Adding Inhibitor to New Combi Boiler System?

Overall I was disappointed with the workmanship of the peeps who installed my Combi but that is another story.

It occurred to me today that after the install [and seeing that everything was okay] the system has been drained down not once but twice while I had redecoration work done [downstairs rads taken off]. While I had the downstairs rads off I flushed them clean with a hosepipe [I could NOT believe how much gloop was in them!]. Install was in August; has been refilled and working for 2 weeks now.

Now this obviously means that all the inhibitor that had been put in must all have been drained out too? So I would need to have this added. I replaced my bathroom rad with a towel rail/radiator. This has a draining screw atop one side rail and a "blanking plate" [ie looks like a big nut] on top the other end.

1) Do I need to add Inhibitor back into the system? 2) Which should I use [worth asking the installer what he used before?

- that way I get to kow if they even did!]

3) Could I do it myself by pouring it into the top of the towel rad? Simple case of Opening the bleeding screw (+/- removing the blank screw also?) or is there more to it and I should leave it to a pro?

It came to me because I had had the system running lots over the past couple of days and there is a quiet background hum not just downstairs but actually all through the house [via the rad pipes I presume]. I might be paranoid but I didnt think I could hear it this loudly before...

Reply to
riz1
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If a new boiler was fitted to an old system, then it should have been given a damned good flushing out beforehand - that goes along with the poor workmanship of your fitters. How about upstairs? You ought to flush the lot out first, before filling with inhibitor. There are various proprietary cleaners available which you pour in, leave in situ for a bit, then flush out again.

Yes - always assuming they actually put any in - cowboys don't bother as it saves them a bit of money.

Yes

But will you believe the answer?! If the system has been properly flushed, it won't matter about matching brands. Incidentally, the fitter should have filled in and left with you a 'log book' / commissioning form for the boiler, which would detail the inhibitor.

Yes, that's just it, unscrew the blanking screw - the simplest way. Therefore don't bother buying the much more expensive 'gel' based concentrated inhibitor intended for injection; just the regular liquid stuff. Use Fernox or Sentinel.

David

Reply to
Lobster

As for the logbook - he still has it. I keep chasing to have it returned. Pity really as I paid extra for these guys after asking around. Seems I didn't ask the right questions maybe! Thanks for the mention of the gel as that is what I thought I needed!

Dumb question then - as Sentinel comes in a 1l bottle, do I need to draw off 1l from the towel rad first before I pour in?

Reply to
riz1

- Yes - at least that amount. It you open the vent on the towel rail as you drain some out then it should leave an air space for the additive in the towel rail.

Reply to
John

Assuming you have a pressurised system you'll have to drain off enough to release the pressure first plus enough to make room for the inhinitor, so that will be well over 1 litre.

Reply to
Mike Clarke

Sentinel is available in a cartridge gel concentrate, which is a good deal less IIRC. I put mine in through the air vent on the highest rad. About the right amount of water came out when I released the pressure, and the gel went in with no problem.

Reply to
Stuart Noble

Thanks all. without meaning to sound TOO dim: towel rail has taps to each "leg" and both the blanking screw and bleeding valves are at the top so how does one drop the water from the rail? Is one side of the leg input and the other output so I have to close- off the input side and then unscrew the leg from the "output" side?

Reply to
riz1

It doesn't matter where you drain from. If you drain whilst having the bleed valve on the towel rail open then the air will enter the towel rail as the water is released at a convenient drain point.

If you don't have a drain point then plan "B" might be to turn off both valves and loosen one leg of the towel rail to release a suitable volume of water.

Remember to vent and repressurise after adding the stuff and tightening everything up

Reply to
John

Much of what you need to know is in the Sealed CH FAQ.

Reply to
Ed Sirett

Shouldn't even have taken it away - there's no need.

Have you got the compliance certificate from CORGI for the boiler fitting? I'm betting you haven't! The fitters have to register every boiler they fit with CORGI, as being done in accordance with all the regs etc, and CORGI pass the details. Of course it's a PITA for the fitters, and it costs them to register a boiler, so it's in their interest not to bother if they can get away with it. You can phone CORGI and ask if they've had a registration application for your address, and dob in the CORGI guys if not!

David

Reply to
Lobster

I asked him about that and he said the compliance/logbook was the "signing off" of the installation - I agree with you which probably explains why he is prevaricating getting it back to me. It is a PITA for me as CORGI was something we specifically discussed before the job. He also keeps saying that if anything goes wrong I should ring him which probably also reinforces this point. Not sure what I can do except hassle him this stuff except sorted...

Reply to
riz1

Well a few months ago I wasn't 100% sure of what was supposed to happen, but having just been through it myself (with some aggro) I can confirm that the logbook should have been completed and left with you on the day; that has nothing at all to with the CORGI registering the boiler with CORGI (except that some of the same info like serial numbers is needed for both, so it might be convenient for the fitter to both at the same time). Normally they would register the boiler online at CORGI. Then CORGI send you a certificate and let your Building Control know.

If I were you I'd let it be known to the fitter that if you don't receive your compliance certificate ASAP you'll be contacting CORGI yourself about the matter, with his CORGI number...! (do you have anything on paper to prove he did the work, like an invoice?)

David

Reply to
Lobster

[groan]. He was local recommended fitter. The invoice is handwritten basically listing work done and money paid. I do not have his Corgi number. Infact it is his brother who has active CORGI registration and his lapsed last year [he was upfront about that] so [his brother did confirm this] he does the install and then his brother "signs it off". So the only proof I'd have would be that logbook when he gives it back to me complete. I filled in my bit of the guarantee and he took that away at the same time "to fill in and send off" I haven't heard back from WB either so I was going to email them to ask if they had received it etc. Hindsight is a great thing and what annoys me is I DID ask around ans still seem to be stung as I had time pressures to start the work
Reply to
riz1

I am going to confront him this weekend. I have no paperwork at all! What paperwork should I have had through? The "Declaration of Safety" Certificate from Corgi [confirming that Fitter has registered this install with them?] If he isn't signed-up to the auto-notifying Building Control, do I have to do it and is there a charge? I would appreciate detail on this matter so that I can argue the toss with some insight with him rather than him trying to give me BS.

Reply to
riz1

Well - as I described above; I just thought that if you have an official invoice at least you can prove to CORGI easily that the work was done, by that fitter.

As it happens I have a scanned copy of my certificate on my PC, prepared for a Home Information Pack, so I've anonymized(?) it and uploaded it so you can see what you're supposed to get:

Also if you go to the CORGI site you can track down a registered installer, and check the registration details of individuals - also CORGI are allegedly keen to talk to you if you've had done work by an unregistered fitter, as it's illegal.

AFAIK it's not an option, he (or the brother) has to notify CORGI, end of story.

David

Reply to
Lobster

I am going to collar him and him the ultimatum to get me to commisioning book and the Declaration of Safety Certificate otherwise I will have to approach Corgi directly.

Reply to
riz1

Just to let you know the score. The boiler makers usually require the log book to be filled in. No log book, no guarantee. The law requires the instruction book (and these day the log book is in that book) to be left with you. The law requires that the installation is notified and doing through CORGI online is the simplest (and cheapest) way for the pro.

If the guy is registered he will get a bollocking from CORGI for not notifying (but he won't be struck off if this is his first offence) but if he is unregistered he may end up in court. Which it sounds as if is long over due.

Reply to
Ed Sirett

goes.

Reply to
riz1

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