British Gas & Power Flush

fyreshaman

So, BG fitted my new boiler 12 years ago, fully flushed the system and we've had their maintenance contract ever since. If the last engineer who visited thinks there is a problem, is it worth asking them to flush it for free?

ollski

If your original quote says you paid for a powerflush rather than a cleanse or any other lesser clean then you should be fine. Ring the office and they will be able to check and confirm.

fyreshaman

Thanks ollski

A free 'reflush' is now booked.

jamesgordon

Hello all,

Much the same as many on this thread, I have just started a contract with BG, and when the engineer visited for the first service, he informed me that my system needed powerflushing. New Valliance Ecotec 835 Boiler fitted 4 years ago, and the system was flushed at the time (not sure if it was a powerflush as it was previous owner).

I had all the rads replaced around 3 years ago, and although I know that inhibitor was added, when the BG engineer took his sample, it was indeed dirty even though the system does have a brass sludge filter (not magnawhotsit).

my question is this - would a system really need a powerflush after such a short amount of time ?, I have no problems at all with rads not heating up. would a chemical flush be more suitable ?.

Cardew

jamesgordon wrote: »

Hello all,

Much the same as many on this thread, I have just started a contract with BG, and when the engineer visited for the first service, he informed me that my system needed powerflushing. New Valliance Ecotec 835 Boiler fitted 4 years ago, and the system was flushed at the time (not sure if it was a powerflush as it was previous owner).

I had all the rads replaced around 3 years ago, and although I know that inhibitor was added, when the BG engineer took his sample, it was indeed dirty even though the system does have a brass sludge filter (not magnawhotsit).

my question is this - would a system really need a powerflush after such a short amount of time ?, I have no problems at all with rads not heating up. would a chemical flush be more suitable ?.

Welcome to the forum.


Nobody can say with any certainty if it does need a powerflush or not.


However IMO it would seem highly unlikely, and there is much conjecture that it is the 'standard' way of raising some revenue for BG.


Do all the radiators get hot?

Albert_Mendes

I have a Worcester Greenstar 24i junior boiler installed 2008. Recently I was not getting hot water.It was intermittent very hot and going down to be cold. I had the British Gas engineer and he told me that the plates were blocked with sludge and I must get the radiators power sludged. I live in a flat and have 8 radiators. He quoted me £719 to do the job. I am wondering if it is the going rate? and what guarantie is their that the blockage will not return? I have read other peoples comment that the British gas engineers are on bonuses and they could just get the job regardless if it is done to the code of practice. Pleas could you confirm and let me know if I have been quoted the right price for the job as mentioned. Thanking you Mr A Mendes

JeffVader

My boiler was installed in 1997 and is serviced every year.

I took out a homecare contract with British Gas around 10 months ago.

Over the last few weeks we've had an issue with hot water not coming through every time, heating is fine.

British Gas have come out and have advised the hot water issue is due to the boiler needing a flush and the cost including fitting a filter is over £400.

They claim there is dirt, metal and sediment in the boiler and that is stopping the water from working. Again the heating is fine.

If there was all this muck, won't we see it when we fill the kettle / sink / bath ?

They are now saying they won't cover the water side of the system until this is done.. but how does a system and radiator flush solve the hot water problem ?

Is this a scam ?

Thanks

Cardew

JeffVader wrote: »

They claim there is dirt, metal and sediment in the boiler and that is stopping the water from working. Again the heating is fine.

If there was all this muck, won't we see it when we fill the kettle / sink / bath ?

They are now saying they won't cover the water side of the system until this is done.. but how does a system and radiator flush solve the hot water problem ?

Is this a scam ?

Thanks

The water heated by the boiler doesn't emerge from your taps! It indirectly heats by the water from the boiler passing through the HW tank.(same principle on a combi)


I am surprised they let you take out a Homecare agreement 10 months ago on a 17 year old boiler.


Scam? who knows? but it is a sure fire way of them getting some additional money.

macman

It may well need a flush after 17 years, but their diagnosis is ludicrous. As Cardew points out, the CH and DHW are on completely separate circuits.
If the boiler is a combi |(which you didn't specify), then the lack of hot water while the CH is OK is most likely a diverter valve issue. If a heat only boiler, then it could be a sticking 3 port valve. Either way, forget BG, cancel the cover and get in an independent local RGI who has a clue about fault diagnosis.
As you can see from this thread, BG say 'power flush' as easily as the man from Del Monte say 'yes'!

Combi

I have a British Gas policy to cover Central Heating ,Plumbing ,Electrics and Drains.I pay over £400.00 per year
Over the past 3 years every time British Gas were called for a heating problem the engineer said that a power flush was needed as sludge was causing the problem.In February this year after a call out the engineer said that unless a system flush was carried out British Gas would charge for the work if sludge was the problem.
I had a chemical flush done by a heating engineer that I know to be very experienced and trust worthy. I was assured that the work was carried out correctly and the system was sludge free .I e mailed the invoice for the flush to British Gas to show the work had been done.Last week British Gas was called to resolve a boiler problem and a thermister was mentioned as the fault.
The Engineer said that he checked the system and the pipe work from the boiler to the tank in the loft was blocked and not correctly installed.He said thick sludge was the problem and he showed a photo of what he said was sludge from the pump.It looked like soil from a garden and the amount in my opinion would not fit inside the pump.He said that any more work would be chargeable.I contacted British Gas in February and asked for the fitter to call me but he never called .Last week I again asked for the fitter to call,I was given a reference number but he has not called.I had the heating engineer who did the chemical flush spend 3 hours checking the system this morning and he said the there is no issue with the pipework being faulty or blocked , the system is working correctly and there is no sign of sludge in the system.He also replaced the thermister that was fitted last Monday as it was not a new part ,it had been used elsewhere. I have since spoken to an engineer who no longer works for British Gas because he said that he is a heating engineer ,not a salesman.!!.:mad: