10 Reasons Why You Need A Central Heating Powerflush
When your central heating system is not providing the correct heat output you expect, the boiler may not be the guilty party? Also, and quite worrying is the noticeable increase in your energy bill, which is something none of us want! Where would we be without an efficient central heating system in the middle of winter?
We could revert to electric fan heaters as an alternative? That would keep us entertained on freezing winter’s evening watching the electric meter dial spin round like a 45 rpm record on crack! Not the sort of expensive entertainment we want! Please check your central heating system regularly to see if there are any obvious signs that suggest your system could be heading for a fall!
This article will help you to identify if your system needs some maintenance work and particularly a PowerFlush.
Your boiler might fail?
This is the last thing we want as replacing a boiler can be inconvenient (in the middle of winter) and expensive! .The boiler is the ‘heart’ of your heating system and needs protecting. The piping, radiators, TRV’s, (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) are the systems arteries, through which water flows. Similar to the human body.
If we do not look after ourselves by exercising, eating and drinking sensibly (over time) our arteries (pipes) become clogged with arterial plaque. This puts pressure on the heart making it work even harder to combat the effects of breathlessness, weakness, tiredness, sweating etc.
Similarly, your central heating needs the right diet i.e. by feeding it with the correct dosages of a decent inhibitor, to protect it and keep it running efficiently for longer. If you drain down a radiator you will lose some of the inhibitors and lower the system’s protection. Always top it up after any drain down. It helps to prevent the build-up of sludge (arterial or pipe and radiator plaque) and protects the boiler (heart) from working harder than is necessary.
Diagnosis
Well, you’ve visited the consultant (heating engineer) and it’s not good news! Our arteries (over time) have become clogged with bad cholesterol (gloopy sludge). Thankfully, we don’t need a heart transplant (a replacement boiler) as the cholesterol can be flushed out of our system, as advised by your consultant through exercise, the right diet, and regular check-ups. It’s the same with a PowerFlush, it will cleanse the system of any nasty debris and increase its lifespan!
OK, you get the analogy?
If you don’t check, inspect or protect your system on a regular basis, it could fail due to overheating etc.
So, let’s conduct some diagnostic checks to see if your system needs a PowerFlush.
Radiators Slow to Heat
Have you noticed that the radiators are taking much longer to reach the required temperature (if they ever do)? If so, you know there is something not quite right within the system.
Higher Heating Bills?
Two things here so far, slow heating of all/some radiators and an increase in your energy consumption. If the system is not working efficiently to heat the house it means more energy and more pressure on the boiler, as it has to continuously work flat out to reach the required thermostat setting (if it ever does). A boiler working continuously, when it shouldn’t is never a good thing because it’s EXPENSIVE!
Very little Hot water
Well, with blocked pipes (arteries) what do you expect? It’s obvious that the hot water may not reach the preferred temperature. A tepid shower in the middle of winter has got to be a No, No!
The diagnostic evidence is rising and is pointing towards a PowerFlush, let’s not get carried away and continue with our checks to see if the evidence builds?
A Cold Spots in the Radiator/s
The house won’t warm up to ‘cozy’ when radiators have cold spots. Why is this happening? Arterial plaque or sludge build-up that restricts the flow of hot water around the system. A good system inhibitor will prevent this but unfortunately with the evidence so far, the system is beyond the rubicon!
You should now consider calling serviceteam Ltd to discuss your symptoms with a heating engineer?
The Radiator is Cold at the Top
By bleeding a radiator it removes trapped air. We say ‘air’ but it could be something else like hydrogen given off by the corrosive action when rust forms within the radiator. How often do you have to bleed the radiators? Another indicator that a PowerFlush or a replacement radiator/s is needed?
Dirty Water Noticed When Bleeding Radiators
If you see dirty, black or reddish discolored water whilst bleeding the radiator/s, it’s a sign that rust and sludge is already in your system and will only get worse if left!
If radiators are noisy, crackling, or gurgling it suggests the flow of hot water is being restricted due to sludge which also causes a thinning of the internal bore of the pipes (arteries).
You can now see why the boiler is having to work overtime! So far we’ve diagnosed six reasons that indicate we are in need of a PowerFlush, still not enough, OK here’s one more.
Pump Failure
The sludge has been whirring round the pump for goodness knows how long and it’s becoming noisier and warmer to the touch. The black oxide sludge contained in the system will increase wear on the impeller causing the bearings to fail and the pump to pack up!
If you have diagnosed all of a few of the above means you urgently need a PowerFlush or will need one anytime soon. The longer you delay expensive damage can happen!
