H
Halibut
Hi. I recently moved into a new house, which has a vented c/h system with Potterton FSB 30 HE system boiler. The problem is that the boiler makes a loud whining noise when the heating is on. I had Potterton out under warranty, and they changed the fan and added some chemical cleaner, but to no avail, and concluded that it is build up in the heat exchanger causing the noise, and I need to flush the system, which isn't covered. I was surprised because the boiler is only about 12 months old, the radiators all heat up OK, the system was flushed when it boiler was installed and inhibitor added (according to the documentation they left, anyway), and the water runs crystal clear from the drain cock. But there you go.
So I would appreciate some advice on my best DIY option. Should I:
a. Remove the heat exchanger and de-scale / clean it out separately. If so, what is best to use?
b. Shut off all but one radiator, add DS40 and run for a while, the idea being to clean out the heat exchanger without needed to flush the whole system?
c. Add DS40 to the whole system, run it for a while then drain and refill a few times, or
d. Add DS40 to the whole system, run it for a while then flush using mains pressure (having capped the expansion outlet in the header tank)?
e. Something else altogether?
The reason I don't particularly want to flush the whole system is that, as said, the water seems clear and the radiators all work efficiently, so I am presuming that I am suffering from premature scaling of the heat exchanger rather than a general sludge problem. I could be wrong.
Any other suggestions would be gratefully received. The noise, incidently, is not primarily your typical kettle type noise (though there is a bit of that), it is more a fairly high pitched but variable whine. And loud. You would have thought it was a pump or a fan or something. It goes away a bit once the system is up to temperature, and gets much better if I turn the thermostat on the boiler down. But then of course the radiators aren't so hot.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
So I would appreciate some advice on my best DIY option. Should I:
a. Remove the heat exchanger and de-scale / clean it out separately. If so, what is best to use?
b. Shut off all but one radiator, add DS40 and run for a while, the idea being to clean out the heat exchanger without needed to flush the whole system?
c. Add DS40 to the whole system, run it for a while then drain and refill a few times, or
d. Add DS40 to the whole system, run it for a while then flush using mains pressure (having capped the expansion outlet in the header tank)?
e. Something else altogether?
The reason I don't particularly want to flush the whole system is that, as said, the water seems clear and the radiators all work efficiently, so I am presuming that I am suffering from premature scaling of the heat exchanger rather than a general sludge problem. I could be wrong.
Any other suggestions would be gratefully received. The noise, incidently, is not primarily your typical kettle type noise (though there is a bit of that), it is more a fairly high pitched but variable whine. And loud. You would have thought it was a pump or a fan or something. It goes away a bit once the system is up to temperature, and gets much better if I turn the thermostat on the boiler down. But then of course the radiators aren't so hot.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.