What is a powerflush and do I need one?

Overtime your heating system can get clogged with magnetic sludge and other material. If left untreated it will end up making the system less efficient, meaning higher heating bills and it can even result in costly repairs. 80% of system/boiler breakdowns are a direct effect of poor system water quality.

One way to deal with this is with a powerflush. A machine is attached to the heating system which pumps a mix of cleaning chemicals around the system. These dislodge and breakdown deposits that may have built up in your radiators, pipework and boiler overtime.

Once it is done, the system is refilled with clean water and inhibitor to protect the system against future similar problems.

How would you know if you have a problem? Some of the signs you might see include:

• Cold areas near the bottom (not at the top) in the form of a triangle.
• Coloured water when you bleed the radiators.
• Inefficient operation – radiators are slower to heat up than they should be.
• Small header tank in loft space has anything but clear water in it.
• Increased noise from the system, generally from the boiler itself banging, popping or kittling.
• Reduced efficiency, meaning an increase in fuel bills and a rise in your carbon foot print.

If you have a significantly older system, powerflushing may not be the best option. A less vigorous chemical flush using a magnacleanse might be the alternative way to go since older radiators could end up with leaks if corrosion over a longer period has been a problem. We have highly skilled engineers who would be able to advise on the best form of action required.