British Gas Power Flush with New Boiler Installation

david_uk

I recently paid British Gas to fit a new boiler, as the old one was misbehaving when they serviced it (I have a Homecare plan) and they had been warning me that it was increasingly difficult to obtain parts for it for some time.

As part of this installation I was strongly recommended by the salesman to pay an extra £500 for a Powerflush. I accepted (probably unwisely, given what I've since read on this forum). The salesman was keen to point out that some disreputable installers charge for a powerflush, but don't then carry it out - but that I could absolutely trust British Gas.

The work was scheduled to take 2 1/2 days. I spoke to the engineer at the end of the first day and was surprised to find out that he had removed the old boiler and plumbed in the new one already. I asked if he'd done the powerflush too and he said he'd put in the chemicals and refilled the system.

However, this sounds like the standard £99 "installation essential" on my invoice: "System water treatment & Systemcleanse". It does not sound like the Powerflush which was sold as including "Individually flush each of your radiators and remove the waste." I am certain that my radiators were not flushed individually, as several (including the one in my office) are behind radiator cabinets and I work from home.

I've phoned British Gas to request a refund of this item, and an Operations Manager has left me a message saying that he spoke to the engineer and the powerflush was definitely done. However, it feels to me as if I'm being charged £500 for nothing.

Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted. Thanks in advance.

System

What you have had is not a power flush. I had a system with 21 radiators and it took my installer nearly 2 days. The new boiler was installed and the system was connected to a pump and a large magnetic filter. All the radiators were isolated and turned on in sequence. The water quality was tested after the power flush was completed.

All that said, I am not sure how best you take this forward.

Browntoa

Full BG power flush is large machine connected to the pipework , reverse flow , empty direct into an external drain . You would know if they had done it

[Deleted User]

Trading standards?


I've used them on several occaisions for similar things, and they've been very good.

Missmarie

Hi. I recently arranged for this for my mum and dad's system with BG. I paid £950. This was for a heating system installed by them in 2001. Some of the radiators would not heat and they had been back and forward fixing things. Never really with the boiler itself but valves outside the boiler etc.

I was told he would be on site for 8 hours and this is what did happen. From what I recal, he was using a (what I will call) an industrial vacuum which was very loud in use. I think this was taking what was in the system out. So I would say if you were getting the system flushed, you would hear it rather than see it!

After the flush, the heating upstairs remained permanetly on despit the HIVE telling it to switch off. I could not take any more time off to deal with them and the heating did correct itself after a week.

Not sure if that is of any use to you. I have tried other companies to cover the boiler and they are hopeless and always end up back at BG.

badmemory

If you have had a power flush even on a small system & you were in the property at the time then you knew it was being done. If you didn't know, it wasn't being done.