Worcester Bosch boiler through Help-Link

LittleMac13

Hi,

I had a Worcester Bosch boiler fitted last October by a company called Help Link. I recently had my boiler serviced by a local gas engineer who asked why I didn't have a MagnaClean or water softener fitted (I live in Hartlepool which is notorious for its hard limey water).

I'd never even heard of a magnaclean. He asked what warranty I have on the boiler and he said it might be void as new boilers are meant to have both of these.

He rang Worcester Bosch and gave them my serial number and they've advised if I don't have these things my warranty (which I paid extra for, to get 10 years!) is void.

I've rang Help Link and they're advising that it isn't necessary to have these it is just recommended. Wish they had actually recommended them cos I'd have definitely taken them!

Worcester Bosch are advising without them if something breaks and it is related to sludge and muck in the boiler, and I don't have a magnaclean to prevent it.... then it isn't covered.

Where on earth do I go from here?!

rob7475

If the boiler is serviced annually, they should clean the heat exchanger etc if required to remove sludge.

There's nothing to stop you having a magnaclean or similar fitted now to help prevent problems further down the line.

[Deleted User]

I have a magnetic filter, but no scale reducer. I emailed Worcester Bosch:

"I have just had a new 28CDi Compact combi boiler fitted by a Worcester Bosch recommended installer, and I notice that the commissioning checklist has been ticked as not a hard water area, and no scale reducer has been fitted. According to the Anglian Water website my supply is classed as very hard water (413ppm), is this going to affect the reliability and/or warranty of my boiler?"

And they replied:

"There is not a requirement for the warranty to fit a scale reducer however in areas where temporary water hardness exceeds 200 ppm, as in your area, we recommend contacting the local water authority for advice."

I rang Anglian Water who said there is no compulsory requirement for a scale reducer, but strongly recommended one.

Building regulations say:

“Where the mains total water hardness exceeds 200ppm, provision should be made to treat the feed water to water heaters and the hot water circuit of combination boilers to reduce the rate of accumulation of limescale.”

When I ask if an electrolytic scale reducer is suitable, Anglian Water and Worcester Bosch each tell me to ask the other. Make of that what you will.

Alex1983

Worcester will not invalidate your warranty because there is no filter. If you need Worcester to repair your boiler and they find sludge they will then invalidate your warranty regardless of filter being fitted or not.

A service will not including clean sludge from the inside of a heat exchanger.

southcoastrgi

As Alex said a filter isn’t a requirement however a scale inhibitor is if you have hard water