System flush

[Dooneys]

I don\\\'t live in a hard water area and have never used a corrosion inhibitor or flush treatment. Question is: is it safe to flush the system, am I likely to get any leaks and/or other problems as a result ? I am inclined simply to fill my system back up with plain water (I have a header tank style system)

 

[ollski]

do you mean powerflush?..if so depends on the age and condition. No one offers any guarantees that there wont be leaks but there aren't usually. You won't get any limescale problems in a soft water area but if you have never put a corrosion inhibitor in your system you will get a magnetite sludge build up sooner rather than later, it is where the oxygen in fresh water rusts away your rads from the inside

 

[Dooneys]

Thanks for reply, your advice was appreciated.

I was thinking more of using one of these chemical treatments which you put into the system and leave for a few days before draining and flushing - I must admit I don't know how to flush the system or power flush. I would be a bit wary of overflowing the header tank in the loft and causing a flood. I'm only considering this at the moment because I am replacing a radiator and will have to drain the system down to do it. I don't have any particular problems at the moment other than a few creaking pipes.

 

[breezer]

you said you are replacing a radiator and have to drain the system, why cant you turn both valves off change and bleed rad, no need to drain system

 

[Dooneys]

Yes, sorry - its a bit more complicated. I removed a radiator a while ago and sealed off pipes and now I'm plumbing in a replacement in a slightly different position so new pipe work.