clogged storage cylinder restricted flow

[REDSAW]

just done a job where the customer had recently drained down the system (prior to my arival) due to a burst rad which i repaired.
after re-commisioning the system and inspection there was only a trickle of hot water in bath taps after 15 seconds of reasonable flow.

worked out (after a couple of hours) the cold feed pipe was blocked by crap, all 35 foot (6 elbows) of it. this was restricting the cold top-up inlet to the hot take of.
i cut a tee into the tank feed connected a hose rammed it into the down pipe aand gave it a blast, which seems to have solved the problem.
as the owner is due to replace the whole vented system for a combi in the next couple of months, i see it as a temporary solution to get by, as the crap is still resident inthe cylinder.

question is
for next time, do any of you have any prefered methods of de-crudding the silt at the bottom of the cylinders ( i estimate about 4" of it) without breaking too many joints of?.

i am thinking take of the hot riser connection (easier to remake seal).
insert 15mm pipe to bottom of cylinder.
vacume out with the wet n dry with some water left in to swill it around.??

any of your ideas will be very interesting and hopefully usefull.
cheers.

 

[plumbnuts]

Your question is a bit confusing. Why was the cylider drained to change a radiator? Is it a direct cylinder?
Steve

 

[REDSAW]

yep, sorry for that im spurting out what she told mme by word.
indirect.
she turned the rising main of?.
continued using the hot taps.
emptied the header tank etc.
funy thing is - took of the rad and valves without a drop of water comming out.
you would not like to see this house, trust me.
any way job done!, just looking for ideas for clearing out scum.
thanks.

the pennies just dropped.
i think the ball cock must of stuck in the of position at some stage.

 

[plumbnuts]

The problems that you had are more likely to be muck in the cold water storage tank. I have had it in the past where a polystyrene lid has been used to insulate the tank and bits had broken off. Not a problem because they float of course until you empty the tank and draw all the bits down the pipes, My advice is to remove the lid from the CWS tank and inspect before draining down. I think that you have answered your own question about the ball valve being stuck in the F&E tank.
Hope this helps
Steve

 

[buffy27]

whats the craic.
could u take cylinder out of building to flush out ;farely time consuming but would b a thorough job , then flush out system pipe work.
was there any ****e in storage tank .

 

[REDSAW]

yeh bang on mate around the tank was a broken up polystyrene lid of some sort they had removed so prob that.

you just know when to do a proper job and when not to, and try quick fix instead.
a. cylinder connections = nightmare.
b. customer prpared to pay £3.72 inc vat + bag of tea for job.
c. touch me and ill get you plumbing.
any quick tricks thogh acids etc?.

 

[plumbnuts]

Sorry, no quick fixes that I know of. Why such a small amount of money for the job?

 

[REDSAW]

just knocked her for a one'r, for job n clearin block. single parent and having combi in next month so dont want to outlay for whats being ripped out.