A radiator question

[DJH]

Lovely covers! And the column rads are nice. Where are they from and, what's an inhibitor when it's at home?

It's a solution added to the water that circulates in your central heating system which helps prevent the build up of sediment in the system caused by rust from the inside of radiators along with other debris such as surplus soldering flux in the pipes left over from installation. This process of electrolysis (?) can build up as a black sludge and, after a while, unless the ongoing process is slowed and stopped it can lie in the bottom of radiators and prevent hot water from heating the bottom of the radiators. It can, in severe cases, get into the boiler and reduce efficiency by preventing the heat exchanger working efficiently. Another problem can arise when it gets into the circulating pump and jamming it. This is most noticeable when the heating is turned on after a prolonged shut down like a normal summer!

Radiators can build up gas (some sort of hydrogen) at the top of the radiators making them cold at the top as well as at the bottom if there is sludge there. If when bleeding a radiator there is a bad egg smell and any water that comes out of the bleed screw is black, then that is an indicator of a problem with this type of corrosion. If there is no smell and the water is red then that is a different problem altogether and indicates that there is a leak somewhere and the system is being topped up with fresh water at a rate to replace that lost from the leak. Fresh water will rust the inside of the radiators which is evidenced by it's rust colour There could be other things happening such as water pumping over the tank etc, but that would not necessarily cause red water.

Corrosion inhibitor will help prevent the black sludge and gas problem.

Hope this helps Lou

Doug

 

[88v8]

The cover? Yes, it was nice. I made it. The brass criss-cross came from a salvage yard.
The rads came from placing a small ad in the local paper 'Wanted Old-fashioned cast-iron radiators £10 will collect.'
I was inundated with calls, the problem was finding out what size they were so I could calculate the output and get the sizes I needed, then I had to go and see if they were usable or scaled or rusted, as MOO says, what a palaver.

That was in 1977 in our first house, then again in 1981. Was going to do it again here but the house doesn't lend itself so I've sold the rads I brought with me and I'm selling the brass valves I've hoarded for 30 years.
Nowadays it's very eay, you just wave your cheque book, pick from a dozen suppliers new or reclaimed....
http://www.theoldradiatorcompany.co.uk/

Not cheap, but the quality remains when the price is forgotten.

Ivor

PS: PP thankyou for your kind comment. Alas, I fear they do not.