Question by castlehawking: How do I create a vacuum pump with filter to clean underfloor heating pipes?
I have posted a recent question about blocked underfloor liquid central heating pipes http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Akdu44SwTNUxcF8LNG7FxQYgBgx.?qid=20070104092939AApzQBW
and although 3 people were contributing, – their answers have already been tried.
I now was wondering whether anyone can suggest an easy way to create a suction (vacuum) system at the return ends of the underfloor pipes to the branch manifold whereby we let the 2 bar system pressure push the sediment through but also create a drawing at other end as I fear that pushing alone is going to consolidate and block the system which will inevitably (or most likely) ‘blow’ connections under the floor.
Anyone remember the old milking parlour suction systems where I presume milk is drawn through the pipes and then drops into a visible cannister?
Well, something like that is what I am trying to imagine / create where I can hopefully turn up the suction to match the pressure from the flow side.
thanks to the contributors suggesting the wet vac idea. Brilliant and I never thought of that product but it is along the exact idea I have.
I will try and have a go at that this weekend with optimism.
Also thanks to the engineer who supported my findings / thoughts on the stainless steel insert ‘red herring’ put forward my my ‘lifetime’ plumber who obviously (when you’ve talked with him) knows the book – and that’s even the bits he hasn’t written.
Best answer:
Answer by Ray J
Wet/dry shop vac might work if you bush it down to the pipe size.
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2 Comments
If you connect a wet vac to one pipe, and connect the other end of the pipe to a tank with clean water in, it should suck the clean water through so you dont get an air bubble. Hope that made sense!
Speaking as an experienced heating engineer your plumber is talking utter rubbish if he is blaming the inserts in the pipe for any sludge build up.You are totally correct when you say that it is caused by the different metals in the system and incorrect flushing.
My advice to you is to get a couple of bottles of system cleanser(fernox,salamander) and put them in the system for at least 2 weeks and run it at a reasonably high setting.
Then you need to get somebody to powerflush the system,this is done with a machine which connects onto the pump connections.It will not blow the joints as it is only slightly more powerful than your central heating pump.
Whatever you do ,do not get British Gas to powerflush it as it will cost you twice as much as anyone else.I should know as I used to work for them.
The only way that you will breakdown the sediment in your system is by introducing some sort of chemical.Water and pressure alone will not do it,they will only blow a joint somewhere.
You should be able to find someone in your local area who does powerflushing and I would imagine you should be looking around the £250 – £400 mark depending on the size of your system.
Hope this helps.