Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Flushing Cast Iron Radiators

Options
lkosy1
lkosy1 Member Posts: 4
in THE MAIN WALL
I just got a new mid-efficiency system from LAARS that works nicely in my 3 story home. I have had an old plumber that does everything else in my home. The new plumber for the LAARS system says that my radiators are full of sludge after 100 years of use and should be flushed using a chemical product. My old plumber says that he never hear of doing that - that the system is meant to be maintained as a closed system. Who is right? (BTW - the old plumber would be getting the job. I like hime better. So it is strange he is talking himself out of a job!) Thanks

Comments

  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    Options
    How is your water quality there? Was the old system using a lot of makeup water?

    Drain a bit of water from a low point (boiler drain) into a clear glass and hold it against a white sheet of paper. How does it look?

    Water treatment might still be a good idea.
  • lkosy1
    lkosy1 Member Posts: 4
    Options
    The system was working very well- we never had to add water. I shall look for the boiler drain and find out. God idea.
    I know when the new boiler was swapped in last year, the dirty water was endless.
  • lkosy1
    lkosy1 Member Posts: 4
    Options
    I drained a glass of water from the boiler - it is not quite crystal clear; the water looks ever so slightly gray - very slight. Of course, since it is May, the boiler has not been on for quite a while, if that makes a difference.
    Thanks
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    Options
    That sounds like it could be hematite. Put a strong magnet next to the glass and see what happens.
  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,432
    Options
    Depending on the boiler you have and how tight the water passages are I would seriously consider adding a good cleaner, flush out and then an inhibitor. A belt and suspenders approach would be to add a Magnet type filter on the boiler return.
    fernox and Caleffi both make them.

    http://www.fernox.us/equipment/filters/tf1+total+filter
  • lkosy1
    lkosy1 Member Posts: 4
    Options
    I spoke with my installer and he says that he put a "dirt separator with magnet" filter on it already, which is why there was no sludge when I took water from the boiler.
    He is advocating that I drain the whole house and flush it to increase the efficiency of the system, and theoretically with the filter, I should not have to flush it ever again.
    Can anybody tell me why my old school plumber says that the accumulated stuff (sludge, whatever it is) is not a problem, while the high-tech guy says it is? And what is that sludge, anyway? How can it accumulate in a closed system like that?
    Thanks
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,143
    Options
    A hydronic cleaner would not hurt. Problem with flushing old radiators is getting enough flow to move the sludge out. You want 6-8 God velocity to really flush heavy sludge out

    It takes a good sized purge pimp, or pump
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,143
    Options
    Sorry about tried to post fps

    High velocity in large pipes and vessels takes lots of gpm. Something like a pool pump
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream

Categories