Power Flush

[Dezzer]

Hi,
As my mother's Central Heating system is Over Venting into the Expansion tank, and some radiators are not that hot, I have been advised that a Power Flush will probably be beneficial.
My Mother is a pensioner, so any expenses are a little limited. Can anyone advise as to whether any other system cleaners could be used, i.e. poured into the expansion tank and left for a couple of weeks.
Or, are there any recommended Power Flush Specialists in the Portsmouth area.

Thanks,
Dezzer

 

[JohnD]

you can do a simple chemical clean for £15 plus a few hours of your time

Although not as effective as a powerflush it may get you over the problem, saving hundreds of pounds, and if not it will do no harm.

you ought however to establish what cause of the the problem is before deciding on the solution.

what colour is the water, and any sediment you have found?

how much mud is in the bottom of the F&E?

are the radiators very gassy?

how long has it been doing this?

does water drip or run out of the overflow?

what happens if you turn the pump speed down?

Are the pipes to the radiators Microbore (the size of a pencil)?

Have you studied
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37170

I am just a householder

 

[malkie]

It sounds like a powerflush wouldnt fix your proplem so you need to find out why its pumping over,what boiler has she got ie wall hung or back boiler and is the system filling up ok when you vent the rads does the tank empty and fill up again,does the tank have 2 pipes to it one in the bottom a cold feed and seperate expansion over the top of the tank

 

[Agile]

What JohnD has said is all very true but the most important aspect is to get as much dirt out of the system first by draining etc.

Tony

 

[malkie]

I went to one like this last week were B/GAS said they wouldnt try and repair the system because it needed a p/flush.I was asked to go and flush it out,they had no heat except very lukewarm rads couldnt get them all hot,but turn half off and half were hot and vice versa so a flush didnt help but i found a anti grav valve by back boiler removed it and bingo its great now

 

[Dezzer]

Hi again,

The boiler is a floor standing 'Halstead Buckingham 3 CF40' boiler and runs 6 radiators and the hot water. Both the Boiler and the pump are now approx 6/7 years old.The system is small bore, and this has sludge in it. We have found this everytime we remove a radiator for decorating. The system is pumped, but has manually controlled valves for the Hot water, and/or Heat.
The property is a Bungalow. The Cold water, and Expansion tanks are in the loft, the Expansion tank having all pipework to include, cold water fill, bottom pipe to the boiler and the expansion pipe which overflows into the tank.
At present, there is a small continuous flow of hot water running out of the Expansion pipe into the tank. The water in that tank was quite warm. The system seems to overflow first thing in the morning, soon after the heating is switched on. My mother stops the overflow by turning on the hot bath tap for a while.It has again overflowed in the evening.
Thanks again,
Dezzer

 

[seco services]

My mother stops the overflow by turning on the hot bath tap for a while.

what tank is venting the f/e or cws ?

 

[JohnD]

what happens if you change the speed of the pump?

Does water drip or run from the overflow pipe (which probably goes from near the top of the F&E and goes out through the eaves)?

 

[Agile]

Hi again,

At present, there is a small continuous flow of hot water running out of the Expansion pipe into the tank.
Dezzer

Unless you are a professional, then you will probably not realise that that is doing untold damage to the system every hour that its run like that!

Would you really drive down the motorway on a flat tyre?

Tony

 

[malkie]

cylinder may have gone

 

[seco services]

sounds more like it.