Black Water In Radiators!!!

BLACKCATWHITEFEET · 27-01-2009, 21:43

Hi,
Does anyone know how to get rid of black water in radiators. A guy from Eon came round today to service my boiler and told me that I had black water in my radiators and would need them to be powerflushed before I can be accepted into the boiler cover scheme. Any ideas on what sorta price I'm looking at? Been told I can take the radiators off the wall and get rid of the water that way but knowing my luck I'll just end up flooding the place. Any help will be greatfully received!!

BERNADETTE · 27-01-2009, 21:51

Derekgas is the man to be asking

katex · 27-01-2009, 21:52

Come in Derekgas .. had this problem a little while ago after some maintenance, but regular running off the hot water appears to have cured it, however, suppose all problems are different.

derekgas · 27-01-2009, 22:19

hello, thanks girls x have sent a private message. lol

katex · 27-01-2009, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

hello, thanks girls x have sent a private message. lol

S'okay, you are our lovely genie in a bottle, just need a gentle rub and 'Hey Presto' here you are ...

derekgas · 28-01-2009, 08:03

You have a way with words Katex lol x

mattylad · 28-01-2009, 10:00

As far as I know.

What all this is, is the iron oxides from the inside of the radiators as they disintegrate from the inside out.
It affect the system, it gets into the heat exchangers & can clog up the boiler to an extent where it prevents proper function of the boiler you need expensive parts replacing.

You can get chemicals to put into your system to help reduce it, also to aid removal prior to a powerflush.
A powerflush will involve connecting a pumped system to your piping after disconnecting the boiler and high pressure pumping while opening individuals radiators to clean them.
It can cost £2oo+ as it generally takes several hours/1/2 day.

There is a DIY way of doing it, involving putting the chemical in for a month+ beforehand, then connecting a hose to one of the pipes (cant remember which exact one but the info is on the web), with all the radiators closed, open one & flush through with max pressure water (draining off into the drains etc), close radiator - open next one & so on.
More information can be found on the web about this.

I intend to do this in the summer on our ancient microbore system.

Neil · 28-01-2009, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattylad

You can get chemicals to put into your system to help reduce it

You can't add them to all systems though.

magpie · 28-01-2009, 16:00

I have to bleed my bathroom rad twice a week and my landlord say's ( that's how it is) so not a lot they can do.... I was told I ( well not me ) but the system needs a good flushing....

panther · 28-01-2009, 18:48

bleeding radiators twice a week?, summat wrong there, i only ever do mine say....once a year!!

derekgas · 28-01-2009, 20:16

If there is a requirement to bleed the radiators too often, then there is more than likely a leak in the system, or the pipework is incorrect and the air is being dragged in from the vent pipe. In any event, this causes more corrosion because it is the oxygen in the system which corrodes things. Mattylad, the minimum time for a powerflush is 4 hours, I recently did one that took 2 and a half days, I am afraid that with limited knowledge, you are a prime example of why this is not a diy job. The water ph level should be between 6 and 8, the total dissolved solids in the system should be no more than 10% different to the tap water, that is for starters, our kit cost £1200 or thereabouts, we have 2 of these, the testing kits cost £200 per unit, the cylinders have to be cleansed (chlorination), the training for that costs £395 per man, and the chemicals cost about £70, labour is 2 men minimum half a day, so if you know someone who can do this job, to MY standards, for £200 quid, give me thier number, because they can do all mine.

mattylad · 29-01-2009, 00:25

Derek, I'm just going off what I have read elsewhere on the net, that it takes several hours.

Several hours can easily equal 4, which is also 1/2 a day.
I have seen others say that they do it in that time, you may not, its not a problem.
Maybe others are not a thorough as yourself, it was only an example & not a definitive "it only takes xxx time to do".

It's easy enough to find out about it on the web.
And £200+ IS "more than £200" (note the "+") which is what your charges are also (more than £200)

I gave that figure to show that a powerflush is an expensive job.

I would not dream powerflushing as a DIY job, mainly because the equipment is not available for a DIY'r.
However flushing the system out with mains water is & As far as I know better than not doing it at all (so I'm told) and is the DIY option. Not that I would expect the op to do that.

I posted for information, not as direct competition to what you do!

derekgas · 29-01-2009, 20:30

Ok mattylad, point noted.

mattylad · 30-01-2009, 10:43

Cheers, I'm 100% sure what & how you do a professional powerflush will be extremely superior to a DIY job, however sometimes (as I'm sure everyone knows) we just can't afford a decent job & have to make do

magpie · 30-01-2009, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

If there is a requirement to bleed the radiators too often, then there is more than likely a leak in the system, or the pipework is incorrect and the air is being dragged in from the vent pipe. In any event, this causes more corrosion because it is the oxygen in the system which corrodes things. Mattylad, the minimum time for a powerflush is 4 hours, I recently did one that took 2 and a half days, I am afraid that with limited knowledge, you are a prime example of why this is not a diy job. The water ph level should be between 6 and 8, the total dissolved solids in the system should be no more than 10% different to the tap water, that is for starters, our kit cost £1200 or thereabouts, we have 2 of these, the testing kits cost £200 per unit, the cylinders have to be cleansed (chlorination), the training for that costs £395 per man, and the chemicals cost about £70, labour is 2 men minimum half a day, so if you know someone who can do this job, to MY standards, for £200 quid, give me thier number, because they can do all mine.

I agree but my landlord .... says they will not pay to put it right.... I have to put up with it:

Will this cost me more money to run the system if I keep on having to bleed the rad: thanks Magpie