Cleaning a Magnaclean

Horizon81

The house i moved into earlier this year has a magnaclean fitted. I want to clean it out and add some inhibitor while I'm on. I've got the instructions for what to do.... the only thing that's stopping me is fear of it leaking afterwards as the internet is full of stories about them!

Mine's the original Magnaclean (fitted 2008) with the red isolation valves. I'm still tempted to have a go but am wondering what's the worst case scenario? If the isolation valves leak then I'd need to get a plumber in to fix but obviously that would take time. When these fail do they fail badly or is it just a little leak? In other words, could it be contained till I get a plumber round or would I face a deluge?!

I have a open vented system. Magnaclean is fitted upstairs in airing cupboard.

xyz123

i dont have experience of cleaning magnacleaning but i got our boiler serviced recently and magna clean was serviced by them.

i am pointing this out as, if your boiler still has warranty (mine is a Bosch with 5 year warranty), then it is a condition (and responsibility of) that the owner gets boiler serviced every year. So if you need a service, let them sort out.

I observed the guy when he was cleaning the mangaclean at home and it was a 5 minute job. Two valves turned to isolate the magnaclean and then it was opened using the plastic tool that came with magnaclena. then under the tap for 2 minutes and back in!

Horizon81

It's out of warranty now but thanks anyway. It is indeed an easy looking job to do (seen it on youtube) and I have the 2 tools needed but my question is more around what to do if it starts leaking.

southcoastrgi

i fit them all the time, they did have some problems with the isolation valves leaking when turned off & on again but the new ones are much better, if they do leak no it's not going to be anymore than a drip, before you re-fit the lid take out the big o ring give it a clean & if you have some grease (vasaline is good) put some on the o ring & don't re-tighten the lid too much as it says on the lid it should be hand tight only.

Horizon81

Thanks. As I say, mine is the old one (red metal isolation valves) which is all part of my concern as these seem to leak as much as the lids.

Out of interest, why is the lid hand tight only?

southcoastrgi

it is sealed by an o ring & if you tighten the lid too much this will become flattened & therefore won't seal properly, for example a tap washer is designed to stop the water coming out of a tap so why (& so many people do this) when the water has stopped do people continue to turn the handle until it won't go any further, tightening something too much won't always make it better & in most cases will make it worse.

gas4you

Lid is hand tight only whilst using the 'spanner' supplied.

The red valves are the only ones that I have had leaks with.

Before you do this, call Adey and ask them to send you some replacement 'o' rings.

I would guess they will send these FOC.

southcoastrgi

as gas4you said, they have always supplied a service kit foc to me anyway & i guess it would be the same for a customer

Horizon81

Are the o-rings in the service kit just for the lid or are there o-rings on the valve? Whilst I'm sure I could change the o-ring on the lid ok, I wouldn't be able to do the valves as that would involve a drain down.