Ok.... so how much should it cost to get the system flushed?

British Gas quoted £650

My heating seems fooked It makes a constant noise - the pump is prolly knackered from the gunk in the radiators so I figure getting them flushed and a new pump? Does that sound right? All the radiators heat up but one which i think is the "lowest point in the system" so where I assume all the cack has built up? This is where the "flushing" should occur from? I'm basing this on what I've read and tried to learn.

I know nothing about plumbing

Anyone a plumber/works with CH/radiators/got common sense and got any advice?

£650 LOL!! Between £150 and £200 is more realistic. It should take about an hour and half to power flush the system properly. I've know the British Gas lads go in and out in 20 mins! Lowest point of the system is the best place to do it, but it can be done from anywhere if necessary. The additives should be replaced in the power flush process so should help your new pump if the old one failed due to debris.


Alan

is it a gravity fed or combi?

a1ant said:

£650 LOL!! Between £150 and £200 is more realistic. It should take about an hour and half to power flush the system properly. I've know the British Gas lads go in and out in 20 mins! Lowest point of the system is the best place to do it, but it can be done from anywhere if necessary. The additives should be replaced in the power flush process so should help your new pump if the old one failed due to debris.


Alan

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thank you.

(see even LL threads need a thanks button now and then)

Hellcat said:

is it a gravity fed or combi?

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yes

Lolita said:

thank you.

(see even LL threads need a thanks button now and then)



yes

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Do you have a big tank in the loft, or a pressure gauge on the boiler?

Hellcat said:

Do you have a big tank in the loft, or a pressure gauge on the boiler?

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there's a big thing where the hot water is. and a small thing in the loft with cold water (but there's dust and spiders up there so i don't frequent that part of the house)

Gravity fed then!

took 1 and half hours to drain ours over weekend
due to dodgy valve
we have a header tank so its easier i think

find drain bit
turn off heating system
(we turn all radiator valves open)
start it draining
and open all air bits
and wait

have you tried removing air from radiators?

cant you add some degunker?
you get break cleaner there must be somthign simular like bleach

we use inibriator

i checked for air. all of them had tonnes when i moved in. now they're ok but still seems to get air here and there (is that normal?).

As with a car, there can be lots of small air gaps that move around and get trapped in radiators for a period of time, there may be pipe damage but would have thought youd have noticed any leaks...

You can flush the system yourself to an extent using a hosepipe attached to a tap. The advantage of the power flusher is that you can add chemicals to break down the gunk.

You could put a hose on the drain valve and let the header tank flush the system. If you do this you'll need to remember to add some inhibitor back into the headertank as it refills.

Lolita said:

i checked for air. all of them had tonnes when i moved in. now they're ok but still seems to get air here and there (is that normal?).

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The rusting process in the radiators where no inhibitor has been used can cause air build up Lolz.

Really it needs power flushing and re-filling with an inhibitor as suggested. I would get a quote or 2 from some CH experts they vary a lot, trouble is these guys will be busy now as everyone with problems is just finding out!

all you really need is a good man, then things like this are free.


you cant really do a power flush by yourself, but a manual flush (aka drain flush) is easy enough.

for some reason i dont think you have a combi boiler because i think we talked about this before and you said there is a water tank in the loft.

ok lets do a manual flush

buy some "central heating system cleaner" and some "inhibitor" from your local hardware store or plumbcentre or even b&q. you'll need to count your radiators before you go so you can guesstimate how many bottles of each you will need.

pour the cleaner in the tank in the loft. make sure all radiators are fully open at both sides, and the float ball in the tank is supported. now connect a hose to your system drain point, and allow it to drain water (into your garden) through the entire system until the water in the tank is gone. you must stop the drain as soon as the tank empties. this will leave you will a central heating system that is full of cleaner. now remove the support from the float and allow the tnak to refill.

run your central heating system at full heat for a few days, then drain it again same as before. then refil the water tank and drian it again. do this 3 times to make sure you clean all the cleaner out the system, but on the 3rd drain add the inhibitor to the water tank first. job done

i'm sure you can find a half competent man to help you do this. if they can read the instructions on the side of the bottle then they can do it, unless they are a modern man and they own hair straighteners etc. you need a real man with a hairy back, he'll be able to do it.

I don't have a hairy back - but I can drain a central heating system.

Hellcat said:

You can flush the system yourself to an extent using a hosepipe attached to a tap. The advantage of the power flusher is that you can add chemicals to break down the gunk.

You could put a hose on the drain valve and let the header tank flush the system. If you do this you'll need to remember to add some inhibitor back into the headertank as it refills.

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see, i don't know what anything is apart froma radiator and a non-radiator. so doing it myself is obviously not going to happen

jug said:

all you really need is a good man, then things like this are free.

i'm sure you can find a half competent man to help you do this. if they can read the instructions on the side of the bottle then they can do it, unless they are a modern man and they own hair straighteners etc. you need a real man with a hairy back, he'll be able to do it.

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i have male friends who have offered to help but one of them even suggested payment being BJ per radiator.

Lolita said:

see, i don't know what anything is apart froma radiator and a non-radiator. so doing it myself is obviously not going to happen



i have male friends who have offered to help but one of them even suggested payment being BJ per radiator.

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That isn't the same faaag that txt's you binary is it?

tagging on the end here with something which is kind of CH related.

Under our stairs is where the gas/electric meters live. There is a rad on the wall of the hall which divides the hall and under stair area. Its thin panelling. I dont need to the cupboard under the stairs heated, so what is the best thing to put on that panelling to bounce the heat back?

i'm sure you can find a half competent man to help you do this. if they can read the instructions on the side of the bottle then they can do it, unless they are a modern man and they own hair straighteners etc. you need a real man with a hairy back, he'll be able to do it.

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*arc looks at his GHDs, then at the kitchen he's built and :nerner: at jug*

Lolita said:

i have male friends who have offered to help but one of them even suggested payment being BJ per radiator.

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he sounds smart, i'd choose him

although a full drain and flush for a full drain and flush sounds like a fairer deal to me.

Hellcat said:

I don't have a hairy back - but I can drain a central heating system.

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alopecia or a wax addicted partner?

arc said:

*arc looks at his GHDs, then at the kitchen he's built and :nerner: at jug*

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when you say "built" you actualy mean "cooked and cleaned in" dont you?