Fernox tf1

[ansell0]

Hi there i have just fitted a tf1 filter because i have been getting little black chunks in my ch water and assumed the tf1 with its strong magnet would catch all the little black chunks. i have drained the filter 3 times now only to find it gets minute particles but not the bigger bits, very annoyed, can anyone help me , have i done anything wrong???? many thanks

 

[Mike Jackson]

Where have you been seeing the little black chunks?

 

[anz]

These filters are not designed to get lots of sludge and crap out of your system.

This should be done via flushing or power flushing the system.

Installing one of these filters will then ensure that the problem doesn't reoccur by getting rid of the iron oxide that is produced thereafter.

 

[ansell0]

i have a small gauze like thing in one of my pipes that has a screw cap on the end, if i de-pressureise the boiler then take the screw cap off these black bits come out with a bit of water. now these bits must have passed the tf1 to get to the gauze filter??? just think its odd that they pass by the strong magnet then get caught by the gauze. confused

 

[PlumbBobBob]

they're not magnetic if they're not getting caught by the magnet

 

[ansell0]

they so are. i have put the magnet on them after taking the gauze out and the all stick to it? thats why its odd

 

[dancinplumba]

is it on the return pipe before the gauze ? if so shows that tf1's are not that good IMHO

 

[CES]

How are you draining the TF1? Are you removing the magnet before you open the drain valve? Maybe it could be full? I usually isolate it and remove the whole internals (the big nut on the top) because I like to see what its caught. If its not catching anything and you are getting magnetite going through it I would send it back to Fernox as its obviously not right.
Personally I've had no trouble with either the TF1's or the Adey Magnaclean they always do what it says on the box.

 

[GrahamM]

As dancinplumba, I have have heard/read they are not good units. Allegedly they are poorly designed and a lot of the crud is not held in the vortex and runs straight through.
The magnaclean although has issues with seals is a better designed in this respect.

As anz mentioned these units are not designed to clean a dirty system. They are to keep a clean system clean.

 

[ansell0]

have done everything by the instructions, on the return pipe, took the magnet out first ect ect. is it worth me putting the pump on number 1 to slow the flow????? or will that not move the bits around the system? i have got to take my secondary heat exchanger out and clean that again now because it is full of these black bits. gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[dancinplumba]

You could try but boiler may overheat and your rads and hot water may not get hot.
If these bits are still getting past filter then a different filter required me thinks imo

 

[CES]

I would agree, but I reckon if you are still getting bits through then your system may be quite dirty. How much is the TF1 catching? (i.e. open it up and take the assembly out, maybe post a pic if you have a camera/phone handy?)