power flush..do I really need it? and what is the real cost?

sam1970

few days ago our radiators down stairs stopped working all of a sudden while the upstairs ones were fine. I got British gas to check the system (I have home care cover with them) and the engineer said that the pump needs replacing as it was damaged by excessive sludge in the system. He replaced it under the cover but he said unless i do power flush, the new pump will break in few months and then BG will not cover my heating system as i did not take their advice. He quoted me £720 for the flush with life time warranty ( 5 double radiators and 8 single radiators) which i thought was excessive. I phoned a local company and they quoted £350 with two years warranty (they will give life time warranty if i take the magnet filterfor extra £130). I will appreciate any thoughts on this story and also any suggesstions...By the way I live in Birmingham

macman

BG are notorious for recommending their overpriced power flushes as a solution to almost any CH problem. Use an independent RGI if you need this work (or indeed any work) doing.

sam1970

i noticed that from reading through different threads. my problem now is they are saying i am not covered if i do not do the power flush..although to be fair they did not specify that it had to be done by BG

sam1970

any suggestions? is £350 a reasonable price? is it worthed paying for the magnetic filter? please help me

janbonjovi

We called BG out yesterday as our boiler keeps making a clicking noise and turning itself off, we then have to reset it. Was told we need a powerflush, heat exchanger and something else I can't remember! The quote we were given is £1300!!!!! Find this ridiculous but don't know what to do - think we should get a second opinion?? Said he tested the pump and black water came out...........but other than what I mention above, never had probs with radiators getting hot etc.

Cheers

grimsalve

Sounds a bit dodgy if BG are saying that you have to get the system powerflushed otherwise they won't cover it anymore. If I were you I'd ditch BG Homecare and talk to a local company instead.

macman

BG invariably suggest an (expensive) powerflush as a solution to every CH problem. If you need one, get it done by an independent local RGI at half the price.
For £1,300, you might as well have a new boiler installed.

jamsandwhich

sam1970 wrote: »

any suggestions? is £350 a reasonable price? is it worthed paying for the magnetic filter? please help me

It sounds good to me - I have had quotes up to £800.

The filter is put onto the return pipe and is a thing which attracts which attracts all of the ferrous oxide floating in the system - I think you take the filter out and rinse it under the tap periodically to remove the build up and free the magnet up.

We need a flush and a filter as our heating keeps clogging up the heat exchanger which we have had to change every two years under Homeserve, our engineer told us about the filter and we are having it done in the summer.

The new boiler was put in by BG eight years ago and as the system was already 25 years old I would have thought they should have recommended we had a power flush and I didn't even know to ask for one then - would not have them near my house again!!!

Energyman2020

If you can afford it, have your system powerflushed, but shop around for competitive quotes - then make sure you have a magnaclean fitted to minimise on-going scale build up.

birkee

jamsandwhich wrote: »

It sounds good to me - I have had quotes up to £800.

The filter is put onto the return pipe and is like a big magnet which attracts all of the carbon deposits floating in the system - I think you take the filter out and rinse it under the tap periodically to remove the build up and free the magnet up.

We need a flush and a filter as our heating keeps clogging up the heat exchanger which we have had to change every two years under Homeserve, our engineer told us about the filter and we are having it done in the summer.

The new boiler was put in by BG eight years ago and as the system was already 25 years old I would have thought they should have recommended we had a power flush and I didn't even know to ask for one then - would not have them near my house again!!!

Carbon is not in the system, and is not magnetic.
The deposits are ferrous oxide (rust from steel radiators)
Rust is abrasive and will destroy surfaces rubbing together (pumps, valves etc.)

Those 'flushing' prices are shocking, and a real rip off in my book.
The FREE way of dealing with it, is to shut off the heating, and drain down all your radiators individually. If it has no no drain valve, remove the shut off valve. You'll be horrified at the crud that comes out.

When finished, refill the sytem, and drain down again from the main drain point for the system, instead of individual radiators. Refill again, and bleed the radiators. Put a proprietory 'rust inhibitor' in the header tank to reduce reoccurrence.

WARNING: The rust that drains out of radiators, is extremely staining for carpets etc. It's like black paint. Protect the area well if you do it that way.

jamsandwhich

birkee wrote: »

Carbon is not in the system, and is not magnetic.
The deposits are ferrous oxide (rust from steel radiators)
Rust is abrasive and will destroy surfaces rubbing together (pumps, valves etc.)

Those 'flushing' prices are shocking, and a real rip off in my book.
The FREE way of dealing with it, is to shut off the heating, and drain down all your radiators individually. If it has no no drain valve, remove the shut off valve. You'll be horrified at the crud that comes out.

When finished, refill the sytem, and drain down again from the main drain point for the system, instead of individual radiators. Refill again, and bleed the radiators.

WARNING: The rust that drains out of radiators, is extremely staining for carpets etc. It's like black paint. Protect the area well if you do it that way.

I must apolgise obviously the engieers are full of it and don't know their job and tell me lies - to be fair and as I am no expert I did say 'like' before I stated it ;-)