Anti-rust

[annabell]

Does anyone know what the liquid which you put into radiators to prevent rust is called? We've just had a new radiator added and the plumber who came in drained all the radiators and said he would come back to put this anti-rust back into the system, but he has not returned, and I am trying to see if I can do this myself. Anyone any ideas how I can do this?

 

[oilman]

Corrosion inhibitor. Made by several companies, Fernox, Kamco, Tower, Sentinel, Purimanchos (or some such spelling). Available at B&Q, Homebase, Builders merchants, Plumbers merchants.

The chemical is some molybdate compound.

To get it in do you have a sealed system, or a tank in the loft with a normal hot water cylinder?

If the latter, tie the ballcok up in the header tank, drain a couple of bucket fuls from the system, pour corrosion inhibitor into tank and release the ballcock. Lastly bleed the radiators and any other bleed points you can find.

If it's a sealed system, let me know, it's not quite so easy.

 

[annabell]

I think I have a sealed system, just a combi boiler where the radiators are connected to

 

[oilman]

Ah, you will need the expensive version of the corrosion inhibitor which can be connected into a rediator bleed valve. I hope it has the detailed instructions as I've never used one.

The general approach is to release the boiler pressure, shut both valves on a radiator, and unnscrew the bleed valve.
Screw the inhibitor cartridge in,
open one valve,
squeeze the inhibitor in to the radiator,
shut valve,
unscrew cartridge,
screw in bleed valve,
open radiator valves,
pressurise system,
run heating system.

I think the inhibitor cartridge costs about £25.

 

[breezer]

i saw something like that ina superstore the other day, except in the picture they appeared to be "injecting it in"

 

[masona]

Just done mine the other day,the fernox injector inhibitor cartridge have a flexible thinner hose on the end which you push the products thru' the bleed valve.