How a Powerflush Saved a Southwick Boiler from Black Sludge & Cold Spots

We recently received an urgent call from a homeowner in Southwick. 

They weren't experiencing a total breakdown, but their heating system had become unreliable and noisy. 

The boiler was making a loud "kettling" or rumbling sound, their energy bills were climbing, and crucially, their radiators had distinct cold spots, especially along the bottom. 

The customer was stressed, believing their reliable old boiler was on its last legs and preparing themselves for the expense of a full replacement, which can cost upwards of £2,500.

The Andrew Tyler Diagnosis: The Hidden Enemy is Magnetite.

The problem was not the boiler's age; it was the quality of the water circulating inside it. 

The entire heating system—a common issue in older properties across the Adur District—was choked with magnetite sludge. 

What is Magnetite? 

It is simply rust and debris that has been slowly corroding inside your radiators and pipework. 

It circulates in the system water, acting like sand. This heavy sludge settles in two critical places: 

 * Radiators: It settles at the bottom, creating those distinct cold spots. 

 * The Boiler: It clings to the inside of the boiler's heat exchanger, preventing the heat from transferring efficiently to the water. 

This causes the boiler to overheat and make that loud, alarming kettling noise. 

The verdict was clear: connecting a brand new, expensive boiler to this dirty system would guarantee a breakdown within a year. 

The solution was not replacement, but a professional deep-clean known as a Powerflush. 

The Prime Powerflush Solution The £500 Intervention.

We explained that a Powerflush is essentially a system overhaul—a non-intrusive, powerful deep-clean for your pipework. 

We use a specialised magnetic filter machine and powerful, non-acidic cleaning chemicals to circulate through the system at high velocity. 

This technique lifts the compacted sludge and debris that a standard drain-down cannot shift. 

The machine filters the contamination out, removing years of damaging build-up. 

This intervention saved the Southwick customer thousands of pounds. 

The results were immediate and dramatic:

 • The rumbling "kettling" noise from the boiler stopped.

 • The radiators that were 50 percent cold are now piping hot, top-to-bottom. 

• The system is circulating efficiently, meaning the customer is already seeing lower gas consumption. 

Long-Term Protection 

The Powerflush was the crucial first step, but a professional job includes ensuring the problem does not return. 

For the Southwick system, we performed two essential follow-up actions: 

 * Installing a Magnetic Filter: We fitted a permanent filter to continuously capture any future debris before it can damage the boiler. 

 * Adding Inhibitor: We dosed the system with a chemical inhibitor to prevent future rust and corrosion, protecting the system for years to come. 

The cost of this comprehensive Powerflush was significantly less than the cost of a new boiler and installation, proving that expert diagnosis always saves money in the long run. 

Call Andrew Tyler of Prime Boiler Care, before you spend thousands on a replacement you do not need! 

When Does YOUR Boiler Need It?

 • If your radiators have chronic cold spots. 

• If your boiler is loud, rumbling, or cutting out. 

• If you are constantly topping up the system pressure. 

Call 01403 814602 to book a professional assessment.