Central Heating Inhibitor: Everything You Need to Know

A boiler breakdown or central heating fault is every homeowner’s worst nightmare – having to deal with a cold house, no hot water, and a costly boiler repair or replacement is no fun for anybody.

Due to this, it is of the utmost importance that you maintain and take care of your central heating system as much as possible to prevent expensive and inconvenient breakdowns.

One of the best ways to do this is by using a central heating inhibitor to protect your heating system and reduce the likelihood of boiler issues.

In this guide, we’ll highlight the benefits of a central heating inhibitor, explain how it works, and inform you of how often it should be changed.

What is Central Heating Inhibitor?

A central heating inhibitor is a chemical liquid that acts as a central heating protector. It is placed into your central heating system to help prevent inhibiting substances such as rust, sludge, and corrosion from hindering the performance and efficiency of your home heating.

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The central heating corrosion inhibitor contains a mixture of potassium tetraborate tetrahydrate, along with disodium molybdate, sodium nitrate, and 2,2′,2″-nitrilotriethanol.

It is typically pale yellow or clear in appearance, and most instructions state that it must be stored in its original container and left in a cool well-ventilated location that is away from direct sunlight.

What are the benefits of central heating inhibitor?

Investing in a central heating protector like a central heating corrosion inhibitor can have several benefits, including the following:

• Prevents corrosion, rust and sludge within the heating system

• Helps to keep radiators working efficiently

• Increased boiler efficiency can help to lower your energy bills

• Saves you money on expensive repairs and boiler replacements

• Boosts the performance of your central heating system

• Helps to prevent boiler breakdowns and faults

• Can prolong the lifespan of your boiler

What does central heating inhibitor do within the central heating system?

Substances such as rust and sludge can gradually begin to form and collect within your central heating system over time. These materials can begin to impact the performance and efficiency of your heating system and eventually lead to a breakdown.

Central heating rust inhibitor helps to prevent this internal corrosion and keep your boiler functioning effectively for as long as possible. The chemicals in the heating system inhibitor will work together to break down the sludge in your central heating system and prevent it from building up again.

Without a central heating system inhibitor, the metals and water that are within your heating system can react with each other and cause rust and corrosion. The presence of these inhibiting substances can force your boiler to work harder in order to provide you with heating and water, causing excessively high energy bills and increasing the likelihood of a breakdown.

How often should central heating inhibitor be changed?

Your central heating inhibitor will need to be changed once a year. Gradually, the solution will dilute and your central heating corrosion inhibitor will begin to lose its effectiveness. You should also be sure to top up your radiator rust inhibitor whenever you drain your central heating system, as some of the solution will be lost in the drainage.

It’s recommended that you get your boiler and central heating system checked by a professional once a year to ensure that they remain in good shape for as long as possible. A yearly service appointment is often a requirement of your boiler’s warranty, so organising an annual health check for your system will help to keep you covered. During your heating system’s servicing appointment, your engineer will add a central heating boiler inhibitor to your system, if it is included in the service provided.

Here at 247 Home Rescue, we have an expert team of Gas Safe registered engineers who can provide you with a first-class boiler service to ensure that your heating system functions at its best for years to come. We also offer a number of home cover and boiler cover plans which include yearly servicing.

Book a boiler servicing appointment today with one of our expert engineers or take a look at our home cover options for more information.

How to add inhibitor to your central heating system

You don’t typically need the help of a professional in order to add a central heating inhibitor to your heating system—it should be a simple DIY task if you feel comfortable and competent enough to complete it.

You can add radiator inhibitor to your central heating system in a number of ways, depending on the type of boiler system you have installed. Thus, the process of adding a central heating inhibitor to a heat-only system will differ from the procedure for adding an inhibitor to a combi boiler.

Below, we’ll take you through how to add boiler inhibitor to different boiler systems:

Combi Boilers

Combi boilers are the most popular form of heating in the UK, so we’ll start with these systems.

Here’s how you go about adding inhibitor to a combi boiler: first, locate a radiator; this can be a towel radiator or a normal one. Before adding the radiator inhibitor, you should ensure that the radiators are cool and that the system is switched off.

If you choose to pour inhibitor into a towel radiator, all you’ll need to do is simply remove the plug at the top and pour the solution in. For normal radiators, you’ll need to pour the central heating inhibitor into the valve where you usually bleed your radiators.

Heat only Boilers

Heat-only boilers feature a hot water cylinder and an expansion tank in the loft. For these types of systems, the corrosion inhibitor for central heating will need to be poured into the smaller expansion tank. Before you do this, you’ll need to ensure that the water is switched off at the main, and you also need to ensure that the tank is clean and free of corrosion or any other inhibiting substances. We recommend giving the cold water tank a good cleaning before adding the boiler inhibitor.

System Boilers

If you have a system boiler installed in your home, simply pour the central heating rust inhibitor into the filling loop. Please note that you may need to drain some of the water from the system prior to adding the heating system inhibitor, as water cannot be displaced in a sealed system in order to allow enough space for the extra liquid.

How much central heating inhibitor should I use?

For a central heating system with up to 10 radiators, a one-liter bottle of radiator inhibitor should suffice. If you have over 10 radiators in your property, you can add more than this as required.

It is sometimes recommended for you to stick to one brand of central heating inhibitor if possible. Furthermore, you should avoid adding more radiator rust inhibitor to your system than is necessary, as this can damage filters and has no additional impact than adding the correct amount. Always stick to the recommended amount stated on the boiler inhibitor’s instructions.

Upgrading your central heating system

As highlighted, adding a central heating inhibitor to your heating system can effectively help to cleanse the system, keep it efficient for longer, and improve performance. However, there’s only so much that a corrosion inhibitor for central heating can do. If you’re frequently facing issues with your home heating, or if you’ve had your current boiler system for over ten years, it may be time to invest in a new boiler.

A new boiler can provide your home with enhanced heating and hot water quality. Not only that, but modern boilers are designed to be highly energy-efficient; it is estimated that a new boiler could help you save up to £190 per year on your energy bills. Furthermore, contemporary boilers are built with a number of innovative features and functions that make everyday home heating a simple task.

If you think it’s time to purchase a new boiler system, 247 Home Rescue could provide you with a first-class boiler replacement at an excellent price. We install boilers from leading brands such as Worcester Bosch, Ideal, and Vaillant, and we’ve got the knowledge and expertise to help you find a suitable boiler for your home and needs.

Simply try our free online quote tool today to find the best boiler for your property. You’ll be provided with your free quote in a matter of seconds.

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