Help with Powerflush Question

u01jet4

Hello,

I have an old (not sure how old as have only lived in flat for 2 years, but I would guess VERY old!) Vokera Combi boiler which seems to have had lots of problems since I moved in. Most common is the loss of hot water and heating, which has been temporarily fixed on a few occasions by different engineers.

Today an engineer came round to replace the pump and found sludge in the system. He says the next thing to try would be to replace the heating exchange, but even after that he may still need to replace '2 or 3' parts. I asked if it could end up equating to the cost of a new boiler to which he said yes. He said if I was to get a new boiler I would have to pay for the cost of a powerflush on top, to get the sludge out of the system. Having read up a little bit, it seems a powerflush may help (bleeding the radiators doesn't always work, leaving cold patches).

My question is what would be best:

1) Get a powerflush now, before replacing any other parts, and hope this fixes the problem.
2) Keep getting parts replaced until the problem is fixed, at unspecified cost!
3) Bite the bullet and get a whole new boiler and powerflush.

If I were to get a powerflush now, and the problem was to continue meaning I needed a new boiler, would I then need to get a whole new powerflush done prior to the new boiler being installed?

Thanks for any help, I need it!

Jenny

Canucklehead

u01jet4 wrote: »

Hello,

I have an old (not sure how old as have only lived in flat for 2 years, but I would guess VERY old!) Vokera Combi boiler which seems to have had lots of problems since I moved in. Most common is the loss of hot water and heating, which has been temporarily fixed on a few occasions by different engineers.

Today an engineer came round to replace the pump and found sludge in the system. He says the next thing to try would be to replace the heating exchange, but even after that he may still need to replace '2 or 3' parts. I asked if it could end up equating to the cost of a new boiler to which he said yes. He said if I was to get a new boiler I would have to pay for the cost of a powerflush on top, to get the sludge out of the system. Having read up a little bit, it seems a powerflush may help (bleeding the radiators doesn't always work, leaving cold patches).

My question is what would be best:

1) Get a powerflush now, before replacing any other parts, and hope this fixes the problem.
2) Keep getting parts replaced until the problem is fixed, at unspecified cost!
3) Bite the bullet and get a whole new boiler and powerflush.

If I were to get a powerflush now, and the problem was to continue meaning I needed a new boiler, would I then need to get a whole new powerflush done prior to the new boiler being installed?

Thanks for any help, I need it!

Jenny

Good afternoon: Try a DIY flush first if you can. If you decide to go the new boiler route the RGI will still do a chemical flush as required for the new boiler by the manufacturer. As always, get quotes in from RGIs recommended to you by a source you trust and check their registration here Post your quotes for comments if you like here

HTH

Canucklehead

u01jet4

Don't think there's any chance I'm gonna manage flushing it myself! but thank for the help.

If I was just to go for a powerflsuh, would the person have to be registered in any way, or does it not really matter? Been quoted £280 for 5 radiators and that includes all labour and VAT.

Thanks.

Canucklehead

u01jet4 wrote: »

Don't think there's any chance I'm gonna manage flushing it myself! but thank for the help.

If I was just to go for a powerflsuh, would the person have to be registered in any way, or does it not really matter? Been quoted £280 for 5 radiators and that includes all labour and VAT.

Thanks.

Hi... the 'flusher' doesn't need to have any qualifications/registration for this type of job but experience helps;)...price sounds sounds reasonable for the southeast...it should take the better part of a day if it is done properly...make sure the 'flusher' uses Sentinel or Fernox products as recommended by boiler manufacturers.


HTH

Canucklehead

u01jet4

I'm in Aberdeen. He says he would put the stuff in the system and leave the boiler to do its job for a week before coming back to do the flushing and put in the system inhibitor thing at the end. sound about right?

andyhop

u01jet4 wrote: »

I'm in Aberdeen. He says he would put the stuff in the system and leave the boiler to do its job for a week before coming back to do the flushing and put in the system inhibitor thing at the end. sound about right?

£280 for that is a joke

What you are getting is not a powerflush, Its a simple chemical clean

Take a look on this website for more in-depth knowledge

http://www.kamco.co.uk/powerflushing.htm

Aberdeen is expensive for trades due to most working offshore but at that price i could drive up from Edinburgh and still give change!