Plumbing question - how to clean hot water tank.

[martin_y]

Hi guys,

The pump in our power shower failed, and our builder found a lot of grey sludge in the system, and some of it had almost completely blocked the tap in the bath.

We've just bought the house, and I know the heating was seldom used, and we've now used it extensively due to the cold weather lately. Question 1) this may have stirred up some sludge?

Also, the power shower was recently fitted, Question 2) ..this could have dislodged some crud somewhere too I suppose?

Question 4) is the hot water and the central heating hot water shared? (could sludge from the heating land up in a hot water tap?

Question 5) Is there a chemical cleaner I could use to clean out the stuff?

[richy rich]

Yes
Yes
No
I don't think so

[chugg]

Hi Martin

Hi guys,

We've just bought the house, and I know the heating was seldom used, and we've now used it extensively due to the cold weather lately. Question 1) this may have stirred up some sludge??

No. The central heating and hot water (bathing water) are not shared/mixed. So any sludge in the central heating will stay within that circuit (until drained and flushed). If you have any sludge in your heating it will only be noticable by a cold area at the bottom of your rads.

Also, the power shower was recently fitted, Question 2) ..this could have dislodged some crud somewhere too I suppose?

Yes thats possible.

Question 4) is the hot water and the central heating hot water shared? (could sludge from the heating land up in a hot water tap?

Nope

Sounds like you could have sediment in your hot water cylinder that has found it's way up the hot water pipe. You could try draining it and check out the colour of the water (half fill it again and drain again a few times till the waters clear)

Hope that helps a bit

[martin_y]

Thanks for the help , guys.