M
morrismini
A powerflush on any system is £600. Get it cleaned and Spirotech magnaboost on the CH return pipe to the BM. That is easy to empty using a bucket. Fill up with enough X-400, which is about 3 to 4 cans. Then every year put a can in the F&E tank. It will then give no trouble a s the filter will catch the magentite. A DIY job to do once a year when clean. Empty filter every other week until water clear, then once a year.
The sludge is created in the rads - the ferrous. A thermal store does highlight the problem. In normal "neglected" systems the sludge collects in the rads and boiler tubes reducing boiler and rad efficiency. The sludge collects in a thermal store because the velocity of the water containing the iron solids reduces as it runs through the store. The solids drop to the bottom of the store. The sludge is just moved from one place to another.
On the Continent they have domed tops and bottoms of cylinders. This prevents the sludge collecting in the store, but will deposit it in the boiler and rads. In other words the problem is still there, it is just not apparent, and puts the installer a comfort zone, as a direct rad system does - like taking out the oil light bulb in a car's dash, so the driver thinks there is nothing wrong, when there is.
The secret is good maintenance - dosing every 4 years and having a decent filter. This applies to "all" system of any type. The Spirotech Magnaboost is good because it grabs "all" solids and easy to flush out, if the inhibitor weakens.
The CH section can be off a coil in the store, keeping any sludge generated in the rads. But it will not eliminate the problem as it is still there. If sludge in the rad loop the system still works but inefficiently.
The best way to "totally" eliminate sludge is not have ferrous in the system at all, many UFH systems have no ferrous using bronze pumps. However a full dosage in a thermal store and 1 litre added every year on a boiler service, or poured in by the user. will stop any sludge build up in the first place.
Some thermal stores have a large access plug to remove debris at the bottom of the store.
Some stores can have sludge removed by removing the immersion and the sludge removed mainly by hand - with a glove.
Replacing the store with an unvented cylinder will not remove the problem, as it is still there.
The sludge is created in the rads - the ferrous. A thermal store does highlight the problem. In normal "neglected" systems the sludge collects in the rads and boiler tubes reducing boiler and rad efficiency. The sludge collects in a thermal store because the velocity of the water containing the iron solids reduces as it runs through the store. The solids drop to the bottom of the store. The sludge is just moved from one place to another.
On the Continent they have domed tops and bottoms of cylinders. This prevents the sludge collecting in the store, but will deposit it in the boiler and rads. In other words the problem is still there, it is just not apparent, and puts the installer a comfort zone, as a direct rad system does - like taking out the oil light bulb in a car's dash, so the driver thinks there is nothing wrong, when there is.
The secret is good maintenance - dosing every 4 years and having a decent filter. This applies to "all" system of any type. The Spirotech Magnaboost is good because it grabs "all" solids and easy to flush out, if the inhibitor weakens.
The CH section can be off a coil in the store, keeping any sludge generated in the rads. But it will not eliminate the problem as it is still there. If sludge in the rad loop the system still works but inefficiently.
The best way to "totally" eliminate sludge is not have ferrous in the system at all, many UFH systems have no ferrous using bronze pumps. However a full dosage in a thermal store and 1 litre added every year on a boiler service, or poured in by the user. will stop any sludge build up in the first place.
Some thermal stores have a large access plug to remove debris at the bottom of the store.
Some stores can have sludge removed by removing the immersion and the sludge removed mainly by hand - with a glove.
Replacing the store with an unvented cylinder will not remove the problem, as it is still there.