How do I Calculate Volume of Water in my Central Heating System?

hollie.weimeraner

I have just had a radiator spring a leak and will be replacing it with a new one. Unfortunately the feed and return are both contained in the same valve which has a copper feed tube inserted into the Rad. In order to replace the radiator I am now having to drain the system and fit standard valves to it. While I'm doing this I may as well clean and flush the system (which isn't badly sludged) but need to calculate how much cleanser is needed (1% solution).

Anyone know how to calculate the volume of water please? System has 10mm pipework and 11 radiators and is installed in a detached 4 bedroomed house.

BobProperty

My immediate reaction is you don't need to. Most chemical cleaners are designed / formulated that one container worth is sufficient without overdosing in a small system and enough for a typical larger system. I'll go and look it up now.

hollie.weimeraner

BobProperty wrote:

My immediate reaction is you don't need to. Most chemical cleaners are designed / formulated that one container worth is sufficient without overdosing in a small system and enough for a typical larger system. I'll go and look it up now.

Thanks - it's just that the cleansing solution is in a 1 litre container which doesn't seem a great deal to me:question:

espresso

hollie.weimeraner wrote:

Thanks - it's just that the cleansing solution is in a 1 litre container which doesn't seem a great deal to me:question:

It is concentrated. On the 1L Sentinel container, it states that it should be sufficient for a typical central heating system i.e. 100 litres.

BobProperty

DS-40 is the only one I can immediately spot that needs a calculation to work out how much to use. But then you shouldn't be using DS-40 in your situation. (you said the radiator was leaking, plus you have very old style double entry valves)
Which product have you got?

hollie.weimeraner

I have removed the radiator already as it had developed a fracture (on the rear unfortunately). Not sure whether you're referring to the heating system or cleanser when you mention what product have I got.

I haven't got the cleanser at the moment but was looking at Sentinel which Plumb Centre sell in 1 litre bottles. (On the website it does mention a 1% solution which as stated above is suitable for 100 litres) I have used fernox or ferinox in the past as an inhibitor which seems to have kept the system pretty clean.

It's not a great problem to replace the old double entry valves, just inconvenient really

orainsear

What is the name of the product that you have bought?

Edit: Just noticed your post. For a system of the size you have described, if you are using the Sentinel X400 it would be recommended to use the full 1 litre.