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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> Had a British Gas guy round today! https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1170185279 Message started by kp1512 on Jan 30^th, 2007, 7:27pm

Title: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by kp1512 on Jan 30^th, 2007, 7:27pm

Well was time for a service of the boiler in the new place

He cam round, did the service, etc etc

But he also said that there was sludge in the system.

He said there were these devices which you can put onto the COld Water feed coming in which would get rid of the sludge, and stop the banging noises and save the pump from more work.

What is the best way to remove this build up of scale and hardwater deposits?

KP

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by thescruff on Jan 30^th, 2007, 8:15pm

Best thing to fit on the heating return near the boiler is a "Magnaclean" about £85.00 but shop around.

A quick search should give you loads of outlets for them.

Hard water is a different part of the system and gadgets like the "Scalemaster" will help.

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by kp1512 on Mar 29^th, 2007, 5:38pm

scruff

Will the Magnaclean sort out the sludge and oxide in the heat exchange in the boiler? thats also where Im getting a lot of noise....

Or, do you recommend a Powerflush?...

KP

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by thescruff on Mar 30^th, 2007, 10:00pm

The Magnaclean will take the oxide out of the system before it gets to the heat exchanger.

Whether it's too late for you is another story.

Powerflush is ok if done properly, otherwise a waste of money.

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by The_Trician on Mar 30^th, 2007, 10:35pm

Hi Scruff,
Are these things ok to be fitted to a pressurized combi system?

TT

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by thescruff on Apr 1^st, 2007, 12:56am

Yes TT they can be fitted to any system.

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by kp1512 on Apr 1^st, 2007, 5:35pm

Scruff

Im certain theres some in the HE as I can hear the curdling when the heating is on in the boiler......surely this gets pumped around? or as its heavy does it stay there? in which case WTF do I do? lol

What are your thoughts in the Sentinal stuff?

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by thescruff on Apr 1^st, 2007, 6:40pm

If its in suspension and floating a around the system the Magnaclean will grab it.

If however its stuck in the HX then a chemical flush is the only way out other than a new HX.

Initially if the system is working then go for the Magnaclean and see what happens.

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by CWatters on Apr 18^th, 2007, 6:46pm

I've no idea how well the magnaclean works but read this report by the US Army. They tested the ability of three other devices to stop build up (not reducing existing build up) ...

http://www.cecer.army.mil/techreports/Hock_MagneticDescalers/Hock_MagneticDescalers.pdf

Quote:

Conclusions

The results of this study show that the amount of mineral scale formed for the control versus device heat exchange tubes was relatively constant, and proved to be an effective insulator of heat transfer across the tube surface. The scale formed was found to be a type of calcite (calcium carbonate), and had the same crystalline structure for each heat exchange tube. There was no discernible effect on the crystalline structure of the scale formed by any of the tested devices.

This study concludes that these results indicate no clear advantage for any of the three devices tested over a control for the inhibition of mineral scale formation or the corrosion of copper. The test protocol was designed to simulate the method of production of hot water used in many larger institutional type settings that em-ploy a shell and tube heat exchanger for the production of hot water. These findings do not support the claims of the manufacturers regarding the ability of their respective devices to prevent mineral scale formation in hot potable water systems.

Title: Re: Had a British Gas guy round today!
Post by thescruff on Apr 18^th, 2007, 10:29pm

The Magnaclean is not a descaler, it attracts the magnatite and acts as a system filter to protect the heat exchanger