British Gas Homecare - Powerflush required?

ryan92

We've had a bit of trouble with our boiler lately and required a few engineers. The issue is they never tell us the same thing.

Engineer 1) You'll need a powerflush or we might not come back out to fix anything

Engineer 2) You'll need to lift your floorboards as you've a leak in a pipe. This could cost you a few grand.

Engineer 3 ) Your wireless thermostat has packed in. That's all it is - this was replaced.

Engineer 1 (2nd visit). You'll need a power flush ; now at this point we'd recently had our bathroom renovated and the installer also was a gas engineer. He looked at the boiler and said our auto air valve was due to go. When the engineer kept going on about the powerflush, i mentioned this and then all of a sudden this was the part he was waiting on arriving. He did keep reiterating a powerflush would also be needed. I did ask what had happened to the boiler and his response was "it just packed in" - no explanation, nothing!

I've now received a letter for 5 hours work at £80 per hour to powerflush the system!
I really don't know what to do, are they fobbing me off or is this genuniely required?

Cardew

Do a search for 'Power Flush' in the energy section of MSE.


In many cases it is the standard 'scam' to ensure they get a few hundred pounds, before they start looking for a fault.

JJ_Egan

I just power flushed my system .
Cost £40 for flush and preserve cans .
As system was drained down just added can 1 on refill and ran for two weeks then drained down flushed through and refilled with preventative can .

thegreenone

£400 for a power flush? I was quoted £700! We didn't go with BG's favourite answer to absolutely anything that is wrong with your boiler.


We had a local gas safe engineer fit a new worcester bosch boiler, two new radiators and associated pipework, fix a leak in the loft, power flush and return to check all was working properly for less than £2k. Yes, our boiler had done it's 20 year duty so that may not apply to you. I cancelled our BG homecare and will continue to use the local guy.


Just seen JJ's response.

ryan92

Our boiler is also only about 7 years old but the last engineer said and I quote ;
"you're lucky if you get 8 or 9 years out boilers these days"

It just seems like a ploy to get more money out of us!

Scoman

Hi
I Understand your issue but definitely look around costs vary, but staying with Gas Safe engineers (Which I am not sure is a requirement for power flush) but at least you are staying with some expertise. I had a new boiler installed by British Gas, under warranty ( 7 year warranty boiler age 6 years 363 days) as old boiler was condemned ( as it happens for no fault but not the issue) , But British Gas said new boiler could not be put under warranty if system not flushed within 21 days, So credit card details taken for (£780 plus VAT) and they would contact me for date - This was end of June, by end of August still no date and told earliest would be end of October, and boiler would only have 1 year warranty as flush not done,

There contract does not cover power flush or leaks only if inaccessible and due to age or wear,

However I had registered boiler with Worcester (boiler manufacturer) so called them -
No A Flush not needed for warranty, The warranty is 5 years, Flush only needed if problem with sludge in system, Advised to fit Filter (Which was already done). latest quote for power flush now will be under £350 inc Vat..
Worcester did stress (they give 2 warnings that it is needed), then unless system is flushed by a approved gas safe engineer the warranty mat not be upheld.
British gas services claimed that Worcester were and their words "were lying" - Fortunately as its all in writing in warranty document I know who I believe.
So if you have a boiler the warranty, parts and Labour may be covered as long as there is annual service Cost of under £120 , pump or control gear may also be covered depends on who installed supplied.

British gas annual charge £355 - yes definitely shop around and use your local Gas safe engineer, could save a lot of money, and if you can get a known recommended engineer all the better. Its worth remembering that the local guy will rely on his reputation so if he lets you down you can go somewhere else and let your friends know as he has more to lose.

British Gas have admitted they made mistakes and have paid me £50 as a goodwill gesture, its cost me more than that in time but at least I am free of them.

So I concur use the local Guy.but make sure he is Gas Safe and ideally recommended.

AndyPK

as you can tell, they like to sell powerflushes


little benefit to you

chrisw99

Two weeks after an annual service (by BG), our boiler packed in. £99 call out was told we had a blockage and needed a power flush for £600ish to clear the blockage, as well as a new boiler for £2000+ as it had damaged it beyond repair.

Reading online I was convinced that a blockage wouldn't cause the symptoms, so we got a local chap in for a second opinion.

He discovered that during the service, the BG chap had got the flame sensor cable trapped when putting the case back on and it had cut through the cable, causing it to short out. An £11 cable fixed the problem.

Had to complain to BG and eventually got the £99 call out refunded, and compensation for the parts + labour we paid to fix it.

I do not know if they were simply lying to get the powerflush in + trying to quote for a new boiler, or they weren't good enough to spot the simple fault - that they caused in the first place.

System

Scoman wrote: »

Hi
I Understand your issue but definitely look around costs vary, but staying with Gas Safe engineers (Which I am not sure is a requirement for power flush) but at least you are staying with some expertise. I had a new boiler installed by British Gas, under warranty ( 7 year warranty boiler age 6 years 363 days) as old boiler was condemned ( as it happens for no fault but not the issue) , But British Gas said new boiler could not be put under warranty if system not flushed within 21 days, So credit card details taken for (£780 plus VAT) and they would contact me for date - This was end of June, by end of August still no date and told earliest would be end of October, and boiler would only have 1 year warranty as flush not done,

There contract does not cover power flush or leaks only if inaccessible and due to age or wear,

However I had registered boiler with Worcester (boiler manufacturer) so called them -
No A Flush not needed for warranty, The warranty is 5 years, Flush only needed if problem with sludge in system, Advised to fit Filter (Which was already done). latest quote for power flush now will be under £350 inc Vat..
Worcester did stress (they give 2 warnings that it is needed), then unless system is flushed by a approved gas safe engineer the warranty mat not be upheld.
British gas services claimed that Worcester were and their words "were lying" - Fortunately as its all in writing in warranty document I know who I believe.
So if you have a boiler the warranty, parts and Labour may be covered as long as there is annual service Cost of under £120 , pump or control gear may also be covered depends on who installed supplied.

British gas annual charge £355 - yes definitely shop around and use your local Gas safe engineer, could save a lot of money, and if you can get a known recommended engineer all the better. Its worth remembering that the local guy will rely on his reputation so if he lets you down you can go somewhere else and let your friends know as he has more to lose.

British Gas have admitted they made mistakes and have paid me £50 as a goodwill gesture, its cost me more than that in time but at least I am free of them.

So I concur use the local Guy.but make sure he is Gas Safe and ideally recommended.

I had a new Atag boiler installed last year. The Warranty does not require the installer to carry out a powerfush; however.............

15. If any failure is caused by contaminated water in the boiler (e.g. blockages, or influences of flux residues, iron oxides, limescale, sludge etc.) the engineer’s visit becomes chargeable at the prevailing rates.

It follows that a boiler warranty may be worthless unless some form of system cleaning has been carried out.