sludge remover

[peter the plumber]

have been called to a job where rads are cold at bottom and half way up rad.I was going to hire a power flush but was a bit wary as the rads and pipework look quite old.I did not want to risk blowing a rad or pipe work.I have put 2 bottles of sentinal sludge remover in 14 rads 60 btu boiler s plan .how long can this be left in and the best way to flush system thanks

 

[micky p]

to be honest if it is that bad then it has to risked with a powerflusher. Sludge removing chemical can only loosen a certain amount of sludge. If you are using X400 then it has to be left in approx 3-4 weeks. I tend to use Ferroquest which can give the same effect in a single flush. If the system is so bad where the rads are cool in places then a powerflush is your answer. If you are worried about pipework leaking then take each rad off and flush them out individually. A Bit of a ball ache as i have done many.

 

[peter the plumber]

thanks for the reply.i dont want to take the rads off the customer has cream carpets in every room and just dont want to chance any spillage.Have never used fernox ,do you use as normal.I can leave sentinal in for 4 weeks no problems there.thanks for the help peter

 

[Fluffster]

Pete
I have done about 20 powerflush operations and not had a leak to date even in old systems.
The action is not high pressured as the flushing tank is open vented.
It is more of an agitation action.
Even still I have to bang some rads which have sludge/debris building up in the bottom middle of the radiator.

Put down some sheets under the rads and powerflush it.
The last thing you want is to have a leak while you are not on site which may happen if you leave a cleansing agent in the system for a few weeks.
Pete

 

[Paul Barker]

Powerflush it with a disclaimer if they aren't prepared to suffe the consequences you don't want the job.

I went to a similar house rads were all rusty coloured and leaking, heavyweight was weighed down with carbon. Wonan was ever so nervous looking, and the carpet fitters van was just pulling away.

I said "you've just had cream carpet fitted throughout the house and your radiators look like this?"

Funnily enough I never got the job.