HomeServe & Powerflushing

GSK_2

Hello All,

This is my first post here, and I'm sorry to be asking for questions and advice on my very first post. I will try to contribute to other people's threads where I can usefully.

I am in a 3 bed, 3 storey house built in 2004. The boiler is an Ideal Isar HE (don't know what number). The problem is that when the central heating is left on for a while, the boiler cuts out and shows error code L9 or 0 followed by three horizontal lines stacked on top of one another. The hot water is usually fine but obviously doesn't work once the error kicks in. We can reset the boiler once it's cooled down and it all work until the heating is left on for more than an hour.

So far we have:
Had the PCB board replaced 3 years ago (£350)
All was fine until October last year.
Had a plubmer out who diagnosed it as overheating - Thermostats replaced - (HomeServe)
Had a plumber out who said it was sludge in the system - (Homeserve)
I flushed out the system twice using CH cleanser from B&Q over a period of three weeks
Seemed to be okay over the summer, but we weren't using heating
Had plumber out two weeks ago, who diagnosed PCB fault again and replaced it an the thermostats again and said it wasn't sludge because the pump turned with his screwdriver fine - (Homeserve)
Yesterday the problem came up again
Had plumber out today who said it was sludge and needs powerflushing, which isn't covered by HomeServe.

Can a system sludge up enough over 5 years to cause this?
How effective should my attempt at flushing the system have been?
Should I go with the powerflush?
Is there anything else it might be or anything else I should say to HomeServe?

Thanks very much in advance!

grannyjo

We have a similar problem- the boiler cuts out which British gas say is due to blockage in the system and says a power flush is needed £860. We have a 4 star contract but they say it is not covered. Pipes, boiler , rads are covererd. The water isn't. It had a power flush when the boiler was replaced 8 years ago(with top quality boiler) 4 years later it was cutting out. They said they had not realised it on installation, but the system should have had a double flush. (On Valient's advice- the boiler maker) 4 years later it has blocked again. We say a 4 star contract should cover it especially as they fitted it. They say no- . Apparently North West water and British gas are arguing about it all. British gas say the water isn't clean enough. North weast water say the boilers aren't right and should be able to deal with their water. In the meantime customers are paying £860 for a powerflush. - SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG Here. Any other experiences out there- thanks jo

Tucker

£860 for a powerflush?? I'd love to know how that is costed out!

What are we talking, 1 or 2 blokes, a couple of hours and no materials to speak of, just the hire of a machine to flush the system and £15 tub of cleaner / inhibitor? Crazy.

It sounds like clutching at straws (or your cash) to me rather than an actual diagnosis.

Tucker

There was a BG engineer on one of the other threads the other day, perhaps he might be able to advise and also clarify what is involved in powerflush to justify that charge?