Magnatec Magnaclean Isolating Valves

[Hiro Daryanani]

Attached above is a picture of my magnatec installation. Yesterday, my plumber popped over to do the service on the boiler he fitted two years ago complete with this unit and all pipework. After the boiler was service I asked if he had cleaned the Magnaclean. He said no because when he tightened the isolating valves and opened the unit, water started gushing. He said the isolating valves had essentially broken down and needed replacing, and that would only happen when the system was drained. I asked him why something should break down in two years and he replied that due to heat expansion and contraction things with plastic essentially wear down and seals get broken. (He seemed to be saying that quite a bit including for plastic push fit fittings and flow connector pipes inside boilers but thats another post). I asked him if the isolating valves were of inferior quality and he said no, these are the best you get and if they were replaced then the new set would / could also break down in two years. His philosophy is nothing lasts forever.

Now, for my point of view that's a great business to be in if whatever you install will break through no fault of your own but is he saying as it is? Surely there is an opportunity therefore for a isolating valve manufacturer to make something that lasts for more then two years?

Cheers all

Hiro

 

[glenno1]

His philosophy is right,but i would expect more than 2 years life from isolation valves

 

[petercj]

British Gas switched to MagnaBoosters because they had trouble with MagnaCleans.

A rep for MagnaClean has posted on this forum in the past - perhaps they will see your post and offer a solution.

The Fernox tf1 filter traps both magnetic and non-magnetic deposits:-

Fernox TF1 Filters (fernox: TF1 28mm)

 

[petercj]

Have you asked him to put things right?

If it was supplied by him as part of the installation, then it should be covered by the Sale of Goods Act 1979 - his personal philosophy is another matter.

The valves should obviously last longer than two years, it's ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

If it was me, I would get rid of the piece of junk, and get a Tf1 fitted.

 

[Doodlebug]

Unscrew the plastic cover from the isolating valves and use a small adjustable spanner to isolate the valves.

 

[buckley plumb]

i hate those filters fiddley to fit and had problems with valves on some of them - fit fernox tf1 or spyrotec now

 

[villa_tom]

They are horrible. The red ones are the worst, the black ones are a bit better and I've yet to see a black one fail. But I still close my eyes and pray when I service one of these. I HATE THEM.

 

[buckley plumb]

it does not help that when fitting some people fit the valves then solder the elbows which damages the valve

 

[DirksPlumbing]

it does not help that when fitting some people fit the valves then solder the elbows which damages the valve

I agree on that. I have still to find a failed Magnaclean and I service a lot of them and fit them as well.
The main issue used to be the poor quality of the compression ring/fitting which did not seal very good. But the new ones are of better quality. But I believe others had more problems as they include since a long time spare O rings in the package. Have not had to use one of them yet either.
Once it is there it works as good or better than any other magnetic filter.
Where exactly did the valve leak from and how does it not do so anymore? Or did it pass by? Then that must have been really bad and smells of burned seals in the valve as mentioned before.

 

[Doodlebug]

I've had a Magnaclean totally totally snap off away from the valves with the plastic thread still in the valves whilst tightening the lid by hand. Binned and replaced with a Magnabooster and landing carpet binned too. The Magnabooster is so much more robust but not as efficient at removing sludge.

 

[buckley plumb]

I agree on that. I have still to find a failed Magnaclean and I service a lot of them and fit them as well.
The main issue used to be the poor quality of the compression ring/fitting which did not seal very good. But the new ones are of better quality. But I believe others had more problems as they include since a long time spare O rings in the package. Have not had to use one of them yet either.
Once it is there it works as good or better than any other magnetic filter.
Where exactly did the valve leak from and how does it not do so anymore? Or did it pass by? Then that must have been really bad and smells of burned seals in the valve as mentioned before.

they leaked from the compression nut had to drain and ptfe olive

 

[DirksPlumbing]

I've had a Magnaclean totally totally snap off away from the valves with the plastic thread still in the valves whilst tightening the lid by hand. Binned and replaced with a Magnabooster and landing carpet binned too. The Magnabooster is so much more robust but not as efficient at removing sludge.

Indeed, one of my former colleagues is a bit more heavy handed and experienced problems too. I am not saying this is down to clumsiness.
As most of the time he just found this kind of problems just simply before me. And maybe more often.
But I am still waiting for a unit to fail. Luckily there are literally none of the Magnacleans in my portfolio fitted over carpets except of the occasional "rug" in a boiler cupboard.
Should I encounter long term issues I might swap to the Magnabooster as well. By that time I hope to come across fewer systems in such a bad state that the capacity of the magnetic filter would matter too much.

The amount of sludged up systems appears to be ever decreasing nowadays due to people more aware of the availability/need of inhibitor. But maybe this is down to the cheap power flushing efforts of the major boiler/gas suppliers 😉.

 

[petercj]

Indeed, one of my former colleagues is a bit more heavy handed and experienced problems too. I am not saying this is down to clumsiness.
As most of the time he just found this kind of problems just simply before me. And maybe more often.
But I am still waiting for a unit to fail. Luckily there are literally none of the Magnacleans in my portfolio fitted over carpets except of the occasional "rug" in a boiler cupboard.
Should I encounter long term issues I might swap to the Magnabooster as well. By that time I hope to come across fewer systems in such a bad state that the capacity of the magnetic filter would matter too much.

The amount of sludged up systems appears to be ever decreasing nowadays due to people more aware of the availability/need of inhibitor. But maybe this is down to the cheap power flushing efforts of the major boiler/gas suppliers 😉.

The MagnaBooster has a very solid brass body, but seems questionable as to whether MB2 has enough magnetic power.

They have stuck a larger magnet on the outside of MB3, but it makes it look a bit ad-hoc and unfinished imo.

MB doesn't come with valves, and there's no facility for topping up.

The Tf1 looks to strike a balance between filtering magnetic and non-magnetic deposits, and allows for topping up, and is available with or without valves.

There was someone on here a month or so ago who has developed his own design, and as I recall, he said it will be launched in October. It sounded pretty good, no doubt he will up-date when it's released.

 

[Hiro Daryanani]

Thanks for this reply. Unfortunately I did not see it when you posted it.

Well, its been now 2.5 years since that Magnaclean has been cleaned out and I am a bit nervous about it. The issue has to do with the two valves, and not really the O ring inside the Magnaclean. My plumber is saying he cannot get them to turn/isolate so that he can open the Magnaclean and service it. The water spills out when he does. The suggestion above by Doodlebug may be the cure, but checking with my plumber.

With regards to the O ring I understand that people tend to use their hand to directly turn the lid. THAT IS BAD. It apparently breaks the O ring due to inward pressure. The manufacturer actually provide a little plastic tool that goes over the lid and turns it without inward pressure. THAT IS GOOD. I do have a spare O ring somewhere in case someone does it the BAD way... Magnatec also provide it for free/low charge..

 

[ambrosia]

i dont get that why would tightening it by hand be more damaging than using that tool, surely that tool would give more leverage and cause more damage

magnaclean is not the worst one out there, screwfix do one called 'No Nonsense,' it incorporates a magnet which can only be described as pathetic

 

[Chalked]

When fitting these I put a but of high temp grease on the lid o ring. Makes it easier when you come to service.

 

[Centralheatking]

The best way to isolate a magnaclean with the rubbish valves they supply is to bin it and get another one made by a proper company I know because I am an expert in magnetic and non magnetic filters for domestic and commercial system they are the most popular but basically cheap components and poor CHK ngE=Hiro Daryanani;346405]View attachment 7650

Attached above is a picture of my magnatec installation. Yesterday, my plumber popped over to do the service on the boiler he fitted two years ago complete with this unit and all pipework. After the boiler was service I asked if he had cleaned the Magnaclean. He said no because when he tightened the isolating valves and opened the unit, water started gushing. He said the isolating valves had essentially broken down and needed replacing, and that would only happen when the system was drained. I asked him why something should break down in two years and he replied that due to heat expansion and contraction things with plastic essentially wear down and seals get broken. (He seemed to be saying that quite a bit including for plastic push fit fittings and flow connector pipes inside boilers but thats another post). I asked him if the isolating valves were of inferior quality and he said no, these are the best you get and if they were replaced then the new set would / could also break down in two years. His philosophy is nothing lasts forever.

Now, for my point of view that's a great business to be in if whatever you install will break through no fault of your own but is he saying as it is? Surely there is an opportunity therefore for a isolating valve manufacturer to make something that lasts for more then two years?

Cheers all

Hiro[/QUOTE]

 

[Ermintrude]

Balls! The idiot didn't close valves properly and they were weeping slightly.

Turn them off then open vent with a rad bleed key. Move the vale 0plus or minus 5% until water stops. Had stupid complaints like this before! Get there and manage to isolate And clean unit in a few seconds. Dimwits just cannot be bothered and simply blame the filter. The new pro 2 are better but if your are actually having an issue contact adey - they orobs send you a replacement FOC .

 

[Centralheatking]

In my opinion magnaclean is like a Fiat punto it works -
but there many better makes on the market - magnaclean has been backlisted by BG
in its past and most of the preliminary design is still there........CHK

 

[0304Driver]

As Ermintrude said, it sounds like he did not turn the valves off correctly! I have yet to have the black valves not shut off, the main fault with the magnacleans were the poor red iso valves that leaked if you turned them and the faulty leaking lids (they surplied kits to BG as a rework). The only problem with the black iso valves is you can get a leak from the joint into the valve on the peice that connects to the filter, when you tighten that joint it can loosen the manufacture made joint inside the valve!

 

[Ermintrude]

Was the original and most functional. A lot of ha install them over tf1 and spyrotec.

Think BG actually blacklisted them for financial reasons. I.e no bending over.

The pro 2 and the industrial filters are market leaders are they not? Odd how everyone had made one like a Magnaclean tho?

Agree some early ones were a bit of a pap design. But that's been sorted. Haven't ideal and worcester incorporated them
Into their jigs now?

 

[solutions]

Have you asked him to put things right?

If it was supplied by him as part of the installation, then it should be covered by the Sale of Goods Act 1979 - his personal philosophy is another matter.

The valves should obviously last longer than two years, it's ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

If it was me, I would get rid of the piece of junk, and get a Tf1 fitted.

Your entitled to your opinion. I prefer the magnacleans my self and have not normaly had any trouble with the issolater valves. Im inclined to agree with ermi and the other posters that suggested the plumber may not have completely closed the valves or didnt try to close them.

 

[FD Powerflow]

Pro 2 seems a good piece of kit, not sure about the chems that are coming free with it at the moment, but whilst its free I cant argue. BG blacklisted because they still suing and counter-suing Adey over the leaking lid design. I only know because a good friend works for PH Jones and has been told he cant use adey on Eco work due to the litigation.

 

[casaco]

You can change the seals in the black valves but not the red ones.