Boilers and kettling - noisy and inefficient boilers

Image via Wikipedia “Kettling” and “knocking” boilers are usually caused by hard water lime-scale and sludge deposit formations on the heat exchanger surface which causes the surface to become too hot, resulting

in localised boiling, irritating noises, low energy efficieny and ultimately, failure of the boiler unit itself. This type of problem affects all types of boiler whether oil-fired, LPG or natural gas.

Central Heating: Fault Finding and Repair
1) What Central Heating is
2) What can go wrong with it
3) How to diagnose the fault
4) How to repair it

Boilers and central heating: Fault Finding and Repair - more information

The solution to kettling noises depend on which type of boiler system you have, i.e. a combination boiler or a conventional system. If you a have combi boiler , you need to install a good boiler silencer, both Fernox DS-3 and Sentinal are excellent products, both operate on a similar principle i.e. dissolving and removing limescale and sludge, they come in a mastic type tube and can be installed with a mastic gun. If you have a conventional system, you need a bottle of liquid boiler silencer, a similar limescale removal type product just a different application. Empty some of the water from the central heating system by releasing water from the drain off point(this will be found at the lowest point of the central heating system) and then pour the chemical into the feed and expansion tank.

Scale is also a poor conductor of heat, hence heat transfer will be reduced while the
temperature of the metal beneath will increase as scale acts as an insulator.Scale forms because the solubility of its prime constituent, calcium carbonate decreases with increase in temperature. Boiler systems which are affected by lime scale and similar products are costing you money! Domestic boilers account for up to 80% of domestic carbon dioxide emissions and consequently are now a key Government target when it comes to carbon savings.

Most people are encouraged to fit modern high efficieny combi boilers nowadays, these operate at a very high effiiciency, however what many people don’t realise is that as soon as water is introduced to a new central heating system, these impressive efficiency levels will start to
degrade due to limescale and other deposits forming in the system from day one - unless the water is properly chemically treated. Deposits affecting a boiler and causing low efficiency and noisy kettling include black metal oxide, hydrogen gas, limescale and “black sludge” (a technical term!).

Dont waste cash by fitting a new high efficiency boiler without a small investment in water treatment, these relatively cheap compounds can ensure your boiler will operate a t peak efficiency for many years, saving you money and reducing emissions.

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Tags: Boiler, Central heating, Heat exchanger, Heat transfer, Natural gas, Water heating