Drain Power Flushing Services
Power flushing is a procedure done by a professional plumber to clean the inside of clogged drains and radiant heating systems. It is done with chemicals and high water pressure that ensure that the cleaning is thorough. When the cleaning is done, a chemical known as an inhibitor is added. Read more about why power flushing may be a good solution for your drainage issues, and how a plumbing professional can help tackle the sludge.
How do you know if you need Power Flushing?
If your radiant heating system is acting up and you suspect that sludge may be causing the problem, it is worth it to have power flushing done. The only way to know if it needs to be done is to have a professional plumber come around and look at the water in your system.
Sludge refers to the debris and rust that is found in the radiant heating system water and drains. A system may have sludge flake or normal sludge. Normal sludge resembles mud and it does not easily cause blockage. Sludge flake is normal sludge that has taken the form of flakes of various sizes. The flakes are rigid and they easily block different parts of a system and cause it to stop working.
Sludge flake is difficult to get rid of and standard power flushing has to be done well to remove it. This is why it is best to leave power flushing to the professionals who will clear the sludge completely.
The power flushing procedure depends on the site of the blockage and the precise type of radiant heating system. Some systems and types of drains are easier to clean, while others cannot be flushed clean at all.
The Power Flushing Process
A professional plumber will take the following steps to clear your drains through the power flushing process:
- Cleaner or sludge remover is added to the system to loosen up the sludge. This is done hours or days ahead, depending on the chemical used.
- Every radiator is individually flushed while the others are turned off.
- Frequent flow reversal is done while flushing in order to get as much sludge out as possible.
- A magnetic filter is used with the power flush machine so that sludge is removed faster and more effectively.
- The boiler, radiators, and the pipes are flushed until the water runs clear.
- An inhibitor in the form of a chemical is added to prevent sludge from accumulating again.
- The system is re-balanced one radiator at a time.
The Power Flush Machine
Professional plumbers are certified to use the right machinery for the most thorough power flushing. These machines come in various types and sizes; some are too weak or small to effectively flush large size heaters. Professionals know the best brands and have access to large machines that can be effectively used to clean out any type of central heating system.
Another reason to use professionals is that should power flushing fail to work, they would know what to do. The procedure may fail to work if the problem is sludge flake rather than normal sludge, and if the accumulation of sludge flake is quite heavy, in which case powder flushing is necessary. Power flushing can also fail to work if there are other parts of the system that have a problem and need to be repaired or replaced.
How long does Power Flushing take?
The amount of time needed to complete a power flushing service depends on how much sludge is in the system and how large the system is. On average, it takes half a day for a small system and a full day for a large one. Upon assessing your system, and the extent of the issue, a professional plumber will give you an accurate timeline to complete the drain power flushing process.
Your Local Plumbing Professionals
Express Rooter Plumbing provides professional drain power flushing services across Toronto, and within the York, Peel, Halton, and Durham Region. Give us a call, and our team of plumbers will help clear your systems and clogged drains, keeping you sludge-free!
