RADIATORS
www.heatingandventilating.net
Think radiators, think inhibitor
Colin Yearp from Adey discusses why inhibitor is the best protection against corrosion and how it should always be at the forefront of installers minds at every install, every service and every repair - to keep radiators working at optimal efficiency
C
orrosion in heating systems results in £700 million of unexpected bills for homeowners in the UK every single year – building up in radiators and causing sludge to form. However, it is still often forgotten about when
diagnosing faults and reviewing issues such as cold spots or rooms not reaching a comfortable temperature.
Why should I check inhibitor levels and when?
With the rising cost of energy currently a real concern amongst UK homeowners, and, with prices set to rise again this year, simply making sure radiators are running at full efficiency will be crucial in getting the most out of the gas a household uses. Checking for inhibitor is crucial in ensuring the metal components inside a heating system are protected from corrosion. This prevents the build-up of magnetite particles that cause sludge – the number one cause of boiler breakdowns in the UK. Ensuring inhibitor levels are topped-up will continue to keep sludge at bay,
reducing the chances of further breakdowns. A customer can also gain up to 47% more heat from their radiators without using more energy, simply because the system will work more efficiently. When removing or replacing a radiator, carrying out a full or partial drain
down, or a system flush, the levels of inhibitor will be dramatically reduced, and the system is no longer protected from corrosion. It may sound obvious but overlooking the need for inhibitor top up could cause a lot of issues in future for the customer and ultimately affect their loyalty and trust. For this reason, it’s important that you check and maintain the inhibitor at
every installation of a new boiler, every boiler service, and every time a radiator is repaired or replaced. A top tip is to always carry a couple of bottles of inhibitor in your work van, so you can quickly and easily upsell the benefits of inhibitor to the customer, and give the heating system the protection it needs without the upheaval of organising a new appointment and an additional trip to pick up the product
Checking on inhibitors, plus adding a filter and reviewing the cleanliness of
the system is also required to comply with BS7593:2019, part of the industry- wide Benchmark scheme for best practice heating system maintenance.
Why do radiators need inhibitor?
With water running around a heating system full of metal components, the build-up of corrosion can be rapid. Corrosion ultimately leads to the build-up of magnetite or ‘sludge’ which will settle at the bottom of radiators. We call this build-up ‘pyramiding’ as when the water travels up and over the sludge to get around the system, it starts to form a pyramid shape at the bottom of the radiator. This creates a barrier inside the radiator which prevents heat from coming through – and as a result, sludge is often the reason why radiators may
feel colder at the bottom than the top. Research shows that sludge causes 80% of boiler breakdowns in the first five
years. What’s more, a sludge-free system will use less energy potentially saving £80 a year on energy bills and reducing carbon emissions by up to 7%. An inhibitor creates a protective layer over the metal components within the
radiator to keep corrosion at bay, lubricates components, and protects against limescale build-up. Inhibitor products such as Adey’s MC1+ Protector can provide a fitting solution. Suitable for all heating systems, they stops magnetite and other deposits forming helping to protect the central heating, keeping the boiler working efficiently and helping to ensure the system lasts for longer. Many homeowners will be unaware of these statistics on sludge and the important role that inhibitor plays in their system. To further bring the effect that poor water quality can have to life, Adey has produced a video for homeowners to help them understand the damage sludge can do to their heating systems, and how it can be removed and kept at bay.
How do I check inhibitor levels?
Testing the water quality of a heating system with a dip test is a straight-forward process most installers will be familiar with. However, the results of these tests can be open to interpretation and only detect inhibitor levels, not signs of corrosion – the after effect of a lack of inhibitor protection. A more detailed analysis, which can be used to help explain to the homeowner the need for
28 February 2022
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