Center Center Brand system filter 22mm and inhibitor 1ltr and cleaner 1ltr

Central heating cleaners are chemicals added to the water in a wet heating system to loosen sludge, scale, flux, grease and installation debris in the pipes, radiators and boiler so they can be flushed out. Cleaning is the first step in treating system water, followed by flushing, fitting a filter and dosing with inhibitor. This category covers cleaners from small rapid doses to large drums, powerflushing cleaners, solar circuit cleaners, and packs that combine a filter, cleaner and inhibitor.

Choosing a cleaner

• New system cleaners: remove flux, grease and debris left from installation. Even a brand new system should be cleaned before it is commissioned.
• Sludge and scale removers: for older systems with cold spots and a build-up of magnetite sludge. Fast-acting types work in about an hour at normal running temperature; others can stay in a badly fouled system for several weeks.
• Powerflushing cleaners: made to be pumped through the system by a powerflushing machine.

Cleaning a system properly

Check the cleaner is safe with every metal in the system, including aluminium, and dose it to the system water volume; many products treat about 100 litres of water per litre of cleaner. Circulate it with all radiator valves open, then drain and flush until the water is free of sludge. Refill and add inhibitor with the final fill. In England, Approved Document L expects all heating circuits to be thoroughly cleaned and flushed, and inhibitor added, before a new boiler is fitted, with the system prepared and commissioned to BS 7593. The standard also asks for an in-line filter. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety data. Work on the boiler's gas parts must only be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

After cleaning, see central heating inhibitors and central heating filters.