Our house (2 bedroom / 7 rads) is about 20 years old. We moved in 4 years ago and in 2004 the existing gas CH/HW boiler was replaced by a Gloworm 30cxi combi, and the hot water tank and header tanks removed etc. The bathroom radiator was removed and a towel rail radiator fitted instead.
Recently we noticed that the hot water supply is not as hot as it used to be. On closer inspection I discovered that no matter what the hot water temperature dial (usual set at 'eco') was set on the hot water would always come out of the tap at the same temperature, just below what I would consider to be hot. I have noticed that the initial flow seems to be hot which made me think that the pre-heat is working correctly but maybe the flow of water isn't being regulated enough. Central heating seems fine, rads are nice and hot.
Homeserve engineer arrives today, I wasn't at home but I spoke to him over the phone, and he said that the heat exchanger is scaled/clogged up. He has drained off a sample of the CH water which is ale coloured with darker sediment at the bottom. Apparently the HE is linked between the CH and HW, and the HW side is more susceptible to clogging.
He has recommended that we get the CH system power flushed before they come back and fit a new HE (at our cost). He did also mention that a power flush might also clean out the HE and negate the need for its replacement. Also mentioned on the paper work is that they will change the 'Sam block' when called back to do the HE.
I've done a quick search on here for power flushing and seen the varying responses. When the Gloworm was fitted the guy doing it said he would flush the system and refill with the necessary chemicals etc. Either that wasn't sufficient because of the contamination we have now, or it did require a proper power flush before the new boiler was fitted. We have never had to top up the CH system; the pressure started at over 1 Bar and has been on 0.8 for about the last year. I have had to bleed the towel radiator once or twice, maybe a few months after it was fitted. The little dribble from the bleed valve was green, which at the time reassured me that it had something like inhibitor in the system.
I am willing to pay for a power flush, and after researching on here, fit a magnaclean(?) if this will help/stop/resolve the situation for the next few years. What are the expert’s views? Are there any expert plumbers on here that can quote on the above and offer a guarantee and all the necessary paperwork? I will also be after a service for the Gloworm. We are in Surrey, between Guildford and Aldershot. I've tried the 'Find an expert' search and nothing comes up for plumbers in our area.
Please feel free to ask anything that I may have missed off this post and thank you for your views and responses.
Regards. Trevor
Recently we noticed that the hot water supply is not as hot as it used to be. On closer inspection I discovered that no matter what the hot water temperature dial (usual set at 'eco') was set on the hot water would always come out of the tap at the same temperature, just below what I would consider to be hot. I have noticed that the initial flow seems to be hot which made me think that the pre-heat is working correctly but maybe the flow of water isn't being regulated enough. Central heating seems fine, rads are nice and hot.
Homeserve engineer arrives today, I wasn't at home but I spoke to him over the phone, and he said that the heat exchanger is scaled/clogged up. He has drained off a sample of the CH water which is ale coloured with darker sediment at the bottom. Apparently the HE is linked between the CH and HW, and the HW side is more susceptible to clogging.
He has recommended that we get the CH system power flushed before they come back and fit a new HE (at our cost). He did also mention that a power flush might also clean out the HE and negate the need for its replacement. Also mentioned on the paper work is that they will change the 'Sam block' when called back to do the HE.
I've done a quick search on here for power flushing and seen the varying responses. When the Gloworm was fitted the guy doing it said he would flush the system and refill with the necessary chemicals etc. Either that wasn't sufficient because of the contamination we have now, or it did require a proper power flush before the new boiler was fitted. We have never had to top up the CH system; the pressure started at over 1 Bar and has been on 0.8 for about the last year. I have had to bleed the towel radiator once or twice, maybe a few months after it was fitted. The little dribble from the bleed valve was green, which at the time reassured me that it had something like inhibitor in the system.
I am willing to pay for a power flush, and after researching on here, fit a magnaclean(?) if this will help/stop/resolve the situation for the next few years. What are the expert’s views? Are there any expert plumbers on here that can quote on the above and offer a guarantee and all the necessary paperwork? I will also be after a service for the Gloworm. We are in Surrey, between Guildford and Aldershot. I've tried the 'Find an expert' search and nothing comes up for plumbers in our area.
Please feel free to ask anything that I may have missed off this post and thank you for your views and responses.
Regards. Trevor
