What is a Powerflush for Central Heating?

If your central heating system has been in operation for a while, it’s probably time for a powerflush. Over time, central heating systems become clogged with dirt, sludge, and build-up. This is normal, but it can prevent your system from working efficiently, which is where powerflushing comes in. We regularly perform powerflushes for our clients in Sussex, and we’ll show you how it works in this post.

What is powerflushing?

A powerflush is the process of clearing out rust, sludge, and build-up from a central heating system. We connect your system to a machine that forces low-pressure fluid through the radiators and pipes to dislodge blockages. It’s totally safe for your central heating and takes a couple of hours to complete.

Does my central heating system need a powerflush?

It’s hard to tell if your heating system has build-up since it’s all internal. However, if you have leaky pipes, cold spots in your radiators or your boiler break down, a powerflush could be the best solution.

Common signs you need a boiler powerflush:

• Excessive noise or banging from your central heating pump or boiler.
• Radiators slow to warm up or have cold spots.
• Some radiators not heating up as well as others.
• When you bleed radiators, you get hardly any water or discoloured water.

All of these are signs that your central heating system is due a powerflush. We also recommend a powerflush if you have a new boiler installed to remove any build-up or stagnant water from the system.

How does powerflushing work?

During a powerflush, we connect your central heating system to a powerful pump. Once connected, your system is flushed with a powerful but low-pressure blend of chemicals designed to destroy limescale, prevent rust, and remove any sludge sitting in the pipes.

Once all of the build-up has been dislodged, we flush the system once more with clean water to remove all contaminated water. This leaves your central heating system clean and as efficient as possible.

How long does a central heating powerflush take?

On average, a powerflush takes five or six hours for a vented system in a three-bed house. However, this can vary depending on the size of the house, the severity of the issues, and whether any parts need replacing. If you have a sealed system, powerflushing usually takes significantly less time.

How often does a central heating system need a powerflush?

Usually, a powerflush only needs to be done once every five years. However, we always recommend having one done if you have a new boiler installed to make sure the system is ready.

If you’re experiencing any of the issues mentioned above, we might recommend one to solve those issues.

As part of your annual boiler service, our team will advise you on whether your system would benefit from a powerflush.

Call our plumbers in Sussex today

If you’re experiencing issues with your central heating system or you’re interested in getting a powerflush to help boost its efficiency, call our team today. We’ll come out, inspect your heating system, and give you a free quote for our powerflushing service: 01323 648 083

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