Central Heating Power Flush: Magnetite – Why Does It Form?

There have been many attempts with central heating power flush technology to alleviate the problems of sludge and corrosion but none have managed to stop or get rid of the problems all together, Standard power flushing has proven to be expensive, time consuming and worse of all, inconsistent.

All Heating systems have sludge deposits and suffer with a phenomenon known as magnetite which is born from the chemical reactions with in the heating system. Corrosion will take place when air gets into the system.

Unfortunately when water, oxygen and metal mix, a chemical reaction happens. This is when Magnetite (FE3O4), one of several iron oxides and is the most magnetic of all the naturally occurring minerals on earth is formed.

Some people call the magnetite sludge or iron oxide while others will call it ferrous material, it is a black or brown like substance that forms within the pipes and radiators of a heating system, and it is one of the main culprits for many heating system problems.

Symptoms of magnetite build up are cold radiators or cold spots. Less overall heat output and even pump or boiler noise.

Magnetite is just one of the materials that build up over time that can cause your heating system problems. Other debris such as non ferrous, lime scale, casting sand, welding debris, paint particles and other undesirable materials cause the same problems and can range from very large to smaller than a micron. It is the tiny, tiny microns that cause havoc with the heat exchanger and other components of the heating system specifically newer, modern boilers Cv storing as they are more compact with smaller components.

Sludge (magnetite) and lime scale, if left untreated, will reduce the performance of your boiler by up to 15%, they could severely cripple the boiler, reduce the life expectancy of the boiler, drastically or cause a major malfunction and hefty a repair bill or worse case scenario, a new boiler.

However, manufacturers are increasingly coming up with more and more sophisticated ideas, such as the Adey Solutions Magna-cleanse (magnet) technology and the Spiro-tech Spiro-trap Magna-booster2 In-line filter Technology.

As to date, only power flushing or Magnacleanse with the aid of powerful cleansing solutions can remove some of the sludge from the central heating system.

And with the aid of in-line filter technology, some protection can be provided on an ‘on going’ basis but unfortunately there is no technology yet, that can fully protect your system 100% from the effects of magnetite and other central heating system debris.