How Often Should You Powerflush Your Central Heating System?

In many instances, the main reason for customers requesting a Powerflush for their central heating system is due to lack of performance. Perhaps they’ve noticed that the radiators around their homes don’t seem to be heating up as quickly as they did before. Or, perhaps, they’ve attempted to bleed the radiators themselves but had no excess water escaping. Some of the other signs you should keep an eye out for include the following. 

Radiator performance

Keep an eye on the performance of your radiators. If you notice any of the following signs, it may be time to consider a Powerflush: 

• Cold spots – particularly along the bottom section
• Leaks – normally relatively small ones
• Hearing an unusual noise
• Certain radiators outperforming others
• Pipes feeling hot to the touch but radiators remaining cold
• Discoloured water flowing out when radiators are bled

Boiler performance

You may also notice changes in the performance of your boiler which could indicate that your central heating system needs cleaning. The signs to look out for here include: 

• A loud or unusually disruptive noise (this may be coming from the heating system pump) 
• Boiler constantly turning on and off
• Limited hot water

Another sign you may notice is that your tap water becomes clouded where it was once clear. There are other reasons this may occur but one to consider is a build-up of limescale in the system. 

Always ensure that a Powerflush is carried out by a trained, professional plumber to minimise the risk of damage. During the process, a pump unit will be connected to your central heating system. The exact location depends on whether you have a system or combi boiler – the pump will either be connected to the circulation pump or the pump head. From here, the Powerflush chemical solution will be flushed through your pipework. 

As we have mentioned above, the solution is powerful enough to remove hardened sludge, rust and even limescale while shifting oils and dirt too. Once the Powerflush has completed its job, clean water will be flushed through the pipework to ensure all of the cleaning solution has been removed. This will then be disposed of and your pipework reassembled.  

The entire process can take around 5-6 hours, depending on the size of the house and how severe the debris that it encounters. During a Powerflush, your plumber may also identify areas of the pipework that are damaged and need to be replaced. The exact length of time also relies on the type of central heating system you have. 

Here at Bugby Services, we use the latest KAMCO power flushing equipment. As well as cleaning out your pipework and restoring your central heating system back to optimal performance, we can also supply filters to help prevent the build-up of sludge in the future. If you would like to book a Powerflush for your central heating system, all of our engineers are Gas Safe registered and NIC EIC approved. Get a Quote instantly on our website today or get in contact with a member of our team to discuss your needs.