What is power flushing and do you need it?
You might have heard of “power flushing”. You may have also heard that it’s something you’re supposed to have done on your central heating system every so often.
But what actually is it, and what are the signs to look out for to decide whether you need to get it done?
Well… here at Chelmsford Gas Services we’ve been power flushing in Chelmsford (amongst many other things related to boilers and central heating) for many-a-year. So we’re well-placed to answer those questions for you…
1. Radiator sludge
A power flush is a cleansing process that you can have carried out on your central heating system to remove all of the black oxide (sludge) and corrosion deposits that can accumulate in the pipes over time.
These deposits tend to build up due to two metals found in a heating system – copper and iron – and the process that occurs when they meet, which is known as electrolysis. The accumulation of these deposits can put pressure on your heating system with the passing years, which is why having a power flush performed on your boiler every now and then can be so crucial.
Chelmsford also has very hard water containing a lot of limescale, which can build up in your system
2. Does that sludge and limescale matter?
In short, yes, because the water in your heating system runs through your boiler to make your radiators warm. If that water is sludge or the system is built up with limescale, it damages your boiler and often causes breakdown. In the meantime, it makes your system work inefficiently and increases your energy bills.
Typical signs of sludge and limescale in your heating system include:
– cold patches in your radiators
– a noisy boiler
– when you bleed your radiators, the water is discoloured or no water comes out at all.
– radiators are slow to warm up
– your tap water is cloudy.
Any of these are signs that your central heating system is very likely in need of power flushing in Chelmsford.
3. By the time you notice the signs, the damage is often done
By the time you notice these “outward” signs, there’s a fair chance serious damage is already occurring.
That’s one of the reasons that it’s vital to have your boiler serviced every year by a professional heating engineer who is not only Gas Safe Registered, but also knowledgeable and experienced in efficient heating systems.
As part of our services, we always test your system water to enable us to know when a power flush is needed. Anything less then a test, is just a guess. We offer both one-off boiler servicing in Chelmsford and also our very own CGS Boiler Plan, which includes water testing and water quality cover as standard.
