Mains water system flush via pump valves?

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Hello, What's the best way to connect garden hose to a standard 1.5" BSP pump valve? There are expensive flush adaptors to replace the pump body (e.g. Fernox Powerflow Pump Head Adapter) but I just want to whip the whole pump off and use the valves. Seems simple in theory, but what combination of connectors will work best?
Thanks!
 
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There are pump adaptors available from the flushing machine people. If you're planning to flush with mains water through the system, it doesn't work. If you don't want to use a machine then the old fashioned way is to circulate cleaner, drain/rinse it out and add inhibitor.

Anyone who thinks CH systems can be cleansed by connecting a cold main at one end and open drain off at the other needs to consider studying water movement.
 
I've had Sentinel X400 circulating for some time and want to flush it out. Mains pressure is pretty good here, so I can't see why it wouldn't be more beneficial than gravity draining through a radiator's drain-off valve. True, I'm no student of water movement but some pressure flow going in one end and out the other would push some crap out too, surely?
 
No it won't. The only way it would work is if you could somehow direct the jet of water from your hose at the internal walls/surfaces of the radiators and pipes, which you can't.
 
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Thanks for your reply. Having read more posts and the faq on here, mains flushing seems to be contentious rather than clear-cut pointless as you seem to be saying. Apparently mains pressure is likely to be higher than many flushing machines manage so I think I'll persevere as all I want to do is flush/rinse (the X400 should already have done the breaking down/cleaning). Some combination like this looks possible if the thread is correct; http://www.kockneykoi.co.uk/products/fittings-pipes-and-hoses/43mm-demountable-union.php
 
A flushing machine offers pressured, reversible circulation of the pre-heated system so any pressure is useful.

Your stone cold mains hose with an open end offers a way for your water to find the easiest route to its exit. The higher the pressure the quicker that'll be.

Why you think water with an open end is going to hang around and take convoluted detours to collect your cr*p is beyond me. But then you know best so carry on.
 
Having read more posts and the faq on here, mains flushing seems to be contentious rather than clear-cut pointless as you seem to be saying.

It's contentious to people who cut corners then claim to have done a proper job. I've more respect for those who openly admit to leaving systems dirty.
 
Your stone cold mains hose with an open end offers a way for your water to find the easiest route to its exit.
I was only thinking about this the other day, when I was contemplating flushing my system through: what is there to prevent the water just circulating through the 22mm main pipes and missing the rads completely?

The answer is that the 22mm pipes do not form a complete ring, with the flow connected to the return. The 22mm flow is always connected to the 22mm return via a radiator, even at the end of the line.

So if you shut off all radiators except one, the water has to travel through that rad. If you do this for each radiator in turn, i.e only having only one rad open at a time, the water must flow through the one rad which is open.
 
The cold water will still not circulate. It will pass once and clear a path. Subsequent water will take this route. The machine can circulate hot (boiler on), rinse and dump simultaneously. It's the chemical hot circulation that wears down the sludge. Once this is done you could just drain it, then rinse it by repeat filling, hot circulating and draining. You don't need a machine for that.

To recreate your idea, take a rad or a section of pipe into the garden, pour in some cleaner and attach a hose at one end. Then watch it shift next to s*dall.
 
The cold water will still not circulate. It will pass once and clear a path. Subsequent water will take this route.
I assume you mean that the water will not fill the rad, but will travel along the bottom channel between flow and return connections. I agree this is what will happen, but the bottom of the rad is where most sludge collects, so as you clear some sludge away, it will be replaced by more sludge falling down the channels in the rad.

I am assuming that a sludge loosening chemical has been circulating in the system for a reasonable time before flushing through.
 
Hello, What's the best way to connect garden hose to a standard 1.5" BSP pump valve? There are expensive flush adaptors to replace the pump body (e.g. Fernox Powerflow Pump Head Adapter) but I just want to whip the whole pump off and use the valves. Seems simple in theory, but what combination of connectors will work best?
Thanks!

1 1/2" x 1/2" Bsp reducing bush.
Adapt it to suit your hose.

I have found that a mains flush works as well as my powerflush on a pre treated system.
 
I assume you mean that the water will not fill the rad, but will travel along the bottom channel.

No. that's not what I mean. It will fill the rad if you vent it. The water then flows through the easiest path. If water flowed so easily through sludge, you'd never get a problem with it settling in the first place. Once the sludge is dissolved then it can be emptied/rinsed as described before.

If your windows are filthy, you can hose them all day with no effect. After soap & hot water the dirt will fall with as little as a fine rose watering can. Or put another way, stand under a 4 bar power shower for 30 mins and your armpits & b*****ks will still stink. Soak in a Radox bath for 10 mins and smell the difference.

The only way to prove it would be to try both then dismantle the system to see what's left.

I can't find any manufacturer that describes connecting a mains hose as a method of cleaning.
 
Or put another way, stand under a 4 bar power shower for 30 mins and your armpits & b*****ks will still stink.

You should shower more often, once a week at least. :LOL:
 
the bottom of the rad is where most sludge collects, so as you clear some sludge away, it will be replaced by more sludge falling down the channels in the rad.

It won't clear the sludge. It'll clear the easiest path it can, usually over the sludge.
 

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