Hi from the Midlands, Introduction

[jh2254]

Hi, Just joined. I am an enthusiastic DIYer, having recently retired and now have more time for home projects. Currently tackling a central heating system that I entrusted to the 'professionals' over 30+ years and 3 extensions. Now realise I should have been more interested in what they were doing as its a mixture of 22mm, 15mm, 10mm and small bore pipe - the small bore is a nightmare .... will post more on that in the main threads ....

 

[Lou]

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have got a bit of everything there!

 

[jh2254]

Thanks Lou Certainly have and I have been at it for over 2 months now. The small bore pipe to 4 radiators was completely clogged up. One radiator stone cold , other barely luke warm. Those plumbers that bothered to quote said ‘power flush’ but would not guarantee any success. So I tackled it myself ripped up the floor boards and traced back the small bore that joined on the 15mm pipe. Bought some small guage garden wire and began rodding the pipes from the kitchen. Eventually managed to get it up 8 foot , still no water flow. Then rodded down from above. After 5 hours of rodding each 8 foot pipe length I broke through !Did this for all 4 radiators , both flow and return. I reassembled and ran cleaner through for 2 weeks. Drained and out inhibitor in. After a few days all 4 radiators clogged again !
So I fitted a magnaclean to the flow on one of the radiators and wow what a difference it made to catching the magnetite before it enters the flow pipe into the radiators.
Now just got to attach another magnaclean two other radiators that are served by the same bit of pipe and hopefully that will solve the problem.
The last radiator I will tackle later.
Fortunately I have enough space between the ceiling and the floor boards to fit a magnaclean.
Would appreciate forum members opinions on whether I should have done anything different !
And the answer was not to move house !
What a nightmare it’s been !

 

[jh2254]

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have got a bit of everything there!

Repost as I cant find an edit button to tidy up my post! Apologies.
Thanks Lou Certainly have and I have been at it for over 2 months now. The small bore pipe to 4 radiators was completely clogged up. One radiator stone cold , others barely luke warm. Those plumbers that bothered to quote said ‘power flush’ but would not guarantee any success. So I tackled it myself, ripped up the floor boards and traced back the small bore that joined onto the 15mm pipe in the upstairs (under the floor boards). Opened the pipe from the 15mm to small bore connection and out glugged what you see in the picture - it was an inch thick! Bought some small guage garden wire and began rodding the pipes from the kitchen. Eventually managed to get the wire up 8 foot , but still no water flow. Then rodded down from above. After 5 hours of rodding each 8 foot pipe length I broke through ! Did this for all 4 radiators , both flow and return. I reassembled and ran cleaner through for 2 weeks. Drained and put inhibitor in. After a few days all 4 radiators clogged again !
So I fitted a magnaclean to the flow on one of the radiators and wow what a difference it made to catching the magnetite before it entered the flow pipe into the radiators.
Now just got to attach another magnaclean to two other radiators that are served by the same bit of pipe and hopefully that will solve the problem.
The last radiator I will tackle later.
Fortunately I have enough space between the ceiling and the floor boards upstairs to fit a magnaclean (I dont use the drain hole in the magnaclean but a large syringe to empty the container and the magnaclean stands vertical no problem!).
Would appreciate forum members opinions on whether I should have done anything different ! Has this solution been used before!
And the answer was not to move house !
What a nightmare it’s been !

 

[Lou]

Glad you have been keeping busy!