THE PROCESS OF A POWER FLUSH

A power flush is the cleaning of the water within a central heating system. It involves removing the heating pump and connecting the power flush machine to the system. The central heating system is then treated with a chemical. Depending on the water it is either treated with an acid based chemical or non-acidic based chemical. Generally systems with higher T.D.S. (totally dissolved solids) levels are treated with the acid based chemical.

Once the chemical has had time to work in the system all the radiators except one are turned off, this means the pump is building pressure on just this one radiator making it easier to move the sludge and debris within that radiator.

The radiator is then agitated with a vibrating drill and a special drill bit, which does not damage the radiator. The system water can be seen at the magnet, the clear tube allows us to see the sludge and debris that is being moved from the radiator. The magnet is generally checked every 2-3 radiators unless the system is bad in which case we check it after every radiator. Once the main body of sludge is removed the dump phase begins, this is the removal of the dirty water in the system as all the sludge is already removed. Again it is visible at the magnet how clear the water is and each radiator is then washed through until the water is crystal clear.

There is one exception to this which is when the acid based chemical is used the system is then neutralised and after the dumping phase, neutralising crystals are added to the system. The system is then left to run for 25-30 minutes to allow the neutraliser to work, then there is a second dumping phase.