.
If you’re new to power flush and are still wondering if it actually works or how often should you power flush your central heating than stay tuned as we’ve just summed up this thorough guide for you to skim.
Feeling intrigued? Let’s jump straight in.
What is a power flush?
A power flush is a way of cleansing your central heating system by injecting a chemical solution (a cleaner) and circulating high-pressure water in high volumes. You need to undertake power flush regularly to keep your central heating system running in peak condition. It removes all problematic things including rust and debris, collecting called sludge by professionals. It is the most efficient if you’re having sludge related problems.
The only reason power flush is so popular and you are reading about it is; that it is rapid but comprehensive while cleaning. Although the time for cleaning depends on the amount of the sludge (dirt) you have in your system, but usually, it takes half a day (several hours). But if the system is large or it is particularly dirty it may require a full day.
If you’re looking to replace the old central heating boiler with a new one or if you want to add corrosion and scale inhibitor chemical in your central heating system; it is prudent to do power flush prior. Otherwise, you would contaminate the new boiler with sludge and debris that’s hanging around in your old pipework.
Anyhow, let’s see if you’d ignore this important maintenance obligation, where would you be heading with your central heating system:
Reduced Efficiency
Sludge build-up, if left untreated, can cause blocked pipes and even leaks in your pipes. The dirty water, over time, will cause heating problems which in turn will reduce the overall efficiency of your system.
Cold Spots on your Radiators
The cold spots on your radiator mean you’re wasting more energy and pay high energy bills. The sludge, rust, and lime-scale can cause blocked pipes and thus your system will try to work hard to heat your room at the desired temperature.
Boiler Breakdowns
Did you know about 85% of boiler breakdowns are due to dirty water in your heating system? Yes, a clogged boiler and pump are a major reason for the system breakdowns.
Nonetheless, if you want to prolong the life of your central heating system, lower your bills, and reduce the risks of breakdowns then undertake power flush without wasting the next second.
Signs you need a power flush
If you’re trying to figure out the signs when you have sludge and corrosion in your system, there are several symptoms to look out for:
A heating system with an interruption from sludge will cause it to make excessive noise because of overwork. Due to this, the boiler may regularly shuts down or need restarting. So, look out for the noises from the boiler or the heating system pump.
Another definite way of detecting a blocked radiator is by feeling the bottom. If it’s cooler at the bottom than at the top, you may have sludge developed inside. In some cases, the radiators may be cold but pipes will be hot.
If your boiler is too old or it hasn’t been serviced for several years; it may already have this problem. Such a system may take more time to warm up and even the water won’t be as hot as usual. In severe cases, the radiator will not heat up completely or may have leaks in the system.
If any of the above problems sound familiar to you, it’s time to seek help from a qualified engineer to undertake a power flush to get your heating system back on track.
How does it work? And what will I earn in return?
Well, generally speaking, power flushing is a three-step chemical process that involves pushing special chemicals to clean out your boiler, pipes, and radiators. Your system will be connected with a pump and chemicals that include descaling and corrosion inhibitor will be injected in the system and the containments afterward are removed from the system.
The descaler will remove limescale while corrosion inhibitor will prevent future rust from forming. If still there is some stubborn blockage in your system then some special external tools will be used for dislodging. If everything goes right, the whole process will be completed within 10-12 hours. But it can go up to a day or more depending on the complexity of the situation and system.
How often you should power-flush your central heating?
Frankly speaking, it depends on a lot of factors including age, type, and size of the boiler, the material of your radiator, and the hardness of your water. So, there is no short sure answer to this question. But experts recommend that you should think about flushing your radiators every 5 to 6 years to keep it in tip-top shape. If your radiators are of top-notch quality material, then you can get away with power-flushing after every 8 to 10 years.
The Bottom Line
Now as I’ve got you through all the details of a power flush, now is the time to buck-up yourself and give your central heating the care it deserves. You don’t have to push yourself into trouble while saving a few bucks at the cost of your heating system. Power Flush is a time-tested approach in getting rid of sludge and rust related problems.
