Problems with small bore pipe and an old central heating system | Central Heating Forum | Page 2 | Plumbers Forums

Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws

Discuss Problems with small bore pipe and an old central heating system in the Central Heating Forum area at Plumbers Forums

Success! Attached are the before pictures.
What is the best way to clean off the magnetite? Also opened up the top and bottom unions and clear water came out. Once the magnetite is cleaned off will the pump have increased power or not? Thank you.
 

Attachments

  • IMG-8368.jpg
    IMG-8368.jpg
    431.1 KB · Views: 41
  • IMG-8367.jpg
    IMG-8367.jpg
    389.9 KB · Views: 43
  • IMG-8366.jpg
    IMG-8366.jpg
    472.8 KB · Views: 48
  • IMG-8365.jpg
    IMG-8365.jpg
    548.8 KB · Views: 44
Looks clean it will be black just make sure the holes / fins in the impella are clear
 
Unfortunately!, the pump impeller looks very clean, get a tie wrap and shove it it through each vane in the impeller (right hand picture) to ensure each one clear.
 

Attachments

  • Impeller rev1.jpg
    Impeller rev1.jpg
    807.5 KB · Views: 49
Unfortunately!, the pump impeller looks very clean, get a tie wrap and shove it it through each vane in the impeller (right hand picture) to ensure each one clear.
OK thanks. Looks like the two magnacleans I fitted on the flow pipes to the small bore pipes is working! I am a little worried that the magnet stuck like glue (see large magnet) but perhaps I dont need to be worried as when I opened the bottom valve water flowed?
Also if I put x800 in the system for a few weeks would that help with the baked on magnetite in the copper pipe and any remaining in the small bore? If not then I may just have to live with the small bore rads at the end of the system taking an hour to come on? Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • central heating pump2.jpg
    central heating pump2.jpg
    470.3 KB · Views: 45
Can you post a picture of the Grundfos pump label and should then be able to figure out if a 5M or 6M pump, also, it should give the rating of the capacitor inside the terminal box, probably, 2.4uF, some say that when these start getting weak that while they will still start the pump but it will run slower and produce less head, you can also test this capacitor with some multimeters, might be worth renewing if one can be picked up cheap, otherwise maybe consider something like a DAB Evosta 3 for ~ £120.
 
Can you post a picture of the Grundfos pump label and should then be able to figure out if a 5M or 6M pump, also, it should give the rating of the capacitor inside the terminal box, probably, 2.4uF, some say that when these start getting weak that while they will still start the pump but it will run slower and produce less head, you can also test this capacitor with some multimeters, might be worth renewing if one can be picked up cheap, otherwise maybe consider something like a DAB Evosta 3 for ~ £120.
This is it. I think its 6m? Is it worth running through some x800 for a few weeks to clear the film of magnetite in the system? Or is this not worth it? Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • heating 2.jpg
    heating 2.jpg
    424.5 KB · Views: 43
Last edited:
If a magnet sticks x800 might help but won’t do much if it’s 1/2 restricted
 
Update. Central heating has now been running ok for the last few weeks with X800. Every few days I have been cleaning out the two magnacleans I installed. Last time was today after I left heating on timed (one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening) for the last 8 days. It collected magnetite as per the photos attached. Should I leave the X800 in for a few more weeks until it collects no more magnetite or drain and fill with inhibitor now ? Many thanks.
 
Update. Now into December and with the X800 still in system I continue to collect weekly amounts of magnetite. See pictures. When is the right time to drain the system and add x100 ? Many thanks.
CA012548-2C0D-41F8-88AD-3D911B6CBA26.jpeg
CA012548-2C0D-41F8-88AD-3D911B6CBA26.jpeg
 
Update (October 2023). System still running perfectly. I drained down in the summer and put new inhibitor in. Recently powered up and the central heating is running well. Still collecting the debris in the 2 magnacleans I fitted at the troublesome spots on the system (entry into the small bore pipes leading to the radiators that did not heat up) but I dont mind cleaning them out every month. Rather this than spend £2k on a power flush that is not guaranteed to work and may cause no end of problems on my 40 year old multi pipe (normal and small bore) system! Learnt a lot on this forum and if I had my time again would not have allowed these so called 'professional plumbers' to install small bore pipes in my system!! Thanks again. Cheers.
 

Similar plumbing topics

https://www.plumbersforums.net/threads/problems...
Replies
6
Views
2K
They can stick quite easily, try a spray with...
Replies
4
Views
776
Replies
17
Views
2K
That's a fair better idea or costly mistakes...
Replies
5
Views
1K
R
I need advice on flushing out my central...
Replies
0
Views
879
Robin Overall
R
Back
Top