Back Boiler - Sludge & Dirty Hot Water

[thomascrabs]

Hi,

I have read a fair few threads about sludge in central heating systems and back boilers. I have started a new thread as I don't think my scenraio has been covered fully

(This is how I understand things although I could be wrong!)

We have a back boiler that feeds a hot water tank upstairs. There is also a single cold water tank in the loft that I believe feeds the hot water tank and also has an overflow from the boiler (i think!).

My problem is that there is the usual black sludge coming out of the radiators and loads of "air" (hydrogen?) coming out when being bled. The hot water is also a dirty brown colour sometimes.


- How can I get rid of this sludgy stuff using a sludge remover without contaminating the hot water supply (as it is from the same tank)?
- Will adding a sludge remover to a radiator prevent contamination of the hot water?
- How much is the problem with the hot water related to the radiator sludge problem (silly question but needs asking!)?
- The hot water problem has been kind of solved in the past by flushing out the cold water tank in the loft, which i guess flushes out the hot water tank. Is sludge building up in the hot water tank as well as in the system generally?

We can't afford a full professional flush of the system so it needs to be a DIY solution
Any help is greatly appreciated

Thomas

 

[seco services]

if you only have one tank in the loft and you say your hw is dirtyish then it sounds like you have a primatic cylinder and you can't use heating cleaners with a primatic cylinder.
you'll have to bypass the cylinder to clean the system with cleaners.

 

[thomascrabs]

if you only have one tank in the loft and you say your hw is dirtyish then it sounds like you have a primatic cylinder and you can't use heating cleaners with a primatic cylinder.
you'll have to bypass the cylinder to clean the system with cleaners.

Thanks for the quick reply.

When you say bypass the system what do you mean?
What cleaners would I use?
Is this something I could realistically do myself?

Sorry i'm not the best with CH systems

Thanks!

 

[seco services]

where the 2 pipes go into the cylinder you would have to disconnect them from the cylinder so the system cleaner don't go into the domestic hot water.
not really a diy job. even plumbers don't like primatic systems we try to keep clear of them.

 

[thomascrabs]

where the 2 pipes go into the cylinder you would have to disconnect them from the cylinder so the system cleaner don't go into the domestic hot water.
not really a diy job. even plumbers don't like primatic systems we try to keep clear of them.

OK thanks. I guess the best option would frankly be a full new combi system?!

At least I know what the tank is called so i can search on that next time!

Cheers!

 

[seco services]

OK thanks. I guess the best option would frankly be a full new combi system?!

At least I know what the tank is called so i can search on that next time!

Cheers!

thats up to you hasn't got to be a combi.