Should I power flush?

[Arjay12345]

Hi

My radiators have been in place for 14 years. Whilst I have drained the system a few times for different reasons, I have never power flushed.

Should I power flush as a routine maintenance thing every x number of years?

I have 28 rads spread over 3 floors, each floor controlled by its own zone valve. Vailant system boiler feeding a an unvented tank. All pipework is 14 years old. I recently had a second pump fitted on the return to boost CH water circulation.

When I bleed rads, the water isn't clear, even after a recent full drain and refill, which leads me to believe either gravity itself isn't rinsing out all debris. I also read somewhere that alu rads have a lifespan of 10 years so wondering if they naturally start to corrode internally.

If I power flush, then what are the things that could go wrong? I've seen on another YouTube that if you agitate the power flush in forward and reverse, them some ball part in the zone valves can pop out. Anyone know about this?


And any other potential side effect in general?


Thanks

 

[Wayners]

Inhibitor in the system?
Magnaclean fitted?

If water is dirty replace with clean and inhibitor.
Power flush moves the sludge and not needed id say.

 

[Arjay12345]

The system did have inhibitor until the last flush when the second pump was installed in Jan this year. I already have bottles waiting to be added but thought I'd hold back if I am going to power flush.

Magnaclean fitted and cleaned in Jan too. Had lots of gunk. Not sure when it was cleaned prior to that.

Thoughts?

 

[Wayners]

I'd just flush through then. I'm never impressed with some of the power flushing and think it's better to remove radiators but you have loads.
You could use a cleaner and flush through before adding inhibitor. When that's in any rust will stop

 

[Madrab]

If the system water isn't clean and the mag filter is catching too much detritus then may be time for a proper flush, that being said a manual flush and mains flush may be good enough though if you have 28 rads then that's going to be quite a job

Is the system sealed or is it open vent?

Once a system is cleaned and properly treated and maintained with no leaks etc then it should stabilise and not need cleaned again

 

[Arjay12345]

Great, thanks for the feedback all. I'm the type of person where until I know its not flushed through, I can't feel satisfied! I remember doing each rad one at a time at my parents decades ago, bit it's just not practical in my home.

Should I be concerned that the zone valves may pop and need replacing if I do flush?

 

[Madrab]

Is the system sealed or is it open vent?

 

[Arjay12345]

It's sealed

 

[Madrab]

It's sealed

OK, so cleaner into the system (say an X 400), run it around the whole system for 2-3weeks, running the system every day for an hour or 2. Gravity drain and then mains flush, hopefully it has drains on the flow and return?

Flush it well - drain and then fill the whole system then drain and fill it again a couple of times. Then you can mains flush each rad, keep going until the system runs clear. Final fill and drain. Empty mag filter. Then fill and add at least 2, maybe 3 bottles of inhibitor for 28 rads, system water volume dependent.