This is something that I think may be an issue, the tank itself is relatively clean, but as for the age and servicing of the system, whether it’s had cleaner or inhibitor put through it at any point is a mystery, I was considering having someone out to do a power flush on the whole system so I can start fresh and if after that I find it’s a component issue then at least the condition of the whole system can be taken off the suspect list.
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If it's an old system then I'd go for a powerflush and possibly a new circulation pump. I've worked on many systems and I've yet to find one that hasn't benefited from a powerflush. Only problem with this is that some people charge extortionate prices for a powerflush. I recently had a customer who paid €800 to get 9 radiators powerflushed and the system was left unbalanced. That's a criminally insane amount for just 9 rads.
£800?!? Chuffing Norah I hope it’s nowhere near that! I just can’t seem to make any sense of the system, I can get all of the rads warm, to about 40°, but the only one that gets mega hot is the first one in the bathroom, and when I get the others warm in one room it’s at the cost of another rad in a different room going cold.
What exactly is the purpose of checking the different temperatures of the flow and return to the boiler? Is it to see whether the boiler is shutting off before it’s managed to allow enough time to pass to send hot water to all the rads? If that’s the case would that show that the returns are opened up too far across the whole system allowing the hot water to return quicker to the boiler than it should do?
What exactly is the purpose of checking the different temperatures of the flow and return to the boiler? Is it to see whether the boiler is shutting off before it’s managed to allow enough time to pass to send hot water to all the rads? If that’s the case would that show that the returns are opened up too far across the whole system allowing the hot water to return quicker to the boiler than it should do?
heat loss and efficiency would be the main reason but I'm sure others have different options. the same with balancing the system, some say just balance the flow others say balance flow and return though Danfoss have come out with a new TRV that say leave the return fully open, they even have an app for setting the TRV to the size of the radiators.
All that being said, it sounds to me like you either have a flow issue or the boiler is too small for the system but I don't know what boiler you have or how many radiators you're running. if you're handy with your hands try locking down the smallest radiator in the house and drain it down then take it outside and flush it out with a hose. if there's a lot of sludge in the system you'll know by doing that or like another person said try a magnet on the pipe work. if you do take a rad off and flush with a hose it won't help your problem, I'm only suggesting it so you can see if there's much black iron oxide in the system
Ok, I’ve just had a chappy around, he’s checked up and down, had his camera out and checked all around and agrees that there must be a whole load of debris in the system, he has suggested a pre treatment to soften up all the gunk, disturb the rads, fit a filter to the system, clean it all out, but he’s also suggested that the air separator(?) be removed as they can bring their own problems, and also something I didn’t even know was a thing, but to remove the gravity side of the system by fitting a pressure reservoir, which should eliminate so much of the rusty sludge side of things because the system wouldn’t be vented anymore. Mind blown.
sounds like a good starting point. I swear by a powerflush and sometimes pre treat the system if I think it's extremely bad but when a powerflush is done correctly I don't think pre treatment is necessary but that is only an opinion.
Going from a vented system to a pressurized system will certainly help too and a magfilter on the system after powerflushing will keep the system clean. sounds like you have the right man for the job
I guess it is but prices shouldn't be extortionate either. the price for supplies here in Ireland have gone crazy. not sure if I mentioned before but I had a customer that paid €800 for a powerflush of just 9 radiators and €705 for a kerosene boiler service, 3 weeks later the burner packed up, the motor had gone! I don't know how some people sleep at night charging prices like that.
Well for the pretreatment, new chemicals, power flush, new pump, rad vibrating, filter, separator removal, cleaning out all the upstairs tanks he’s quoted £1200 + vat, and if I want to do away with the vented system that will be another £150 + vat. He has excellent reviews and if that’s a fair price then I’m happy to pay it, but I wouldn’t know one way or the other really!
for the extra 150+vat I'd get rid of the vented system and go with pressurized. they work much more efficiently. I'm about to suggest the same to a customer today.
Yeah I think that’s best, he did warn that there’s more chance of the pipes leaking as the pressure will obviously be greater, it’s extremely unlikely but he said he had to warn me so I can’t go after him if he carries out the work and it happens
I was just concerned as to whether the price was in the right area or not.I price a powerflush depending on the size of the system, bigger the system the more work and chemicals needed. he's also replacing the pump and fitting a filter so that will cost a few quid too. I'm working in euros but I recently flushed a 3 story home with 16 radiators for €500. The customer didn't need a new pump and opted out of getting a filter fitted so it was just a powerflush. I can't really comment on someone else's pricing as I haven't seen your system but what I can say is I've worked on houses that have never had decent heat since they were built and after the powerflush and some work to the systems that were just badly fitted from the start people have commented that it's made their house a home. if his work has the same effect then 1200 is a fair priceYeah I think that’s best, he did warn that there’s more chance of the pipes leaking as the pressure will obviously be greater, it’s extremely unlikely but he said he had to warn me so I can’t go after him if he carries out the work and it happens
Just to update this, the chappy came out and did the work, pressurised the system, cleaned and flushed and the house has never been so warm! He has said it’s best to leave the heating on constantly at low so we’re trying that for now to see how our consumption goes, he’s turned the hot water down as he said it was running mega hot, but we may need to fettle with that a bit as the water doesn’t seem to get hot enough now, but yeah, big dent in the wallet but the house is spot on now. Thanks for the help and info guys.
Pete
Pete
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