Testing central heating system for sludge

[Matt0029]

Is there a device where you can bleed the system water in to and look through it like a little tube and if you can see the
circle at the bottom its clean. If not it needs flushing.

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

I use this after flushing - Adey ProCheck instant result test kit | Wolseley - https://www.wolseley.co.uk/product/adey-procheck-instant-result-test-kit/

 

[Scott_D]

Fernox turbidity tube is good for this

 

[SJB060685]

Got any doubts have a strong magnet in the van. Copper cannot be magnetised but if you hold a magnet to bare copper pipe and it sticks to it you know there’s a build up of magnetite

 

[Matt0029]

Someone has been to the job. As apparently the person's boiler was banging. The plumber looked.in the magnaclean said was full of sludge and the system needs flushing. Every rad removing and flushing out.

 

[SJB060685]

Sludge or magnetite builds up due to corrosion. If the system is designed, installed and treated properly then very little to no sludge should ever form. If the system is as fouled as you say it is (which I don’t doubt you) then yes a proper power flush is needed but you also need to find the cause of the air ingress and rectify that.

 

[Matt0029]

I haven't seen the job just what I've been told I would like to test the system for sludge myself before looking at flushing.

 

[Matt0029]

So maybe bleed some water out open a drain off see what it looks like?

 

[Matt0029]

Fernox turbidity tube is good for this

Or I wil try get one of these

 

[Matt0029]

If the boiler was banging because of sludge it would be the fact that the sludge is blocking the hex and pump?

 

[SJB060685]

If the boiler was banging because of sludge it would be the fact that the sludge is blocking the hex and pump?

Sludge can cause this yes but in order for sludge to cause that problem you would expect serious fouling. What’s the pipe layout? ie. vent, cold fill and pump locations.

 

[Matt0029]

Sludge can cause this yes but in order for sludge to cause that problem you would expect serious fouling. What’s the pipe layout? ie. vent, cold fill and pump locations.

I haven't looked yet. It's a sealed system so I have been told. Not a vented system and don't think it's previously been converted.

 

[Matt0029]

Sludge can cause this yes but in order for sludge to cause that problem you would expect serious fouling. What’s the pipe layout? ie. vent, cold fill and pump locations.

If it was bad enough on a system to cause this. Would it be pretty sludgy just bleeding a rad. I know sludge usually settles lower down

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Combi or sys/ heat ?

 

[king of pipes]

Matt just take a sample out of the system then using one of these test kits send it through the post to them for chemical analysis you will receive a full report what contained in there, a quick inhibitor test kit is available, I wonder if it ever had inhibitor put in the system ? Kop

 

[Matt0029]

Combi or sys/ heat ?

Thanks it's a combi

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Is hot water ok as the first to cop it is a plate normally

 

[Matt0029]

Is hot water ok as the first to cop it is a plate normally

I thought that if was sludged the hot water would struggle to get to temperature?

 

[Matt0029]

All I know is they called someone around as they said the boiler was banging. A plumber came around and said the magnaclean was full of sludge system needs flushing with ever rad taking off. Sounds like a coop out to me.