I've got two quotes for a combi boiler install. One includes "add desludge chemicals to system" and the other says they'd do a "power flush."
Both seem to achieve the same thing, but are they?
Thanks for any tips.
Jonathan
No they aren't
A simple addition of some desludging chemical and running hot for either a few hours or a week (depending on what's used) will deal with light quantities of sludge. The question is whether the supplier would really run it for that length of time.
Power flushing is better if the system is badly sludged and can be done "while you wait". It's probably a better arrangement anyway. However, it has received a bad reputation from unsavoury operators, including BG, who charge an arm and a leg for it - £800 not being uncommon. Definitely something priced as a distress purchase and what they believe the customer will pay.
Periodically I have posted details of a DIY method of flushing which will work better than either, but which involves removing all the radiators outside and flushing them through. For a typical house, you could do the entire job in a couple of hours easily. However, you do have to be careful not to spill anything on the carpet (it stains). Typically this would be too time consuming for a professional.
If the two quotes are about the same and reasonable, I would go for the power flush. If the PF one is £500 more then draw your own conclusions. The equipment can be rented, so if you prefer the desludge chemicals guy, you could ask him to rent a machine. He probably isn't offering it because he doesn't have a machine.
.andy
To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
Whichever option you choose, don't forget to add corrosion inhibitor afterwards to prevent re-occurrence of the problem.
Sentinel say that in heavily sludge systems leave it in the system for 4 weeks. One 1 litre of X-400 can does an average semi with a 50,000 BTU/hr boiler. Any bigger and two must be used. In many cases people don't put enough in the system. It does work, but takes time. Fernox de-sludger is more acidic and will take it all away. Fernox instructions must be followed carefully.
This has the habit of creating leaks. British Gas did stop using it, I'm not sure if they still have stopped.
When having "any" boiler fitted. make sure they fit a strainer on the return pipe to the boiler. This collects any debris that may enter the boilers heat exchanger.
The best bet is to install the de-sludger X-400 yourself. Just partially drain the system pout two bottles into the small hearer tanks and -re-fill and venting the air. Run when the heating season starts for about 3 to 4 weeks. Try to time it so the new boiler is fitted around the same time. It will save you a fortune.
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