Flushing radiators will attempt to get rid of iron oxide and other sludge building up in your water – this is the most common cause of radiators breaking down or failing to warm up when you turn the radiator on. Even the smallest of sludge in your system has been known to cause catastrophic damages to even the newest of heating systems.
A typical power flush can take between 4 and 8 hours to clean your entire system. This might sound like a long time but the real benefits are long term. Your radiators’ life will be prolonged and the prices of your energy bills can go down to affordable rates. Malfunctioning radiators have been known to make prices rise to extortionate levels.
Flushing radiators consists simply of an engineer pumping chemicals through your system which cleans your radiators of all sludge and iron oxide. To keep your radiators clean without another flushing, Central Heating Flush advises you look into getting a magnaclean filter installed. This blocks all metallic particles building up in your radiators.
Some radiators are so worn out, that the magnaclean filter is the only way to maintain a power flush as the rust from the system can rapidly build up again even causing your radiators to leak. There are some system limitation is a power flush and depending on the condition of your heating system or installation of your pipes, some sludge may be difficult to completely flush out.
To book any of our services for your property in London or the surrounding areas please call us on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468 today.
]]>Magnetic filters are simple installations and very easy to use. In short: an engineer will fix a magnetic filter to your system and leave it to detect all the build ups that can happen in your water. As most metallic debris is magnetic, the magnetic filter will detect it instantly and stop the particles entering your pipes, boiler and radiators. With a magnetic filter you won’t need to bleed your radiator or check your boiler on a regular basis. Plus your property will be warm throughout the cold winter months.
The price of a magnetic filter is also very affordable. They are all paid for up front with no running prices, so you won’t need to worry about extra payments each month. All you need to do is contact a qualified engineer and have the best magnetic filter installed on your system.
If you think your system needs looking at or you want more information on a magnetic filter, just call us on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468. All of our engineers are gas safe registered and can perform your powerflush or install your magnaclean filter for affordable prices.
]]>At Central Heating Flush we highly recommend having a power flush as this not only clears your heating system and has it running more efficiently but it also saves money on expensive repairs.
It is highly recommended to have a power flush completed before a new boiler is installed, this will help to ensure the system is clear from sludge and none of the dirt and debris enter your new boiler. It is also recommended to have a power flush when having a new boiler installed as its warranty may not be valid if no power flush of the existing radiators and pipes was conducted prior to its installation.
The most common signs that may suggest you need a power flush on your heating system can include, boiler noises, radiators and boiler becoming slow to warm up, radiator cold spots and fluctuating hot water temperature.
During a power flush, a machine is connected to the most convenient point of your heating system, usually the radiator tails. Water is then pumped through the system at high velocity to loosen any debris and blockages. A chemical cleaning agent is then flushed through your heating system also at high velocity to provide a more thorough cleanse of your system. Although the water and chemicals are pumped through your system at high velocity, they are pumped at a low pressure to ensure no damaged is caused to your heating system during the power flush. The unwanted debris and dirt then flow out to a filter attached to the power flush machine. Once the cleaning process has been completed our Central Heating Flush engineer will then re-fill your heating system with on pH neutral water and balance your radiators.
A power flush can take between 4-6 hours depending on the size and condition of your central heating system. All of our Central Heating Flush engineers are fully qualified and receive extensive on-going training to ensure all of their knowledge is up-to-date, therefore providing you with the best possible service.
At Central Heating Flush, all our engineers are fully qualified and experienced, able to answer any of your questions like what is power flushing? As well as power flushing, our engineers can also install MagnaClean filters and TRV’s, and conduct a boiler service. Our services are available to all home owners, landlords, estate agents and property maintenance agencies in London and the surrounding areas.
To book any of our services, please call us now on 0208 9516 825 or 03333 200 468, alternatively fill in the contact us form on our website and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.
]]>Having a power flush on your heating system will reduce the chances of any unexpected and expensive breakdowns and repairs. The build up of sludge, dirt and blockages in your system can have a huge impact on the way your heating system works. Overtime if left, the sludge and debris left in your system can eventually cause your heating system to stop working altogether, which is why it is important for power flushing to be completed.
When having a new boiler installed it is also imperative that a power flushing is completed prior to the installation to ensure the system is free from sludge, dirt and blockages which could potentially damage your new boiler if left in your system.
The most common signs that your central heating system may need power flushing is loud noises coming from the boiler, cold spots on radiators, dirty water emerging when you bleed your radiators, fluctuating hot water temperature or a boiler which is slow to warm up.
Power flushing is carried out by connecting a power flushing machine to the most convenient point in your system, usually the radiator tails. Water is then pumped through the system at high velocity dislodging the unwanted substances. A chemical cleansing agent is then flushed through the system providing a more thorough cleaning process within your heating system. Although the water and chemicals are pumped through your system at high velocity, we ensure it is also done at a low pressure to ensure no damage is caused to your system whilst having a power flush carried out. Once all of the unwanted substances have been cleared out, the power flushing machine pumps clean water, with no cleaning chemicals, through the system so that only clean pH neutral water is left in the central heating at the end of power flushing. Applying an inhibitor to the system, or fitting a magnetic filter to the return pipe following a power flush will maintain the level of clean achieved by the power flush.
Power flushing a central heating system can generally take 4-8 hours; however this can vary depending on the size and condition of your central heating system. There is minimal dismantling to be done, as in most cases each radiator does not need to be disconnected for power flushing, so little disruption is caused by power flushing.
At Central Heating Flush, all our engineers are fully qualified and experienced, able to answer any of your questions like what is power flushing? As well as power flushing, our engineers can also install MagnaClean filters and TRV’s, and conduct a boiler service. Our services are available to all home owners, landlords, estate agents and property maintenance agencies in London and the surrounding areas.
To book any of our services, please call us now on 0208 9516 825 or 03333 200 468, alternatively fill in the contact us form on our website and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.
]]>Insulating water pipes is incredibly important during winter to prevent the water from freezing and causing burst pipes. It is also recommended to insulate hot water tanks. If you will be away over the winter period you should turn the water off before you go to prevent pipes bursting.
Proper wall and loft insulation will help your home retain heat and reduce energy bills as you will not need to set the heating as high, or have it on as long. Cheaper insulating options include putting up thicker curtains or drapes, and using draft excluders around doors and windows.
As the heating system and boiler will be in use far more over the winter months, it is important to check they are in full working order beforehand and protect yourself from high repair bills. Having a boiler service can identify any problems with a heating system, and make sure that there is no harmful carbon monoxide gas being released.
Using timers for radiators and the hot water will save you money, as they ensure energy is only being used when needed. Having TRV’s fitted to radiators will also help to control how much energy you use by regulating room temperature.
If any of your radiators are cold at the top, they will need bleeding to release trapped air. Radiators which are cold at the bottom may have a build up of sludge and debris inside, so a power flush to clear the system is recommended. Sludge reduces efficiency and can cause a boiler to breakdown, so our experienced engineers from Central Heating Flush recommend bleeding a radiator to check the water is clean; dirty water indicates the build up of sludge. Sealed systems will need topping up after bleeding radiators.
Leaves and other debris can block gutters, preventing water from flowing out properly. This water could freeze and expand, potentially lifting the roof tiles. More rainfall will back up over the frozen water, and may seep into your home from under the roof tiles. It is important to check the drainpipes are clear from leaves too, so the water doesn’t overspill from the gutters. Fixing wire mesh over the top of the guttering can prevent more blockages forming in the gutters and drainpipes.
Ensuring the guttering and drain pipes are securely fixed is also important so that they are not damaged or dislodged by blustery gales.
While roofing stays in good shape for many years it is wise to inspect it before winter. Securing loose tiles and replacing any damaged tiles or shingles is important to prevent any leaks. Water-marks on ceilings are an indication of damage to the roof and should be rectified as soon as possible.
If you chimney is going to be in use, it is important to check it is not blocked and that the brickwork is not damaged. This will ensure all fumes are carried out of your home, and make sure that no harmful carbon monoxide gas can circulate your house.
If you choose to take on these repairs yourself, you must of course take sensible safety precautions to prevent any falls, and ladders should not be placed up against the guttering as this may displace them.
Trimming of the top of tall trees is wise as they bend and may break in strong winds, which could cause damage to buildings or cars the broken pieces hit. If the trees are near phone lines, the trees should be cut blow them ideally, to prevent the lines from being brought down by the trees.
If you have a pond, they should be cleaned before the colder weather arrives, with any ice regularly broken to ensure the water remains oxygenated.
All garden tools, ornaments, tables and chairs, hanging baskets and pot plants should be brought inside to prevent damage to them.
Here at Central Heating Flush we specialise in central heating maintenance, offering services which include; boiler servicing, power flushing and the supply and installation of TRV’s and MagnaClean filters. We operate in London and the surrounding areas, with our services available to home owners, landlords, estate agents and property maintenance agencies. If you would like to book any of our services, call us today on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468, or email us [email protected].
]]>Sludge build up puts pressure on a boiler’s components, making it have to work much harder to maintain heat output. Having a sludge-free central heating system will maintain a boiler’s efficiency, reducing both carbon emissions and your energy bills. A MagnaClean filter will also protect a heating system against the damaging effects of iron oxide sludge which can cause problems including; pin-holing from corrosion, loud boiler noises, the boiler or radiators becoming slow to warm up, radiator cold spots and fluctuating hot water temperature.
There are no on-going running costs with a MagnaClean filter, which has the same 10 year lifespan as a boiler. The MagnaClean filters can collect, on average, a year’s worth of sludge build up when attached to a new or recently power flushed system, and will then need cleaning, which is a very simple process which could be carried out yourself, or by one of our engineers from Central Heating Flush at the same time as your annual boiler service. If attached to a system which has a large build up of sludge inside, the MagnaClean filter will need to be cleaned more regularly for the first year, then once a year thereafter.
MagnaClean filters can also be used alongside a power flush for more effective cleaning. A power flush machine pumps water and cleaning chemicals through a heating system at high velocity to dislodge the sludge, which is then carried out to the MagnaClean filter until only clean water is left in the heating system. Fitting a MagnaClean filter to a system following a power flush will maintain the level of clean that was achieved by the power flush.
The MagnaClean filters can be attached to a variety of places along a central heating system, but it is best positioned on the return pipe to the boiler, after the last radiator on the circuit. The MagnaClean filters also feature an air vent for easy chemical dosing of your central heating system, without having to isolate the system.
Here at Central Heating Flush, our Gas Safe registered heating engineers are fully qualified to install MagnaClean filters and to conduct power flushing and boiler servicing. Our services are available in London and the surrounding areas to all homeowners, landlords, estate agents and property maintenance agencies. To book any of our services, call us today on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468, or email us [email protected].
]]>Power flushing cleans a central heating system of sludge and debris to help prevent damage and blockages; it can improve the efficiency of parts and restore them to full working order. HOWEVER, if a part is broken, a power flush will not repair it. If a radiator, section of pipe work, or boiler part is severely blocked, a power flush may not be able to clear the blockage completely, so replacements of the affected parts will be required.
If new parts or a new boiler is fitted to a system which has sludge and debris inside it, the sludge and debris will begin to clog up the new parts/boiler just the same as in the old parts/boiler, causing premature problems to develop with the replacements. A power flush should be conducted before the new parts or boiler is fitted, so they can be fitted to a clean system to prevent damage and blockages developing.
Magnetic filters are best fitted to the return pipe of a new or clean central heating system to collect sludge and debris as it forms, a magnetic filter only collects loose sludge and debris as it flows through and cannot collect large amounts of sludge and debris. A power flush can remove almost 100% of both loose and stuck-on sludge and debris, a magnetic filter can be fitted following a power flush to maintain the level of clean achieved by the power flush.
Sludge inhibitor only prevents the build up of new sludge; it does not remove the existing sludge, so it is best applied to a central heating system after a power flush has been completed. So-called sludge removal chemicals only break down the existing sludge into smaller particles so that they flow more easily through the system, the sludge will remain in the system which means problems can still develop over time as a result of sludge.
Our experienced plumbers and Gas Safe registered heating engineers at Central Heating Flush know how boilers work in detail, so they will be able to conduct a power flush safely and correctly, dealing with any problems that can occur during a power flush swiftly. Power flushing, which can be a time consuming process, usually taking between 4 and 8 hours to complete, can damage a system if carried out incorrectly, costing more time and money for repairs than hiring a professional to perform a power flush for you. Power flushing is much more competitively priced now than a few years ago, so it may not cost as much as you think.
Nb. While the build up of sludge and debris in a central heating system is a common cause of problems experienced with systems, it is not the only possible cause. An easy way to check if your central heating system would benefit from a power flush is to bleed a radiator; dirty water indicates the build up of sludge and debris and a power flush is recommended.
Central Heating Flush specialise in central heating maintenance offering several services which include; power flushing, boiler servicing and the supply and installation of TRV’s and MagnaClean (magnetic) filters. Our services are available in London and the surrounding areas to all landlords, home owners, estate agents and property maintenance agencies. If you would like to book with us, call us today on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468, or email us [email protected].
]]>Central Heating Flush advise monitoring the pressure of your boiler to ensure it is kept within the range its manufacturer recommends, ensuring the boiler functions correctly. If the pressure drops, follow the manufacturer’s guide to resolve this, it is often a very simple process. If the pressure regularly drops, there may be a leak and you should call a heating engineer to check for leaks and resolve any faults for you.
When using the heating, do not have it turned up too high, setting a thermostat at 18-20⁰C should keep your home nice and warm, without putting lots of pressure on the system, prolonging its life. If you need to have the heating turned up higher than this to stay warm, we recommend ensuring your home is properly insulated to conserve the heat in your home.
Our experienced engineers from Central Heating Flush recommend turning your boiler and central heating on for a short time during long periods when it is not in use, as this will prevent moving parts from seizing up so that the system will function correctly when it is needed. This only needs to be for 10 minutes once a month, and is particularly important for older boilers.
While the heating is on, check that the radiators have heated up evenly. If they are cold at the top they need bleeding to release trapped air. Strange noises from the boiler, or if the boiler is slow to warm up is also an indication of trapped air, so the boiler may need to be bled as well. If the radiators are cold at the bottom, or if sections of the pipe work are cold or again, if the boiler makes a strange noise or is slow to warm up, there may be a build up of sludge in the heating system. A power flush will clear the sludge from the system and restore full heat output.
Applying chemical inhibitors to the heating system will prevent the formation of sludge; a result of rusting due to the constant flow of water through the system. The inhibitors will not remove sludge; neither will so-called sludge removal chemicals, which only break down sludge into smaller parts so they flow more easily through the system. Inhibitor chemicals are best applied to a new or recently power flushed heating system to maintain the level of clean achieved by the power flush.
Magnetic filters, such as the MagnaClean filter, are an alternative to inhibitor chemicals. These are fitted to the return pipe of the system and collect loose sludge that flows through a system, preventing it from entering the boiler. Like inhibitor chemicals, they are best installed to a new system or one that has recently been power flushed, and will need to be emptied once a year, which is a very simple procedure.
Central Heating Flush specialises in central heating maintenance, with all our Gas Safe engineers fully qualified and experienced in boiler servicing, power flushing and the installation of TRV’s and MagnaClean filters, which we will supply for you. Our services are available in London and the surrounding areas to home owners, landlords, estate agents and property maintenance agencies. To book any of our services, call us today on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468, or email us [email protected].
]]>Carbon monoxide poisoning is usually associated with gas central heating systems, but heating systems and fires which burn wood, oil or coal can also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if the boiler and flues are not properly maintained. Faulty boilers do not burn correctly and blocked flues mean that smoke is not extracted from your home properly.
• Flames which usually burn blue, now burning yellow/orange
• Sooty areas surrounding fuel burning appliances
• Fires going out, burning slowly or that are hard to light
If you notice any of these signs you should turn off the boiler or fire, open some windows and doors and go outside. Carbon monoxide is a clear and odourless gas, so you may want to consider having a carbon monoxide alarm fitted by your boiler or fireplaces to alert you to it. Carbon monoxide poisoning is serious and can be fatal, symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
• Drowsiness
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
Turn off your boiler or fire, open a window and go outside if you are experiencing any of these symptoms to clear your lungs. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.
It is illegal for unqualified persons to service or repair your boiler, do not try to fix or service your boiler yourself either, as you could be breaking the law. Make sure anyone who comes to service your boiler is fully qualified and for gas central heating systems, they must be Gas Safe Registered; ask to see their registration card before letting them work on your boiler.
Here at Central Heating Flush, all of our engineers are fully qualified, Gas Safe Registered and experienced in boiler servicing, as well as in power flushing and the installation of carbon monoxide alarms, TRV’s and magnaclean filters. Our services are available in London and the surrounding areas to home owners, landlords, estate agents and property maintenance agencies. To book any of these services with us, call us today on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468, or email us [email protected].
]]>As sludge and debris build up is not the only cause of problems with a central heating system, Central Heating Flush’s experienced engineers advise that the easiest way to check if your central heating system would benefit from power flushing is to bleed a radiator; dirty water indicates the build up of sludge and debris, so power flushing is recommended.
Power flushing a central heating system will prevent and can often resolve many of the most common problems experienced with heating systems such as;
• loud/unusual boiler noises
• a boiler which is slow to warm up
• radiators becoming slow to warm up
• radiators requiring regular bleeding to release air
• radiator cold spots
• fluctuating hot water temperature
If left to worsen, these problems may lead to the breakdown of the boiler or irreversible damage to various components in the boiler, all of which could cost a lot more than a power flush to repair or replace, with the system out of use in the meantime.
Power flushing a central heating system can also save money in the long term on bills, as the boiler will run far more efficiently with sludge and debris removed from the system. This is because the parts are under less pressure with sludge and debris removed, not having to work as hard to provide the same level of operation and heat output. The more efficient running of the central heating reduces the amount of energy used, which will lower your energy bills, with carbon emissions also reduced.
Power flushing before having a new boiler fitted to an existing central heating system will ensure the new boilers warranty remains valid, and will also prevent the sludge and debris in the system from clogging up the new boiler, causing problems to develop with it; the same applies when replacing boiler parts such as the heat exchanger. Applying inhibitor to the system, or fitting a magnetic filter to the return pipe following a power flush will maintain the level of clean achieved by the power flush.
Central Heating Flush engineers are all experienced and fully qualified to conduct power flushing, as well as boiler servicing and to install TRV’s and MagnaClean (magnetic) filters, which we will supply for you. Our services are all available across London and the surrounding areas to all home owners, landlords, estate agents and property maintenance agencies. To book with us, call us today on 0208 9516 825 | 03333 200 468, or email us [email protected].
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