Any cheap way to do a Power flush yourself?

[axil23]

A friend has been recommended a power flush by the plumber but he can't afford that. He is a DIY expert so was wondering is there a way to do a power flush on your own. Someone suggested getting a water pipe, taking the rads off and flushing each and every radiator thoroughly with water. Would that work or is a £450 power flush only option.

 

[Best]

If doing it as cheap as you can, it would be better to put a flushing chemical in for the period recommended first. Then, with help, remove each rad & set them on a couple pieces wood outside to avoid scraping the paint on bottom edge of rads. Then flush with a hose till clear. Often better to turn them upside down, fill some water into them & turn them over a few times to wash whole rad.

Or flush the rads & pipes using a hose to a rad valve ( use jubilee clips on hose! ) & another hose from other valve for outlet. Vent & feed pipes need plugged off! Turn all rads off, except one, let water flush through it for a while, then turn next rad on & other off & repeat.

 

[diamondgas]

Before powerflushing machines we use to remove the radiators individually and run water through them.

Also used two hoses, one attached from the mains cold to the heating return, the other to the heating flow and away to a drain. Ran water through each radiator individually, turning one on at a time, until the water ran clear 🙂 The flow and return were isolated from the boiler, feed and vent temporarily capped ... Yet another was two hoses again, removed the pump and connected to the respective ends. Temporarily capped the feed and vents and ran through as before! Basically we used mains cold water to push out as much sludge as possible 🙂

Certainly wouldn't recommend any of the above to a novice!! There's a lot of pressure in them there mains that can make a LOT of mess if something pops 🙂

 

[SimonG]

As above with a rubber mallet tapping the rad you are flushing.

 

[Best]

Yes, did it on jobs many years ago, added inhibitor & they are still working well & nice & clean.

 

[PowerFlusher2]

have a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJWlPDxMnCMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJWlPDxMnCM

 

[axil23]

Wow..... That's great. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Heating-eng]

Getting a plumber is your best bet, shop around and you will get it done less than £450.... I charge £245 for upto ten rads in the Leeds area.. I would also advise on fitting a filter..

 

[REDSAW]

drain down and remove all but the biggest rad.
go buy washing machine hoses for the number of rads less one.
then fix the hoses to the rad valves.
go buy some chemical flush add to system and run 24 hours.
whilst flushing and beating the rads outside with the hose and mallet.
do a drain down, remove last rad and clean outside. close of these 2 rad valves.
fill system with clean water and drain down.
now fix the rads back.
job done.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Washing Mch hose OK if you have large type radiator valve (wasp) is it not better to leave rads on with cleanser in system first ? and need help removeing rads, or black sludge over carpet, happy wife !!:ack2:

 

[axil23]

Whats the best cleanser to buy?

 

[WHPES]

If you ever get any black sludge on carpet, it WILL completely come out with a carpet shampooer, but ONLY if you do not allow it to dry on!

Red stain on the other hand will not come out of a carpet.

 

[FD Powerflow]

Fernox F3 or Sentinel X800, however if you have a boiler with an aluminium heat exchanger (Ideal, Worcester to name but a few) dont use X800 as if you dont get it all out it will rot it through the aluminium in a matter of months.

 

[Best]

The Fernox F5 is a larger container than the F3, and is good for using a power flush machine.

 

[axil23]

Fernox F3 or Sentinel X800, however if you have a boiler with an aluminium heat exchanger (Ideal, Worcester to name but a few) dont use X800 as if you dont get it all out it will rot it through the aluminium in a matter of months.

Its a Biasi.

 

[PowerFlusher2]

For the extra couple of quid (and the need to leave it in the system a bit longer) why risk using the X800 when the Fernox will do the same job without risking the maceration of your aluminium bits?

 

[Whiskey]

As above with a rubber mallet tapping the rad you are flushing.

This 'gentle persuasion' is VERY IMPORTANT. I removed a radiator took it outside and flushed it backwards, forwards, sideways upside down until the water ran clear. Then I refitted the cleaned one and took out another one for the same treatment. I had finished my 3rd rad (water running clear) and was lowering it unto a plastic crate to keep it off the ground whilst I went to turn off the hose tap. It slipped from my grasp and fell on the crate, safely, but with a good thud. Then I turned off the tap and as I came back to remove the hose from the rad I noticed a lot more gunk flowing out, obviously due to the fall. Took out the first two rads again and gave them a massage with the 2lb rubber hammer... lots more gunk flushed out. Now me happy chappy.