25 Avon Close Bradford on AvonBA15 1JJ
Telephone: 01225-869036, or (m) 07971-270064
Email: ian@pritchard-heating.co.uk
Telephone: 01225-869036, or (m) 07971-270064
Email: ian@pritchard-heating.co.uk
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If you own your own home or rent it from a private landlord, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £300 for powerflushing under the Warm Front Scheme.
What is Powerflushing?
Some important things you need to know about powerflushing and why it is so important
- Powerflushing is a rapid movement of water through the system, aided by the use of cleaning chemicals to remove deposits.
- It is the only effective way to remove debris from the system.
- Expelling the dirty water to drain and replacing with clean water from the mains supply, which can be done in either direction of flow.
- After flushing the radiators the system water should be tested with a TDS meter and should be within 10% of the reading gained from the mains water. The clean system is then ready for treatment with a corrosion inhibitor.
- Without this treatment no guarantees can be given as to the life or efficiency of the system.
What is Water Treatment?
Without the introduction of cleansers and corrosion inhibitors a central heating system will start to corrode from day one, even on a brand new sealed system. Fluxes used during (the) installation can plate out on the inside of radiators and cause pin holes within weeks if the system is not flushed out with a Pre-Commission cleanser and then treated with corrosion inhibitor.
Where a new boiler is to be fitted to an older system, cleansing is of utmost importance in order to remove layers of Magnetite and in hard water areas limescale. If this is not done a Hi Efficiency boiler with a SEDBUK A or B rating would be brought down to a C or D rating, making the installation impracticable and resulting in early failure of the boiler. This would not be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty in these circumstances. In order to give the system its full life expectancy, water treatment should always be carried out.
Where a new boiler is to be fitted to an older system, cleansing is of utmost importance in order to remove layers of Magnetite and in hard water areas limescale. If this is not done a Hi Efficiency boiler with a SEDBUK A or B rating would be brought down to a C or D rating, making the installation impracticable and resulting in early failure of the boiler. This would not be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty in these circumstances. In order to give the system its full life expectancy, water treatment should always be carried out.
Why do you need Water Treatment?
To minimise corrosion of the system metals to inhibit the formation of scale and sludge
To inhibit the growth of microbiological organisms
To maintain the engineering design specifications and energy efficiency of the system
To restore energy efficiency of the system where appropriate
To inhibit the growth of microbiological organisms
To maintain the engineering design specifications and energy efficiency of the system
To restore energy efficiency of the system where appropriate
Who says so?
Building Regulations - Part L refers to the Domestic Heating Compliance Guide. This states that the minimum provision in new and existing dwellings is
(a) Thorough cleaning and flushing out before installing a new boiler
(b) During final fill add the corrosion and scale formulation (Corrosion Inhibitor).
Follow guidance given in BS 7593:2006
(c) Refer to boiler manufacturers instructions for appropriate treatment
(d) Where hardness > 200ppm, treat feed water to water heaters and hot water circuit of combi to reduce limescale accumulation
(a) Thorough cleaning and flushing out before installing a new boiler
(b) During final fill add the corrosion and scale formulation (Corrosion Inhibitor).
Follow guidance given in BS 7593:2006
(c) Refer to boiler manufacturers instructions for appropriate treatment
(d) Where hardness > 200ppm, treat feed water to water heaters and hot water circuit of combi to reduce limescale accumulation
The results of best practice
The benefits of conducting Water Treatment / Powerflushing within Central Heating Systems:
A quieter boiler because of the removal of lime scale build up on the heat exchanger.
Hotter Radiators and a quicker warm up from the removal of Black Sludge “Magnetite” and elimination of cold spots.
A longer lasting system. Pumps will last longer and radiators will have an extended life if there is no corrosion present and suitable corrosion inhibitors are used.
Lower fuel bills due to a more efficient system. It costs more to heat solid magnetite than it does water! Estimated that up to 25% savings can be made.
Complies with The Benchmark Code of Practice exceeding the BS:7593 2006 standard when installing new boilers on old or new installations.
A safer environment when under taking system cleaning. Self contained unit. No taking individual radiators of the wall and struggling to avoid getting black sludge on carpets etc.
A quieter boiler because of the removal of lime scale build up on the heat exchanger.
Hotter Radiators and a quicker warm up from the removal of Black Sludge “Magnetite” and elimination of cold spots.
A longer lasting system. Pumps will last longer and radiators will have an extended life if there is no corrosion present and suitable corrosion inhibitors are used.
Lower fuel bills due to a more efficient system. It costs more to heat solid magnetite than it does water! Estimated that up to 25% savings can be made.
Complies with The Benchmark Code of Practice exceeding the BS:7593 2006 standard when installing new boilers on old or new installations.
A safer environment when under taking system cleaning. Self contained unit. No taking individual radiators of the wall and struggling to avoid getting black sludge on carpets etc.
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