British Gas - Powerflush ?

Kate36

I have had a BG Homecare 200 agreement for 13 years - in that time they have replaced 3 radiators. The last radiator they replaced (earlier this year) the engineer advised it would be the last one they would replace as the system needs a powerflush. We were quoted £750 at the time.

Needless to say we haven't got around to doing it as so much money:eek:

Unfortunately for us, in the last two weeks we have had to more radiators leak due to corrosion - currently have tuppaware boxes collecting the drips!

My question is will BG still replace the radiators even thought they have leaked before the powerflush is due to be carried out? I haven't contacted BG yet as worried about saying the wrong thing. I want the radiators replaced under the agreement.

Also, does anyone know if we have to use BG to do the powerflush?

Really worried about the rest of the radiators in the house now and whether the remainder will leak follower the powerflush.

Any advice or tips gratefully received.

andrew-b

No you don't have to use BG for a powerflush and i would strongly suggest you don't. BG charge about double everyone else for a powerflush. There's been a few thread on exactly the same theme recently of BG Homecare customers with leaky rads that BG now insist won't fix any more until they've sold you a powerflush! Your not alone in this one!

With your rads falling like flies from corrosion your system would most likely benefit from a clean out (but corroded rads need to be replaced first really)...however a powerflush isn't the only solution. If you have the time and patience you could do a chemical flush yourself (drain down, take individual rads off and clean out with the hose plus whack with rubber mallet outside, put rads back on, refill with system cleaner, circulate for a month, drain, flush through with water to flush the cleaner out, redrain, refill with inhibitor) ..not particularly difficult just time consuming and you need a bit of a clue as to the setup of the system.
Alternatively get a local heating guy in to do a powerflush for you at half the cost... i believe Homecare will still cover you if you provide proof of a powerflush being carried out. You could of course get the local guy to do a chemical flush instead for less. However i'd urge you to reconsider whether homecare insurance is for you...you could instead put the money aside you spend each month on homecare to go towards future problems ..i.e. self-insure.

So in summary don't whatever you do pay double what you need to for BG to do a powerflush!

Hope that helps

Kate36

Thanks for the speedy response. From what you say we should avoid BG for the powerflush - I have rung a few local companies this morning and have had quotes of approx £550 - so a fairly signifiicant saving, although not half - perhaps that is just Surrey prices!

Unfortunately, I don't think our DIY skills are up to doing a chemical flush - and we're still left with the problem of BG not replacing the radiators - I'm assuming they'll want to see some sort of guarantee from whoever carries out the work.

Sorry to ask a 'daft' question can a powerflush be carried out if the system already has two leaking radiators? Or will we have to shoulder the cost of the new rads and the powerflush?

I understand your comments about self-insuring but due to the age of our system - boiler 20+ years and lots of old radiators, I'm happy to continue paying £200 a year for peace of mind. I'm sure these two radiators wont be the last!

Canucklehead

Kate36 wrote: »

I have had a BG Homecare 200 agreement for 13 years - in that time they have replaced 3 radiators. The last radiator they replaced (earlier this year) the engineer advised it would be the last one they would replace as the system needs a powerflush. We were quoted £750 at the time.

Needless to say we haven't got around to doing it as so much money:eek:

Unfortunately for us, in the last two weeks we have had to more radiators leak due to corrosion - currently have tuppaware boxes collecting the drips!

My question is will BG still replace the radiators even thought they have leaked before the powerflush is due to be carried out? I haven't contacted BG yet as worried about saying the wrong thing. I want the radiators replaced under the agreement.

Also, does anyone know if we have to use BG to do the powerflush?

Really worried about the rest of the radiators in the house now and whether the remainder will leak follower the powerflush.

Any advice or tips gratefully received.

Good afternoon: I suggest you have an independent RGI in (recommended to you by a source you trust) to have a look at your system. If serious corrosion is occuring in the rads I would be concerned about the state of the entire central heating system tbh and wonder what will fail next.

HTH

Canucklehead

Canucklehead

Kate36 wrote: »

Thanks for the speedy response. From what you say we should avoid BG for the powerflush - I have rung a few local companies this morning and have had quotes of approx £550 - so a fairly signifiicant saving, although not half - perhaps that is just Surrey prices!

Unfortunately, I don't think our DIY skills are up to doing a chemical flush - and we're still left with the problem of BG not replacing the radiators - I'm assuming they'll want to see some sort of guarantee from whoever carries out the work.

Sorry to ask a 'daft' question can a powerflush be carried out if the system already has two leaking radiators? Or will we have to shoulder the cost of the new rads and the powerflush?

I understand your comments about self-insuring but due to the age of our system - boiler 20+ years and lots of old radiators, I'm happy to continue paying £200 a year for peace of mind. I'm sure these two radiators wont be the last!

Hi...a powerflush (or chemical flush) could reveal pre-existing weaknesses in the central heating system and is not advised until the system is checked by a RGI. I suspect BG will not replace any rads as you were advised previously by BG that a powerflush was required.

HTH

Canucklehead

Kate36

Oh crumbs that doesn't sound good. Surely if we have the cover and do the powerflush BG will replace? They only quoted for the work in October, we haven't left it that long.

Also, sorry for my ignorance but what is a RGI?

Thanks

andrew-b

registered gas installer...though looking on google i came up with " reproductive genetics institute" not sure you'd want them messing with your pipes!! :rotfl::rotfl:Sure we could come up with a few others but i'll probably get banned!

Kate36

Do you think I could negotiate the radiator replacement as part of the powerflush deal with BG?

Canucklehead

Kate36 wrote: »

Do you think I could negotiate the radiator replacement as part of the powerflush deal with BG?

Good morning: you've had advice here and on DIYnot.
Call BG and ask.

Canucklehead

Kate36

Just a quick update for anyone that is interested. We decided to go with British Gas - we had a nightmare getting engineers to visit to quote, let down on 4 separate occasions with 2 different companies - we gave up!

We couldn't get a straight answer from BG on booking the PF as to whether the rads would be replaced. We were told to discuss it with the engineer that visited to quote - he didn't think it would be an issue as we were spending so much money with them; said it would be sorted after the PF.

The PF was done on Tuesday this week - leaking rads had to be isolated - he arranged for his manager to come over to 'ok' the rads being done on Homecare. This was done on the day and they are due to visit next week to replace.

The PF does seem to have made a diff already - the house feels warmer - there was an amazing amount of gunk that came out!

Although we did pay more - we are satisfied as the rads are being replaced and the PF is guaranteed should we need another PF in the future.