sludge buildup

[DIYedboy]

In a house, is it usual for sludge just to build up in the downstairs pipes and radiators (boiler, pump and valves downstairs, cylinder upstairs) or will it be evenly distributed?

 

[rebuke]

I was quite amazed, given it's the highest point, by how much sludge was in the F+E tank in my house when I moved in. I've since cleaned the tank, flushed the system, run with cleaning stuff etc - it made the system much quieter!

I suspect that more sludge will accumulate at the bottom of pipework / rads etc, but if you've got a good pump going then there will be a fair bit of circulation, so the 'looser' sludge will flow round, and I guess just get dumped whever it is when the pump stops (and potentially solidify / attach etc at those points)...

 

[muggles]

Normally you'd get some everywhere, but it's heavier than water so you'll tend to get more at low points

 

[John506]

Why do you ask DIYedboy?...

Do you have problems with sludge?

 

[DIYedboy]

Yes, I'm trying to fix my elderly uncle's heating (fitted in 1970), I've spent 3 days on it, every time I do one thing, there's a different problem with something else, the whole system is definately possessed! The downstairs rads are sludged up, so, I was hoping the upstairs wouldn't be if it always settles at the lowest points.

 

[simond]

Sludge tends to form earliest in double panel rads, because in a standard two pipe system the water velocity drops as it divides down the two panels.

Consequently solids tend to drop into the double panel unit first due to the lower water speed.