Power Flushing
What's a power flush?
A power flush is a process carried out by central heating engineers designed to remove sludgy build-up in the boiler, pipes and radiators that make up your central heating system. A power flushing unit sends water through your central-heating system at high velocity to dislodge any build-up of sludge, rust and other debris.
This helps to improve the efficiency and lifespan of the boiler and central heating system and prevent breakdowns. As with so many plumbing issues, regular maintenance (including power flushing) is the best way to keep your system in shape.
What happens during a power flush and how long does it take?
A powerful machine called a 'pumping station' is used to remove dirty water and sludgy build-up while introducing clean water. The engineer may add a chemical to the system to break down sludge before the equipment is connected and the flushing process begins.
The power flushing process has several stages and your engineer will probably take between several hours to the whole day to complete the power flush.
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Step one – following the equipment set-up, the engineer should spend around 90 minutes flushing the whole system (in both directions) and then they will tackle troublesome sections until they run clean. Your engineer will work on heavily contaminated radiators separately. They may use an ‘agitator’ (a tough pad attached to a hammer action drill) to help release internal build ups of sludge.
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Step two - after clearing out the system, the engineer will add a chemical neutraliser and wash it through the system. Then your engineer should check the PH balance to ensure the system is not too acidic, as excess acid can lead to internal corrosion.
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Step three – your engineer will add a dose of ‘inhibitor’ fluid to the system. This prevents corrosion and goes some way in preventing sludge building-up again in the central heating system. Depending on the size and initial condition of the system, the complete process may well take all day.
When does my central heating system need a powerflush?
One or more of these symptoms could indicate that your central heating system would benefit from a powerflush:
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cold radiators with only a hot strip at the top
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black sludgy water in the heating system (shown by radiator removal or a failed heating pump or valve replacement)
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poor circulation to a system that used to work better
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a magnet attaching to copper pipe-work (signs of iron sludge within)
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an overflowing attic header tank (although this could also be caused by a pump being set at the wrong speed).
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A powerflush can be a good idea, if you're having a new boiler installed but have an old central heating system with old-style radiators. Your boiler engineer can carry out visual and chemical checks which indicate the PH balance and levels of corrosive elements in the system. These will determine whether a full powerflush is needed. Sometimes a ‘dynamic flush’, using clean mains pressure water, is all that's needed. It is a requirement with every new boiler installation that the system is thoroughly flushed, although not necessarily ‘powerflushed’.​​​
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Information taken from 'Which?'
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