Before today, you may or may not have heard the term “central heating power flush“. Now that you have, you’re probably asking yourself, “what is a power flush?”
First of all, no it doesn’t have anything to do with your toilet.
A power flush is a process which removes rust, sludge and excess debris from your central heating system.
If these harmful contaminants are left in the system, they can adversely impact its efficiency.
In some cases, a power flush may be the only option you have available to fix the problem.
So what is a power flush? It might be the best way to bring your heating system back to top performance.
What Is Central Heating Power Flush?
Power flushing is essential for keeping the insides of the heating system and radiators clean and free of obstructions. Over time, magnetite will build up in these systems and begin to cause issues which will prevent the heating from working correctly.
A power flush involves pumping fresh water and cleaning chemicals into the pipes of the heating system to remove any dirt and debris. This will knock loose and remove any potential clogs.
Once the power flush is complete, you can expect your system to run smoothly unless other problems exist.
The flush requires a trained heating engineer and equipment to complete, which is reflected in the power flush cost.
When You Might Be in Need of a Power Flush
If you’ve been keeping up with regular yearly maintenance and service, you should only need a flush performed every 5 or 6 years.
This can vary depending on the system you have. As an example, there are boilers that use copper heat exchangers instead of stainless steel.
These will corrode much quicker.
If you plan on replacing your boiler, make sure your engineer performs a flush prior to installation. If they don’t, you run the risk of contamination to the new boiler from debris and sludge still hanging out in the pipework.
Key Signs to Look For
Now that we’ve answered the all-important question of “what is a power flush?”, let’s look at signs to be aware of when a power flush may be needed.
- Your radiators have cold spots on them. Especially on the bottom.
- You’re hearing a lot of noise from the boiler or the system pump.
- There’s discoloured water when bleeding the radiators.
- Heating warms up very slowly.
- You notice cloudy tap water. This is a sign of excessive limescale in the system or other factors.
- Some of your radiators don’t heat up as well as others.
- The radiators are cold but the pipes are still hot.
- You always notice the boiler shutting down and have to re-start it.
- When you try to bleed a radiator, no water comes out.
- Your radiators and/or boiler are very noisy.
- There are small leaks in the radiators.
Central Heating Power Flush Cost
The costs of a power flush include the necessary equipment, chemicals, and service required to completely clean the heating system. A heating engineer or trained specialist is required.
In general, you can expect a power flush to be around £300 or more depending on the number of radiators. Each specialist will also often set their own standard rates depending on their experience and business needs. Some will even offer special pricing plans like a standard rate for the main system plus an additional fee for any extra radiators.
If the price seems steep from one specialist, shop around and compare different rates.
Also, keep in mind that these costs are usually a lot smaller than expensive repairs and replacements that are traditionally needed with faulty heating systems.
Central Heating Power Flush in London & the S. East
PHS Engineers caters for both domestic & commercial power flushing customers.
Whatever size your property, flats or houses to commercial office blocks, schools & other large building we have the power flushing equipment and expertise to suit your needs.
Call now to speak to the experts & book your visit – alternatively, you may use our contact form and we will get back to you in no time!