Radiator cleaner and inhibitor..

[ray316]

I think the radiators in my house could do with some radiator cleaner put into the system and then flushed as some of the radiators downstairs are always cold ...
These radiators have been in 20 years and never been cleaned and flushed so what would be the best stuff to use and best inhibitor to put in after ...

How long can l leave the cleaner in before it needs to be drained out, could l leave it in for a couple of months to give it a really good cleaning of the pipes and radiators..

 

[DeletedUser]

Use

 

[45yearsagasman]

I would make sure that your pump is ok and that the system is balanced before going down the chemical cleaner route.

 

[JohnD]

I like Sentinel X400, which is not aggressive, and can be left circulating for four weeks before draining and rinsing (if left longer, its cleaning power fades and the sediment will eventually re-settle)

If you can do simple plumbing and can afford about £100, fit a system filter as well, and empty out the sludge during and after the cleaning. Eventually you will find the amount of trapped sludge reduces.

If you are tough, take the rads off the wall and flush them through with a powerful hose in the garden. IMO this works better after the X400 has loosened it, though some say hose first.

Remember to add an inhibitor such as X100 afterwards.

 

[ray316]

I like Sentinel X400, which is not aggressive, and can be left circulating for four weeks before draining and rinsing (if left longer, its cleaning power fades and the sediment will eventually re-settle)

If you can do simple plumbing and can afford about £100, fit a system filter as well, and empty out the sludge during and after the cleaning. Eventually you will find the amount of trapped sludge reduces.

If you are tough, take the rads off the wall and flush them through with a powerful hose in the garden. IMO this works better after the X400 has loosened it, though some say hose first.

Remember to add an inhibitor such as X100 afterwards.

Thanks for the replys ..
I'm going to stick some sentinel 400 in and leave it a couple of weeks, but instead of draining down would it be better to shut off a radiator one at a time and flush the radiator out before putting back on and going to the next one..
Would l get a better result going this way..

 

[JohnD]

do you mean take off the radiator valve, or take off the whole radiator?

You will need to drain and rinse the whole system anyway, because sludge will be lurking in underfloor pipes and other places that do not get empty.

Bale out the mud from the F&E tank and sponge it clean before you start. If there is fungus or slime, wipe it with bleach.