Does fitting a Magnaclean professional unit do away with the need to powerflush/

[Storm]

or chemical clean of the whole system?

Sorry - I didn't know where to post this. I have been comparing quotes for replacing our boiler. Most say it will need a chemical clean or power flush to clean out the old system ( I assume radiators - ours are old) if only for warranty purposes. One quotes the magnaclean instead. I have never heard of it. We are not made of money, but don't want to cut corners either.

Thanks.

 

[pauls]

magna cleans are a good pice of equipment i fit them on every boiler install i do, they protect the system and collect all the iron oxide sludge that forms in the system via a magnetic filter. the system should be cleaned before a new install to comply with the manufacture.

 

[pauls]

no the magna clean wont do away with the need to powerflush

 

[yorkieplumber]

powerflush is not always advisable on old systems, magnacleans are a good piece of kit, but you still need a inhibitor in system for protection.

 

[Storm]

Thanks - I wonder why he doen't seem to think he needs to do one then. I was going to go with this quote, but if he is missing out an important step, it makes me nervous that he'll miss something else somewhere else... Is it better to powerflush or chemical clean, or does it make no difference? Does the chemical clean smell (I have young children and don't want them breathing fumes...)

 

[Storm]

Thank you Yorkie - what's an inhibitor?

 

[pauls]

the chemical put in is fume free so no need to worry with young children on the fumes. an inhibitor stops the system from rusting up inside.

 

[Bartdude]

A chemical clean means adding a liquid to the heating system and letting it circulate,preferably for over 1 week,then the system is drained and flushed through and the idea is for a lot of the sludge in the system to be removed.

A powerflush means using a machine to connect to the heating system,a cleaning agent is added and the radiators are cleaned one at a time,the powerflush machine uses a powerful pump and is more thorough.It takes 1 day usually.Will be more expensive too.

Both methods will be adequate for warranty purposes as long as recognised chemical treatments are used,if you use Fernox or Sentinel you'll be fine.

The Magnaclean will provide ongoing protection but should be used in conjunction with the cleaning process,not instead of.

You'll get lots of opinions on which method is should be used,I think it depends on the situation.Personally I only use a powerflush on a really dirty system,I don't own a machine so I borrow one if I need it,it can end up finding leaks in systems too.Some of the other lads on here use them more than I do,maybe they can give a few more pros and cons.

I'd be surprised if you had been quoted to have a Magnaclean fitted without a clean too,but you never know! Only you can decide which quote to go with though,did he seem pretty confident and sound like he knew his stuff?? Mind you,there's lots of people who can talk a good game

Edit: To answer your question,an inhibitor is a chemical that is added to the heating water to prevent corrosion and sludge build up.

 

[Mustard]

use the boiler as a power flush use slug remover in the system run for up to 30 days then drain system and clean the magnaclean and refill the system, due to a power flush can pop joints in old systems

 

[Centralheatking]

If you are intending to fit a new boiler on to an old/existing system then what you have been told is correct. Older boilers have larger water pathways through them. new boilers have tiny but efficient heat exchangers that will not be able to cope with the black sludge you are probably familiar with.

THe new boilers will block up - a bit like cholersterol in your body. So in order to keep your new boiler under cover from whoever made it is is now essential to

1. clean your existing heating system 2. put in a filter to keep it clean (magnaclean are old technology now - there are better ones)

I could go on forever about this as we specialise in water treatment of non potable sealed systems.

centralheatking