WATER TREATMENT
www.heatingandventilating.net
Taking the fight to system sludge
Tom Hood, ADEY’s UK and Ireland sales director, explains why it’s vital for installers to educate homeowners on the risks the build-up of sludge poses, how best to prevent, and why having the ability to show homeowners why a course of action is needed up their sleeve, can help build understanding and trust
M
ost installers will understand what sludge is and how it forms from corrosion inside of radiators, pipes, and soldered joints. Unsurprisingly, the older the system is, the more likely it is to have some heating sludge
build-up. But that doesn’t mean that newly installed systems are immune. Corrosion can start to affect boilers and radiators from day one. Indeed, leaving old water in a system unaddressed is like putting old oil in a new car. According to independent research, 15% of new boilers breakdown annually, and sludge has been found to be the reason behind 60% of these failures. As well as performance, sludge build-up can also affect a system’s energy efficiency as the system struggles to transfer heat, radiators and pipes are blocked, and the flow of water is restricted. This means the bill payer would end up with higher energy bills than they would have if the heating system’s water was cleaner. In fact, Band A boilers can shift to Band E in terms of efficiency because of the damage caused by sludge – it’s like putting old oil in a new car. In some cases, the tell-tale signs of sludge are apparent before the boiler
even breaks down. They include cold spots in radiators, kettling noises from the boiler, having to turn the thermostat up, lukewarm water from taps, leaks, loss in boiler pressure, or the boiler simply turning itself off. Once sludge starts to build up in a heating system, various parts of a boiler become affected: the main heat exchanger, the plate heat exchanger, expansion vessel, pump, gas valve, automatic air vent, the fan, and even the PCB. Their performance is compromised until it invariably falters, gives up and requires remedial attention. Whilst an automatic air vent costs less to replace, a PCB, heat exchanger or fan can cost substantially more.
Filter it out
The good news is rust and dirt build up can be slowed and filters can be used to collect magnetite particles from the system water. But not all filters are equal, with some using less powerful magnets or mesh
to collect the magnetite. Mesh can be effective with large particles however most magnetite is too small to be seen and therefore far too small to be fully captured using mesh. This finer magnetic debris continues to build up and can clog the heating system. A magnetic filter, consisting of a large magnet, attracts the magnetite particles regardless of size. They are caught and collected as the water moves around the magnet, enabling them to be removed as part of annual servicing and maintenance routines. ‘Smart’ filters such as ADEY’s MagnaClean Professional3 Sense can even monitor the build-up of sludge in the system and alert installers to a sludge problem before it causes a breakdown. Whilst the consumer will be paying extra up front to put in such prevention
measures, they will save money in the long-term and can reduce annual energy bills by up to £80 a year by keeping their boiler working as efficiently as possible. Filtering out sludge before it goes through the vital parts of the heating
system prevents it from damaging the heating system, potential expensive and stressful boiler breakdowns can be avoided, whilst prolonging its lifespan by up to seven years. At a time when society is
ADEY’s
ProCheck testing kit
focussing on how we can create a more sustainable future, experts say that optimised boiler operation through fitting a MagnaClean filter could cut up to 250kg of carbon emissions per household every year, that’s a 7% annual saving.
Making the invisible, visible
While customers are often very aware that a boiler breakdown will be inconvenient, disruptive, and costly, many remain oblivious to the effective results that undertaking preventative maintenance through water treatment can deliver. Being able to show customers why you are recommending the route you are, goes a long way to reaffirming trust and reassuring customers that what you are suggesting is worthwhile. With water quality this very much comes from being able to see the problem first-hand and understanding how it can be solved now and prevented in the future. On-site, laboratory-style water testing with ADEY ProCheck, can be an essential tool in helping heating professionals educate consumers about the importance of boiler system water quality and ongoing preventative treatment options. ADEY ProCheck provides access to key data connected to a system’s water quality, including measuring for inhibitors, corrosion, and pH levels. Thanks to its instant and accurate results, it can open the door to discuss remedial actions, such as system flushing or replenishing inhibitor levels, all of which can be agreed without delay, reducing the need for return visits, and keeping costs down for homeowners. The procedure is straightforward too: installers take a water sample, dip the dedicated test strips, and hold them against the test card, then simply scan them via the ADEY ProCheck App to receive immediate results. The advanced technology then relays recommended actions to the user’s phone within seconds, meaning installers can show the homeowner and validate their recommendations with the results readily available. This type of measure is also recommended as part of the industry wide
28 November 2021
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