Sludge!

[Andy Turnbull]

Hello,

In a closed CH system where everything is new (boiler, pipes and radiators) is it possible to still get a build up of sludge in your radiators and if so how?

[David W.E. Roberts]

Yes, if you don't put corrosion inhibitor in the water. Probably happen faster if you don't flush out the acid residues from soldering. Even so, it should take some time for an appreciable build up of sludge. If you bleed some water off from a radiator and it is black, then this suggests corrosion and sludge.

HTH Dave R

[Andy Turnbull]

Thanks for your reply,

I had to re-hang one of the radiators the other day so emptied it first and the water that came out was clear apart from the very end when some black goo seeped out.

The CH system is about 4 years old, so is this normal.

Thanks,

Andy

[mike ring]

"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in news:bp2c5h$1jr38p$1@ID-

122774.news.uni-berlin.de:

bitter experience suggests this ain't necessarily so.

mike r

[David W.E. Roberts]

Normal for a system without corrosion inhibitor, I would say.

The sludge is almost certainly the result of corrosion. With fully functioning there (allegedly) shouldn't be any. Doesn't sound to bad at the moment but a flush out with a flushing compound followed by a treatment with corrosion inhibitor should improve the long term prospects of your system.

HTH Dave R

[tarquinlinbin]

Indeed,ah the laziness of acid self cleaning flux. The true tool of a cowboy. I would never use the stuff myself. Despite all the flushing i dont believe that it can ever truly be removed.

Only the other day i averted a disaster caused by acid flux and its a common enough scenario.

A month or so prior to my visit a contractor had fitted a nice new heating system in a terraced house. Very nice too,Vaillant Turbomax,shame about the pipework.

Down in the cellar he had left a disaster waiting to happen. He had T'eed into the existing gas supply and run 22mm to the kitchen to feed the boiler. A pastoral scene awaited me,green pipe joints everywhere,nice and guey and evidence of the acid flux bodger.

The homeowner had reported a smell in the house,it had been going on for weeks and he hadnt been able to trace it. He was an older chap,retired plumber so he had probably thought it a bit of an affront to his skills to call someone else but in the end he did,thank god.

So away down to the cellar i went. A quick measure revealed a level of nearly 2% gas in the atmosphere,a critical situation requiring evacuation.

Quick investigation revelaed a loud hissing noise in the vicinity of the meter. The stainless steel meter inlet flex had a nice big hole in it hissing away. It had probably been like that for days if not weeks. Directly above it,an acid fluxed soldered joint had dripped its acidic residue onto to steel flex and eaten through it in such a short space of time.

Who knows what damage it was foing to the finely machined innards of the Vaillant turbomax? Its propably stopped working by now. Irrevocably knackered.

CORGI Reg'd and ACS certified you see,totally competent.

[James]

[snip}

The problem is how do you find a competent installer, given that this is not ensured by CORGI registration?

There are some very helpful, thoughtful and professional installers in this newsgroup, who you could rely on. But many of us live in areas where we simply have to depend on the yellow pages - or recommendations from friends who probably do not appreciate the quality or otherwise of their installations.

James

[tarquinlinbin]

Indeed,and its not just gas cahaps James,ive been trying for months to engage a joiner to fit 10 new doors in my home.. I havent the time or inclination to do it myself. Its over £1000 worth of work but none of the joiners i have contacted have got back to me and i dont expect them to.

This is what happens when trades,engineering and science are devalued in favour of services and finance.

[Dave Stanton]

O

Do what we did and get your niece to marry one !!

Dave

[Ed Sirett]

This reminds me of the joke about the matchmaker, which my wife told me, who heard it from my MIL (Jewish), who had heard from her friend...

Money was duly given to the matchmaker who then offered the parents a choice of an elligble and established lawyer or a doctor. The parents complained they were not content with either of the suitors. The matchmaker responded: "For that money you think I will find you a plumber!"