The importance of an inhibitor
An inhibitor for central heating systems, slows or prevents the corrosion of mixed metals and thereby prevents the breakdown of components due to sludge formation. It is designed to prolong the lifespan of your heating system. Usually increased corrosion occurs where oxygen is present in the system.
Please note an inhibitor is not required if all the minerals and oxygen is removed from the system either by deminerilastion of the system using active and passive equipment to the standard of VDI2035
Testing Methods
There are currently a few ways to test inhibitor levels. With varying degrees of accuracy. Please note particular test kits may work with other brands as most brands use the same chemical base, molybdate, for inhibitors.
Strip quick test
In this test you dip the strip into a sample of central heating water for 1 second and then within 10 seconds, compare to the chart.
The following video shows you how to carry out the test in a very simple step by step process:
Where to buy:
Chemical test (Professional slow test)
In this test you compare a sample of normal water with a sample of central heating water by finding out the difference in the number of drops required to turn the solution blue to orange ie normal water may be 5-6 drops, system water might be 10 drops, so the difference is 4. The optimum difference should be a minimum of 8 drops.