Powerflush diy

[Richrara]

having just paid out £475 for a powerflush, to find out my system is still full of sludge and that @&!! Won't come back, going to attempt it myself, hiring a machine from hss. Am I crazy? Anyone up for giving me instructions from the very top (I've no plumbing experience). It's an old (newly unvented) system, with a tank in the airing cupboard.
Anything to watch out for that could cause damage to the boiler or pipework?
Cheers

 

[dilalio]

https://www.sentinelprotects.com/uk/support/guides/how-to-powerflush-central-heating-system

 

[omega015]

dilalio posted link but can I ask: How long ago was it flushed? Why do you suspect its still full of sludge? Also how did you pay? (if by card you probably could dispute the charge with your bank).

 

[ianmcd]

when you do it be carefull if you are going to use sentinell X800 it should only be used by professionals, yes it does the job but if not totally removed it will cause you problems

 

[Richrara]

Thanks all.

dilalio posted link but can I ask: How long ago was it flushed? Why do you suspect its still full of sludge? Also how did you pay? (if by card you probably could dispute the charge with your bank).

He refused to come back (i have the emails, so will report him to relevant bodies...anyone advise who they might be please?) and so I had to get someone else in who cut out pipe around tank, which was still caked in magnetite. They also cleaned magnaclean which was also full of sludge...and this was three days after powerflush. I paid cash unfortunately. I've resorted to British gas as at least it's guaranteed. They've also been twice this week and got it back up and running for me (I have cover but initially wanted to avoid their powerflush charge).

 

[Richrara]

It was only flushed 10 days ago.

 

[BigSnoopy01]

Did the powerflush take all day? What chemicals were used? What pre and post survey paperwork was left? British gas won't guarantee much after powerflushing but they should do a proper pre and post survey at least.

Sometimes the only solution is to renmove the badly blocked paperwork.

 

[oilboffin]

Should have got b gas at least they do it properly.Bob

 

[Ihavenojob]

Did he say he would flush it, or restore circulation? If you asked for a powerflush & got a powerflush then you got what was described. If he said he would restore circulation then he hasn't done as described.

 

[ChrisR]

First get some Sentinel X400 and leave it in the system for 4-6 WEEKS.
Hard deposits take a long time to break down unless you use chemicals which may cause leaks in an older system.

 

[PullerGas]

First get some Sentinel X400 and leave it in the system for 4-6 WEEKS.
Hard deposits take a long time to break down unless you use chemicals which may cause leaks in an old system.

Sentinel X400 will be farting at thunder Chris. It's used as a flushing chemical in new systems.
On the whole Sentinel products are c.ap.

Proper Power Flushing is not a job for a DaftyDIYer.

 

[DaveHerns]

farting at thunder

Where do you get these phrases from ?

 

[ChrisR]

"It's used as a flushing chemical in new systems."

Nope - well, they all help flush a new system.
You thinking of x300?

Vee haff extensive files ...

X400 gets stuff shifted if you leave it a long time
It's an active flocculating agent

X800 is a good chelating agent, but doesn't work very well on very solid deposits.

The op has an old system, so I wouldn't advise Kamco FX (phosphoric acid) Or Fernox's carboxylic whose name I can't remember.

 

[Richrara]

Did he say he would flush it, or restore circulation? If you asked for a powerflush & got a powerflush then you got what was described. If he said he would restore circulation then he hasn't done as described.

I asked for a powerflush, I got an expensive crap one. 11 rads, 8 new and 3 old. Took him 4 hours, he told me it wasn't very dirty and didn't need to bang the rads.
New problem: he also fitted an expansion vessel (£200) 10 days ago as he was struggling to refill system after powerflush. Now it's losing pressure, falling from 1/1.5 to zero in a day. BG topped it up yesterday, said it was leaking (but they claim to have fixed that) and it's at zero again now.
Could dirt in the system cause the pressure in the vessel to drop so quickly? Or has he cocked fitting the vessel up as well?

 

[Richrara]

P.s I've found out subsequently the system is filthy, still. Had a piece of pipe cut out after flush and it was almost entirely bunged up and magnaclean was filthy and full of sludge.