Put Sentinel X400 In November - Still Not Flushed Out

[DeludedAussie]

We had quite a few cold radiators in the house and I bought two bottles of the sentinel x400 and poured in straight into the small box in the loft.

That was in November and we have not got round to flushing the system out because of the bad weather

Incidentally we did not see ANY improvement in the sludge problems and the radiator is still cold at the bottom.

Is it dangerous to leave this in till say March when the weather would be better and we can flush out?

 

[Agile]

I dont see why outside weather makes any difference.

The bad rad probably needs power flushing. X400 is a pretty mild chemical.

It should be flushed out asap !

Tony

 

[oldbuffer]

If you poured it into the small (feed and expansion) tank, then it may well be that most of it is still there.

To use chemicals like X400 / inhibitors etc. you need to drain enough water out of the system (with the F&E inlet turned off), pour in the chemical, then refill the F&E. This way the chemical is in the circulating part of the system.

Alternately add it through a radiator or other convenient point in the system.

 

[JohnD]

If you already tipped it into the tank, I'd suggest (though it will be losing its power by now) that you tie up the ball float and drain a bucket of water out of the drain cock, so it sucks the contents of the F&E tank into the system. there is very little flow in and out of the F&E tank under normal circumstances.

Then go round turning all your radiators off, then turn each of them on for half an hour or more, one at a time, (especially the ones that are cold at the bottom) so that the flow is all through that rad and has more chance to disturb the sludge. If you bleed the rads when X400 has been added you will know it is starting to work when the circulating water goes jet black.

Normally I would say bale all the mud out from the bottom of the F&E tank first so it does not wash down and increase the sediment load.

Adjust the float so the water level is only two inches above the outlet pipe at the bottom of the tank

Obviously it would have been best to have done that while the chemical was fresh. Its power diminishes after about four weeks and the sediment starts to re-settle.

After your drain and flush, take the rads off and hose then through in the garden to wash out remaining sludge that has been softened. Start with the one that seems sludged up..

 

[ianmcd]

you have just wasted 2 bottles of X400 they are just sitting in the FE tank , even if any got into the system dont worry it does not need neutralising it will be fine

 

[Whitespirit66]

If it's only one rad, try removing it and flushing through with a garden hose.

May also be other reasons why it's cold. Rad valves or TRV not fully open. If it's a big rad and/or furthest from the pump/boiler, maybe a balancing problem.