Dirty water in rads after powerflush and new boiler fitted

goalc · 16 Jul 2006

We had a new boiler (Potterton Suprima HE) fitted about 6 weeks ago, and the whole system was powerflushed and had inhibitor added and TRV's fitted etc. When the powerflush was done the water initially came out fairly dirty, but after a couple of hours was flowing clean. (we also have microbore pipes if that is relevant)

Since we had the work done, we have not had the central heating on.

Today we removed a rad in the lounge so we could decorate behind it, and the water that came out was black - it looked worse than when the powerflush started and you literally cannot see through it and there are bits of what appear to be grit in the water. (This rad is on the ground floor)

Is this usual ? I would have expected that as the system had been cleaned and not used since that the water in the rad should be clean.

Has something gone wrong here, or has the powerflush not be done correctly ?

Any thoughts/comments are appreciated..... thanks.

gasmanuk · 16 Jul 2006

I wouldn't say the flush was done wrong but powerflushing is not 100% effective in my opinion. Although it is useful I would reccomend you get a magnaclean fitted it will stop and sludge....

Bamber gaspipe · 16 Jul 2006

You are correct. The Powerflush has not been done correctly.Power flushes are a waste of time. The only thing they flush if your lucky is the pipework, it doesn`t even touch the rads & leaves all the sediment/gunge exactly in the same place as it was before it was flushed,that is why you are witnessing the sludge.... etc....

The only proper way to flush an ancient or neglected system is to remove each rad individually...but let`s be honest..( You won`t hear that very often from a plumber)..Who is going to bother themselves to do that when they can just pile in, baffle customers with Science & then P*iss off.

ChrisR · 16 Jul 2006

INclined towards the cynical views on this one. If you use the most agressive chems you can get "up to 80%" out according to Fernox. Which leaves quite a lot, especially if you aren't as perfect as they are. I hope they at least flushed each rad separately (by closing all the rest)

If it was just the last pint of water which was black I wouldn't worry, that's pretty normal, but if most of it then I would suggest you do something about it. Worth moaning to the company who did it - they would be able to do a mains flush at least, quite quickly. It will need new inhibitor then.

Do at least make sure there's plenty of Inhibitor in there, which will knobble any remaining cleaning chemicals and stop it getting worse.

goalc · 16 Jul 2006

ChrisR said:
INclined towards the cynical views on this one. If you use the most agressive chems you can get "up to 80%" out according to Fernox. Which leaves quite a lot, especially if you aren't as perfect as they are. I hope they at least flushed each rad separately (by closing all the rest)

If it was just the last pint of water which was black I wouldn't worry, that's pretty normal, but if most of it then I would suggest you do something about it. Worth moaning to the company who did it - they would be able to do a mains flush at least, quite quickly. It will need new inhibitor then.

Do at least make sure there's plenty of Inhibitor in there, which will knobble any remaining cleaning chemicals and stop it getting worse.

I watched as they went around and turned each rad off in turn as they did the powerflush, so I presumed that they had done it correctly. Also I watched when they put the inhibitor in the tank in the attic.

As you suggest I will call them tomorrow and get him to come around (I kept a sample of the water in a bottle) and see what he says - hopefully he wasnt trying to rip me off as I got a few good word-of-mouth references for him.

Is it worth getting a Magnaclean fitted, as suggested above ? If so, is this something I can do myself or is it a job for the plumber ?

thanks for all the comments....

Bamber gaspipe · 16 Jul 2006

Magnaclean filters.. not fitted them myself...but judging by the Guy`s on here, they are sh*t hot ..pardon my French...

gasmanuk · 16 Jul 2006

hang on bamber did we agree

Nige F · 17 Jul 2006

You`re allowed to use S-h-i-t.......it`s an Anglo Saxon word for dirt.........and judging by Channel 4 `s ****ing and blinding.............a mild word. Have a nice day

Agile · 17 Jul 2006

Power flushing is good, bad or indifferent!

I have met trainees who tell me that "powerflushing" in previous firms just involved putting the pump on the system and leaving it for a few hours. No chemicals and no turning off rads.

Proper power flushing is very effective but its time consuming and requires the right chemicals. Each rad has to be treated in turn on its own with the flow reversed a few times.

The return to the pump needs to be cleared of dirt and a magnetic filter is one of the best ways to do that.

There are cheap chemicals and the expensive professional ones. In Southall they all use cheap unbranded "pink crystals" which are sold by weight with no instructions or information on the content.

Tony Glazier

DP · 17 Jul 2006

It would seem every one thinks their way of working is better than the next persons.

While there is time and place where rads removed will aenable hosing through outside, I for one would balk at the idea of removing a 2000mm rad or even a small rad when most houses have light coloured carpets.

A power flushing unit is essentially a powerful pump setting muck (in the radiator) in motion. Cold water will enter the rad at the bottom (assuming both valves are at the bottom), wiz through the base rib and leave the rad at the opposite end. In time, the sediment at the bottom of the radiator will be removed partially due to constant reversal of water flow. This will improve dramatically if the rad is wacked with a rubber hammer.

While the water at the base of the radiator is now nice and clean, water above the base rib has not been disturbed, so will remain dirty.

I prefer to power flush and then chemical cleanse (less sediment for the chemicals to convert). Carrying out controlled hot flush will remove almost all sedimented water and chemicals.

corgiman · 17 Jul 2006

We have had this happen to us, powerflushed the arse off a system only to find a few weeks later that the water resembles treacle, easy to sort out as we just go back and reflush the system untill its gleaming.

IMO this is due to some of the pipes not being cleaned out properly.

give the installers a call and they should have no problem in giving the system a few more hours to clen it up.

I totally agree with DP, sometimes its a nightmare to remove radiators as it is very time consuming, and clients tend to baulk at the thought of paying for two men to do it, like democracy powerflushings is not perfect but its the best we have at the moment.

Nige F · 17 Jul 2006

Ve are Vaiting for ze Revolution ...bugger you und you democracy

There is only ONE way

corgiman · 17 Jul 2006

what way comrade

Power to the Plumber

long live le revolution

goalc · 17 Jul 2006

thanks for the comments everyone.

I called the installer and he is coming round at the weekend to look at it.

Can someone comment on how easy it is to fit a magnaclean - can I do this myself or should I get the plumber to do it ?

thanks....

corgiman · 14 Mar 2011

doubt they will bothered its a five year old post

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Dirty water in rads after powerflush and new boiler fitted

Bamber gaspipe

Bamber gaspipe

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