Does your central heating system need a powerflush?



Central heating is wonderful when the temperature drops, and while systems warmly chug on for years, some maintenance does make sure heating systems stay in top shape. Over time, deposits from water can build up in radiators and pipes, and a powerflush is an efficient way to clear out the sludge.

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Signs of sludge

If your radiators are not heating up evenly despite bleeding them, this could be an indicator of sludge build-up. Watch for cold areas, particularly at the bottom of radiators. If the system becomes really noisy, this could be another clue that sludge is wreaking havoc inside.

If some boilers are heating up and others are not, this could be due to sludge. If you bleed the radiators and the water coming out is brown or rusty-looking, this is also a sign of sludge.

How often?

Your boiler should be serviced every year by a Gas Safe engineer, and they will perform tests to make sure everything is working. In the future, boilers may use fuel other than gas and be hydrogen or electrical hybrids, which will be better for the environment. For more on the future of boilers, see this report in The Guardian.

No matter what kind of boiler it is, you will need a competent engineer to assess it, and they will recommend a powerflush if they think it’s necessary. In general, powerflushing your heating system is recommended every five to six years. This can boost efficiency and significantly extend the life of your boiler. A pump will be connected to your boiler during a powerflush to move all the sludge out. A powerflush is a good idea when a new boiler is installed, so it won’t be affected by any sludge in the system.

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