British Gas - Power Flush ?

GavinCollinson

Hi all

Am covered by BG for my boiler and central heating. Upon initial survey they said everything was fine and covered except my port value motor. Fine OK, I had this replaced by an independant heating engineer as BG would not replair it.

I now have a situation where when I put on the hot water, heated water is 'bleeding' into three of the radiators nearest to the boiler.

Seemed like a problem with the motor again so I called the independant heating engineer (as the part and work was gauarnteed). Was advised by them that it wasn't the motor, it was the port valve itself.

So, back to BG. They advised that (paraphrasing here) 'yes the port valve is a bit dodgy' but what you need is a power flush for an extra £800 and while we do that we will replace the port valve at the same time.

Sounds like I am being shoehorned into the Power Flush at huge expense when what is likely to be needed is simply replacing the port valve ?

(by the way the independant pluimber made no mention of a PF being needed, he smply pointed out that the port valve needed replacing).

Can anyone comment/advise?

WestonDave

I'd start by asking the independent engineer how much he'd charge for a power flush - when he (almost certainly) quotes you half that price you can then go back to British Gas and say that you have a better quote for the power flush so can they please just do the work they are covered to do.

Bark01

There is a thread on here somewhere that pretty much calls the BG power flush a scam.

matelodave

How can BG justify £800 for a power flush?


Even a whole day of eight hours work at £50 an hour only comes to £400 which sounds a bit expensive. That's a plumber earning £2000 a week = over £90k a year, nice work if you can get it. BG are taking the proverbial.

GavinCollinson

Thanks for the replys so far - I know a PF is expensive, especially if BG do it, however that's not my point.

The point is, it may not even be the PF (or lack of) that is the issue - it is the ropey Port Valve and they seem to be brushing over this fact....

Why pay £800 (10 radiators) for a PF when a £80 (a guess) Port Valve may fix the problem ? - this part should be covered by my service plan....

Sterlingtimes

I had all this trouble over changing motorised valves (which were insured) with NPower. I bought a plumber in to do the work (£395) correctly in spite of paying NPower something like £30 a month. When you employ the plumber yourself it puts you in control.

macman

Get the valve changed and save £800. BG say 'power flush' like Del Monte man says 'yes! It comes up all the time. BG RGI's are paid commission on successful referals.

Cardew

If you do a search for Power Flush you will find hundreds of posts on BG's power flush.

The problem is that once your boiler gets old and troublesome, BG and the other firms either load the premium, or cancel the contract citing unavailability of spares or some other reason. If all else fails then the CH system suddenly requires a power flush at the cost of several hundred pounds.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Cost benefit analysis. How much benefit can be had for £800, and if one exists over how many years, is there any evidence that sludge even exists in thee first place and if a PF was run, what length of extended warranty would be provided as an indication that the £800 power flush had any benefit at all.

matelodave

Over many years of having two or three port valves I've frequently found that taking the motor unit off and working the spindle back and forth a few times with a spanner will free it off and make it work again - just make sure you reset the spindle back to it's original position before replacing the motor.


They aren't exactly rocket science - see here http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/plumbing/controls/midpositionvalve.htm


A new one costs around £50 and shouldn't cost more than £50 to be replaced although the system usually has to be drained. A competent DIYer should be able to replace one

Petra_70

Bark01 wrote: »

There is a thread on here somewhere that pretty much calls the BG power flush a scam.

Cardew wrote: »

If you do a search for Power Flush you will find hundreds of posts on BG's power flush.

As above. The BG power flush scam is well known.

I know someone who worked for them for 15 years, and they said the system flush is the biggest scam going in the world of energy.

Don't do it; your system doesn't need it. I have actually known people have it, and their heating system is worse!

They will even threaten to not fix your heating (even if you're on a 3 star contract,) UNLESS you pay £800 for the flush.

Whatever is wrong, get a load of other opinions first.

Check this out.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2461320/Give-British-Gas-800-boiler-cover-wont-pay-out.html