Adding Inhibitor to central heating system

Deep

Deep

Deep

Soldato
Joined
29 Jul 2004
Posts
6,652
Location
Esher
I need to add some x400 cleaning agent to my central heating system (I definitely know it's never been done in the two years I've lived there), but just want to make sure I do it the right way.

I've got a towel radiator in the bathroom, so do I:

  • Drain the entire system and then pour the inhibitor in
  • or should I just isolate the towel radiator and put the inhibitor in
 
Last edited:
Hopefully a plumber will be along to give you a qualified answer, but here is my 2 cents...

I doubt the inhibitor will do anything really. From memory it's means to be out into 'clean' systems to keep them clean and stop oxidisation, etc. If your system hasn't had any treatment it will more than likely already be dirty.

I'd personally fit or get a plumber to fit a Magnaclean filter on the return pipe to your boiler when the Magnaclean is fitted, you put in a cleaning agent and run that for a few weeks. Then, you drain the whole system, fill with water again and then add the inhibitor. The Magnaclean filters allow you to easily add chemicals into the system.

TLDR; Probably loads of **** already in your system, so get a filter fitted, cleaning agent run round it and then add inhibitor otherwise your just wasting time and moneys.
 
i'm looking to do the same thing. i believe there are 2 tanks in the attic. one is for radiator loop the other for drinking water and hot water. how do you know which tank to throw the inhibitor into?

unless both tanks in the attic are one each for hot and cold water.
 
@Psycho Sonny The smaller one is usually for CH. Larger feeds your hot water tank. Test by running a hot tap and seeing which one fills up.
Cold/drinking water will be plumbed straight into the mains feed and have no tank. Again test by running cold tap, no tanks should fill up. I personally don't like to dose into the tank as i feel it takes a long time for it to penetrate the system loop. I prefer to either put it in a rad or into a magnetic filter
 
1) You have a couple of ways you can do this. You can isolatate the radiator and drain enough out of it at either valve end to pour in your inhibitor.

2) drain entire system and pour in through any radiator. Obviously you will need some tools to do either of these methods. Radiator spanner and a couple of adjustable grips

Make sure you have a couple of pans to swap over and a bucket to fill so your not running back and forth if draining the radiator. Have some old towels to hand and keep your phone close if doing it yourself should things go wrong


Invest in a Fernox TF1 Omega filter. I would not touch magnaclean personally
 
Last edited:
Business Man said:
1) You have a couple of ways you can do this. You can isolatate the radiator and drain enough out of it at either valve end to pour in your inhibitor.

2) drain entire system and pour in through any radiator. Obviously you will need some tools to do either of these methods. Radiator spanner and a couple of adjustable grips

Make sure you have a couple of pans to swap over and a bucket to fill so your not running back and forth if draining the radiator. Have some old towels to hand and keep your phone close if doing it yourself should things go wrong


Invest in a Fernox TF1 Omega filter. I would not touch magnaclean personally
Click to expand...

I've got a Fernox TF1 installed but my system has never been cleaned or anything so I'm going to do everything I can do to get it running well and then afterwards just routinely clean my filter out
 
For the same price I'd get a boiler-m8 ultimate brass filter. Much better performance than magnaclean and fernox and free replacement seals too.

But yes you need to flush and clean the system first before adding in the inhibitor along with a filter.
 
Deep said:
I've got a Fernox TF1 installed but my system has never been cleaned or anything so I'm going to do everything I can do to get it running well and then afterwards just routinely clean my filter out
Click to expand...

Not a plumber but if you have a filter installed you can add cleaner / inhibitor using the filter will be easier than other ways?
 
I drained a bit off the bottom of the system, unscrewed the top of the towel heater in the bathroom and just poured it in then topped up as necessary on the boiler.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom