Cleaning 100 year old cast iron rads.

[Sharp Point]

Morning people, I’m in the middle of a listed building refurb. The customer is having overlay ufh throughout and using the original cast iron rads as the supplementary heat. I’m removing the top and bottom entry bushes to have them at the bottom, there’s lots of dried magnetite coming out. I’m thinking of hooking up a powerflush machine whilst we’re at building stage to clean them. I’ve put some of the big lumps into an acid/ water mix and it’s not limescale . What chemicals would give satisfactory results on cold water powerflush?

Thanks

 

[oz-plumber]

It probably best to keep doing what you are doing.
Remove the entry bushes, belt the heater around a bit and then tip out the dried magnetite.
I would be hesitant putting too strong a chemical through the rads, due to the old paper gaskets used between each section.
It may just be worth flushing with water after getting as much magnetite out while the rad is dry

 

[leelister6]

What is Ultrasonic Cleaning - Ultrawave
Could be worth getting in touch with someone like this, depends on the budget obviously rads would probably be like new when done

 

[Rob Foster]

use a rubber mallet and a powerfull magnet as well as
some of the right type of sentinal, or other chemicals.
Ring up their technical number
they will give you good advice. X800 Sentinal but keep it going round loads of times or soak if you can find big enough old tank.
We used to bung them in the pine strippers vat years ago
centralheatking

 

[Welder]

use a rubber mallet and a powerfull magnet as well as
some of the right type of sentinal, or other chemicals.
Ring up their technical number
they will give you good advice. X800 Sentinal but keep it going round loads of times or soak if you can find big enough old tank.
We used to bung them in the pine strippers vat years ago
centralheatking

Just remember, whatever you use, make sure the PH is properly back to neutral when you've done. I suspect it will take as long to do that as clean 'em.

 

[Rob Foster]

Just remember, whatever you use, make sure the PH is properly back to neutral when you've done. I suspect it will take as long to do that as clean 'em.

great advice...forgot that ..and if they are not going to be used for a while, do not store them dry, introduce some chainsaw oil insude and roll it around, then clear it out before use.
chking...good luck sounds a great project

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Flush them with mains water before fitting

 

[townfanjon]

Warn and double warn the customer of the potential future problems with that in the system, could end in tears

 

[Sharp Point]

Warn and double warn the customer of the potential future problems with that in the system, could end in tears

Already have done and he’s adamant.

 

[Sharp Point]

I’ve connected all the rads in series and going to run some x800 via a powerflush all day tomorrow and then flush em out with cold water.

 

[Jim09876]

Jesus Christ! you on a day rate or what?

 

[Sharp Point]

Jesus Christ! you on a day rate or what?

The customer will have spent around 45k on his heating towards the end of the job, so for the sake of cleaning these dirty feckers... is another cost he’ll embrace

 

[Jim09876]

WTF!

 

[Jim09876]

Must have used British Gas.

 

[Rob Foster]

The customer will have spent around 45k on his heating towards the end of the job, so for the sake of cleaning these dirty feckers... is another cost he’ll embrace

go for it ....centralheatking

 

[king of pipes]

I personally would not do it on site after having problems in the past , they should be removed to be aqua blasted stripped down cleaned then rebuilt with new joints , pressure tested then painted before refitting , you are setting yourself up for a failure here make sure you have it in writing that you will not be held responsible for any future leaks on the radiators at the very least . Kop