You may know what a powerflush is, but have you ever heard of a chemical flush or a Magnacleasne? Many people haven’t, and some have no idea what power flushing is either. Well, they are different types of central heating system cleansing procedures, all designed to remove sludge and debris from your system.
So, what’s the difference between a powerflush and a chemical flush and a Magnacleanse. You’re about to find out!
I have never heard of a powerflush – what is it?
Your system can develop a build-up of dirt and sludge over time, which needs removing to avoid leading to blockages and problems with your heating and hot water. That’s when you might decide to contact an engineer to perform a central heating powerflush.
A powerflush is a cleansing process for your system. It uses high pressure to push a mixture of chemicals through your system and force out any sludge, rust and debris from your boiler, pipes and radiators.
After getting a powerflush to remove any debris, your central heating system becomes more reliable and efficient, reducing the risk of breakdowns. A powerflush can also increase the lifespan of your system and lower your energy bills.
When should I get a powerflush?
Getting a powerflush every 5 to 6 years will help maintain the reliability and efficiency of your central heating system. Engineers usually also recommend performing a powerflush before fitting a new boiler if your existing system is old and dirty.
The following signs indicate that your system may need a powerflush:
- Cold spots on your radiators
- Radiators that need constant bleeding
- Central heating takes a long time to heat up
- Noise coming from your boiler and radiators
- Radiator leaks
- Strange noises coming from your boiler or system
- Discoloured water when bleeding your radiators
- Only some radiators in your home heat up
- Radiators are cold when the pipes are hot
If you notice any of the above issues, you may need to contact a qualified engineer and arrange a powerflush service.
What are the benefits of getting a powerflush?
The benefits of getting a powerflush include but are not limited to:
- Removes and prevents blockages inside your system
- Improves reliability and the energy efficiency of your system
- Reduces the risk of damage to your system’s components
- Increases the life expectancy of your boiler
- Prevents boiler breakdowns
- Improves the performance of your heating system
How much will a powerflush cost me?
It will cost you roughly £300 to get an engineer to powerflush your central heating system, but the total cost depends on how many radiators you have and the complexity of your system. If your engineer finds any problems that need fixing whilst performing a powerflush, you can expect to pay more for repairs or replacement parts and additional labour.
Powerflushing your system is a messy job, so we recommend you always hire a Gas Safe registered engineer to perform one for you. If you attempt to do it yourself, and it goes wrong, you will end up spending a lot more than the cost of a powerflush to get an engineer to put things right. You will also invalidate your boiler warranty if you choose not to hire a professional.
So, what is a chemical flush?
Unlike a powerflush that uses high pressure to clean your system, a chemical flush is a more basic central heating system cleansing procedure that uses gravity. An engineer will pour a blend of chemicals into your system and leave them circulating for a while to dislodge any sludge and debris. They then use clean water to flush out any unwanted materials from your system before adding an inhibitor to protect your system from rust in the future.
And what is a Magnacleanse?
A Magnacleanse, on the other hand, is a high-tech flushing method that gives your central heating system a thorough clean. It uses chemicals, an agitator and a magnetic filter to remove the harshest and most stubborn debris, like magnetite. The agitator can get rid of more sludge in 20 seconds than can be removed in 30 minutes without it, so it’s a much quicker cleansing process.
Once your system is clean, your engineer will recommend installing a MagnaClean filter to help protect your system from iron oxide sludge build-up throughout its life.
Which central heating system flushing method is best?
A chemical flush is the gentlest method and may be sufficient if your system has had a powerflush in the last few years and you have noticed cold spots on some of your radiators. If your system is quite dirty and you haven’t had it cleaned for 5 or 6 years, then you may want to consider getting a powerflush instead of a chemical flush.
Some engineers will always recommend a Magnacleanse over a powerflush because it provides a fast and effective way to remove stubborn debris. It can also provide long-term protection for your boiler when you get a MagnaClean filter installed.
The average cost for all three flushing methods is between £300 and £700, depending on how many radiators you have and the engineer you choose to carry out the work.