'POWER FLUSHING', 'JET FLUSHING' & 'HARD
FLUSHING'
are all expressions used (in
the heating trade over many years) to denote the
process by which heating systems are forcibly
cleansed using water at high velocity, but low
pressure, so that no physical damage is caused
to the system. The process can be made even more
effective with the addition of powerful
cleansing and mobilising agents.
The objective is to restore systems with
circulation and boiler noise problems (caused by
sludge and corrosion deposits) to optimum
operation. Power flushing removes these deposits
and the problems that they cause.
Power flushing, is also an excellent way to
pre-commission clean new heating systems, to
remove excess flux, swarf and other debris, and
the grease and oil used to prevent rusting of
components before use.
It is prudent to power flush a heating system
immediately before fitting a new boiler to an
existing system to prevent possible future
problems. Many systems are found to contain
corrosion and sludge, even if no flow problems
have yet shown themselves.
Existing debris is often mobilised by
alterations to the system/piping and the
increased efficiency of the new boiler, and may
then accumulate in the boiler heat exchanger,
causing noisy operation, reduced efficiency and,
in extreme circumstances, failure of the boiler.
The high efficiency and compactness of modern
boilers, developed to minimise fuel costs and
pollution, means that they are more susceptible
to problems caused by debris in the system
water.