For people installing a new boiler, or radiators, or replacing other bits of their central heating system, or for people worried about the effectiveness of their system, the option of powerflushing often crops up.

Firstly, what is powerflushing and when is it appropriate to use such a technique on your central heating system.

Powerflushing is a radical method of getting rid of sludge and sediment which gets built up in your central heating system. It involves using an electric pump to force water through the pumps, literally pushing all the muck out of the system.

This muck is a common cause of radiators having cold spots at the bottom, as the sludge which can build up stops the full circulation of the hot water within the radiator.

But power flushing can be a time-consuming and expensive procedure, with plumbers charging varying rates depending on the size of the system. Quotes can vary from £150 to nearer £500. And people should be aware that the technique of power flushing is only effective if the system has been pre-treated with the right chemicals in order that the sludge and sediment is softened to a degree that it can be power flushed. Without this first part of the process, your money will be wasted.

These chemicals will also help any build-up of lime scale.

Although, it has to be said that some plumbers believe that if these chemicals are used properly, then a normal draining and refilling of the system, will work just as well as a power flushing. So it’s not the option for everyone.

This appears to be reinforced by The Domestic Heating Compliance Guide which comes together with the Building Regulations. It states that when a new boiler is installed, then the system should be thoroughly cleaned and flushed out before using. Not power flushed notice, just flushed. This means that a normal draining and flushing through with water would do the job. And if some preparation is carried out the right chemicals, then so much the better.

So, power flushing can seem like a good idea, but you had better make sure it’s a worthwhile expenditure, otherwise it can be simply a waste of money.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Most people haven’t heard of the term ‘Power Flush’ however the process may help to quieten your heating system and give it a few more years of service. Basically this is a full cleansing process which uses a series of chemicals to wash out rust, sludge and other contaminants from your radiators and pipes so that they work much more effectively. Not every system needs a power flush however and having one when you don’t need it can be expensive, so how do you know when the process is needed?

The signs to watch out for

The main indicators that your central heating system could do with a flush include cold areas on the radiators, a noisy boiler and pipe work, radiators that are slow to warm up and discoloured water coming from the radiators when you bleed them. Most of these symptoms can be due to a simple ‘air in the pipes’ problem and bleeding each of your radiators might fix them. If not however then a power flush could be the only answer and although the process can be expensive, you’ll notice the difference in terms of heat efficiency almost immediately.

What does power flushing involve?

The whole point of the power flushing process is to clean out the central heating system so that hot water can circulate to all areas. The first step is to find a good plumber that has previous experience of this process and that has the necessary tools to do the job. This may sound like an obvious thing to say but bad plumbers have been known to cause more damage to the boiler and heating system than it’s actually worth.

Your plumber will begin by attaching a high flow/low pressure pumping unit to the central heating system before adding the necessary chemicals. These strong cleansing chemicals help to break the crust that develops on sludge before breaking it down and washing it away. They also clean out any other gunk that may be lurking in the pipes, including particles of sand and flakes of rust. When the system is deemed to be clean a descaler is added to combat limescale and a corrosion inhibitor to stop any further rusting.

The entire power flushing process takes around 6 hours for the average sized central heating system although some badly effected homes may take an entire day. Not surprisingly, the process doesn’t come cheap and in some areas of the country a full flush can cost upward of £1200; the average price however is around £500 if done properly and by a reputable company. You should make a point of asking though if all of the chemicals are included in the quote as some companies charge extra for the descaler.

Although the power flush process is quite expensive it can save you an equal amount of money on your heating bills within a couple of years and in most cases your central heating system will run as quietly and efficiently as it did when it was first installed.

Guest Article by Clare Lynock