powerflush

plumb1_2

heating-eng wrote: »

i am a gas eng and have been for over 18years ..i also worked for british gas for a lot of years...
i can tell you for sure that over 95% of the boilers i used to checked that had been fitted by corgi reg eng had not been installed correctly and as for powerflushing ..
i would say that proberly 80/90 % of the jobs i went to by corgi plumbers where not flushed correctly..
the problem is that corgi dont check the installers very often and standards are very low...
i would say that as a rule bg would be more than any plumbers but you get what you pay for most of the time..bg give a lifetime service where if it needed doing again they would do it free..
when i go and buy deposit remover from plumbcentre they need to order me more as no body else buys it..
most people just do a mains flush and if its had a combi in before then this should be fine ..
if you have an old open system then i would say it would need powerflushing.
if you do get it flushed make sure the plumber is there all day flushing it and it would be a good idea to fit a magnaclean filter on afterwards
hope this helps.....i wouldnt say this is really a DIY job

My views on your post

1-I am still of the opion that BG vastly overcharge, and are a cross between engineers and salesmen.

2-I agree just because a plumber is Corgi Reg, doesn't guarentee a correct instalation, but many due to large firms pushing their fitters,( 1 example of this is Warmfront 1 day exchange ) rather then you local 1 man band/ small company.

3- Bg giving a Lifeline, your having a laugh:rotfl: BG will never do anything for free, bad enough to get them to put right their own co*k ups.

4- Plumbers offering a mains flush are not doing a correct job imo.Not all systems require a flush, a simple TDS test will confirm this.

5-I agree a Powerflush if done correctly should be a min of 4/5 hrs, personaly it takes me an average 6hrs. And should be done to BS7593.

Some makers of Powerflush machines are stating that the whole circuit inc rads can be done together, reducing time taken 3/4hrs , imo this is just to increase sales.

niteowl_2

What a coincidence. Searched for powerflush and this came up. A thread started in 2005 and replies from 2007, then 2008!

We've been told by BG that we need a powerflush and installation of a magnaclean filter, because one of our copper pipes (near the pump) is showing strong signs of containing ferros material, that they think is causing all the problems in our boiler (4 heat exchangers in last 4 years - last one jan 08)!


BG showed us how a magnet was strongly attracted to a section of the pipe, indicating a build up of ferros material inside the section of it. They suggested cutting it out, thoroughly cleaning inside to remove the build up which is restricting water flow. BG said powerflush would be guaranteed to a max of 15 years or duration that we lived at the property.


What puzzles us is that our radiators heat up very quickly and no clod spots on them. We had bit of blocked air in highest point radiator over a few months but now seems okay.

Our pipes are still noisy (high pressure/whistling sound and knocking in areas) and intermittent with rads, but with summer you don't notice it while ch is off. The kettling noise in our boiler has reduced, but still noticeable since they replaced a part recently.

The new 4.5 months heat exchanger is showing signs of corrosion/rust. Tests by salamander revealed our "clear" ch water was not contaminated and was in near perfect condition, Bg came to conclusion above, but suggested silencer could help.

We're really confused now. Should we go ahead and get powerflush, or could we just get the "blocked section of copper piping" cleaned and get a magnaclean filter fitted to continue removing other traces of iron/sludge contamination in system? We are not diy experts and would appreciate any advise.

Thanks.

Niteowl

update: Just read this very useful thread on powerflush http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=10940117#post10940117

heating-eng

niteowl wrote: »

What a coincidence. Searched for powerflush and this came up. A thread started in 2005 and replies from 2007, then 2008!

We've been told by BG that we need a powerflush and installation of a magnaclean filter, because one of our copper pipes (near the pump) is showing strong signs of containing ferros material, that they think is causing all the problems in our boiler (4 heat exchangers in last 4 years - last one jan 08)!


BG showed us how a magnet was strongly attracted to a section of the pipe, indicating a build up of ferros material inside the section of it. They suggested cutting it out, thoroughly cleaning inside to remove the build up which is restricting water flow. BG said powerflush would be guaranteed to a max of 15 years or duration that we lived at the property.


What puzzles us is that our radiators heat up very quickly and no clod spots on them. We had bit of blocked air in highest point radiator over a few months but now seems okay.

Our pipes are still noisy (high pressure/whistling sound and knocking in areas) and intermittent with rads, but with summer you don't notice it while ch is off. The kettling noise in our boiler has reduced, but still noticeable since they replaced a part recently.

The new 4.5 months heat exchanger is showing signs of corrosion/rust. Tests by salamander revealed our "clear" ch water was not contaminated and was in near perfect condition, Bg came to conclusion above, but suggested silencer could help.

We're really confused now. Should we go ahead and get powerflush, or could we just get the "blocked section of copper piping" cleaned and get a magnaclean filter fitted to continue removing other traces of iron/sludge contamination in system? We are not diy experts and would appreciate any advise.

Thanks.

Niteowl

update: Just read this very useful thread on powerflush http://www.plumbersforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?7-Powerflushing-your-central-heating

the magnaclean is one of the best products around and will stop your pipes blocking up but if they are already blocked then i would say they will need cutting out and i would then fit a magnaclean afterwards,,
the pipes may need to be reconfigured as well if you have an H design..
as a rule i would say that from my experance most plumbers will not do this job correctly and you would need to pay for it again if you wanted to go back on the british gas homecare contract..

heating-eng

plumb1 wrote: »

My views on your post

1-I am still of the opion that BG vastly overcharge, and are a cross between engineers and salesmen.

2-I agree just because a plumber is Corgi Reg, doesn't guarentee a correct instalation, but many due to large firms pushing their fitters,( 1 example of this is Warmfront 1 day exchange ) rather then you local 1 man band/ small company.
http://www.plumbersforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?7-Powerflushing-your-central-heating

3- Bg giving a Lifeline, your having a laugh:rotfl: BG will never do anything for free, bad enough to get them to put right their own co*k ups.

4- Plumbers offering a mains flush are not doing a correct job imo.Not all systems require a flush, a simple TDS test will confirm this.

5-I agree a Powerflush if done correctly should be a min of 4/5 hrs, personaly it takes me an average 6hrs. And should be done to BS7593.

Some makers of Powerflush machines are stating that the whole circuit inc rads can be done together, reducing time taken 3/4hrs , imo this is just to increase sales.

is that not the same as yourself ?

the warmfront seems to be a bit of a joke at the moment some papers saying about customers getting ripped off...

littlewren

Hello,

Please excuse this long post.

I had British Gas out on the 1st October this year to do their annual boiler/maintenance check. The system is nearly 26 years old and I was worried in case the boiler failed the tests. The engineer did his checks, including a room test (apparently a new thing they do) turned on the central heating and left saying that everything was fine. He left me the checklist which has everything ticked ok and a comment that said: ASV. ROOM TEST. ALL OK.

Then, 2 days ago (29 days after the maintenance check) I received a phone call from a woman at British Gas who told me the engineer had made a note that I needed a power flush to my system and that it would cost between £500-700 but that I could have a Corgi registered person to do it for slightly cheaper. I listened to her and told her I couldn't afford anything like that at the moment. She told me that if I didn't have one before my annual maintenance agreement was up for renewal, then although British Gas would come out to me if I had a problem with the central heating, I would have to foot the bill and my direct debit payments would be reduced to take this into account. I asked when my renewal was and she told me the 24th November!

I stumbled and stuttered my way through the rest of the conversation, asking her: 'so if my central heating broke down on, say, the 25th November, you would fix it but send me the bill.' She said yes.

I told her again that I knew nothing about this and that the engineer hadn't mentioned anything at all to me about a power flush, but she just repeated that I won't be covered in future.

I then phoned British Gas, got a very rude man who sullenly told me he wasn't an engineer and couldn't help me and with a yawn asked me did I want to make a complaint? I told him no, I just wanted to know why I wasn't told about this at the time. He said he'd get someone to call me that afternoon, no call came.

I phoned again half an hour later, hoping to get someone more helpful, which I did and he told me he would get someone to look into it for me and phone me back as soon as possible.

Yesterday, no call had come so I phoned again around 3pm, this time a woman answered and when I told her I was still waiting for a call back, she told me someone had tried to ring me at 1.50pm. I told her no-one had tried to ring me, I had been in all day and hadn't used my phone at all. She told me she would get the woman 'who tried' to ring me urgently. Still no call.

So here I am, 2 days later, worried sick and wondering where on earth I can find anything up to £500-£700. Even half of that I can't afford at the moment.

I can't find anything in the small print that mentions anything like this - but I bet I've missed it.

Can someone please advise as to what they would do in my circumstance?
I just don't have the money to pay for a power flush at the moment.

PoorbandTony

Funnily enough, we had BG out recently as well as our problem is more if we have the CH and water on at the same time, we don't get much hot water. We got them out, they said that the valve wasn't closing correctly and this is due to our 22mm being more like 3mm (which, somehow, I think is an exaggeration). They too did the whole magnet routine and voila, £699 please for a powerflush.

I told them to poke off until I could do more investigating.

Our rads mostly seem ok bar 2 downstairs which are hot on the top half, and cold on the bottom. System is around 27 years old as well. I've been advised by one plumber that buying a new boiler (which is what BG also recommended - £3500 please) is not necessarily the best option as the new types of boilers are so heavily stretched to get the most out of them that they tend to have a much shorter lifetime.

I do know that there is sludge in them as I replaced the upstairs bathroom unit when I refitted the whole room, and after tipping it out it was full of black crap.

Like yourself, we can't possibly afford £600+ as we've a baby on the way in January and as usual Christmas is right in the way as well. Sods law these things happen when they do!

If it helps, we've been quoted £300 for a power flush from a local, reputable plumber, so if we decide to have it done this side of Christmas I'll be sure to post back and let you know the results. I'd be grateful if you'd do the same as well if you decide to take the plunge.

Good luck!
Tony

PMA_3

Hi can you help me please! I was quoted £350 for a power flush. The plumber was at my house from 11am till 7.30pm. Is this normal. He is now saying he will charge me £350 for the first 4hrs and will charge £60 an hour from 3 till 7.30pm. He says that this is becuase the system was filthy and that the euquipment is very expensive. He has not sent me the bill yet but from what he is saying I am looking at about £700. His company is a franchise.

Many thanks for your help.

PMA

PMA_3

Can you please tell me if you had your powerflush and how much it was in the end.

many thanks

PMA

EliteHeat

PMA wrote: »

Hi can you help me please! I was quoted £350 for a power flush. The plumber was at my house from 11am till 7.30pm. Is this normal. He is now saying he will charge me £350 for the first 4hrs and will charge £60 an hour from 3 till 7.30pm. He says that this is becuase the system was filthy and that the euquipment is very expensive. He has not sent me the bill yet but from what he is saying I am looking at about £700. His company is a franchise.

Many thanks for your help.

PMA

Aha, a powerflush only costs £350 if your system is clean and doesn't actually need one!

Tell him to sod off. He is a cowboy who should know the difference between a quote, an estimate and taking you for a ride.

If he thinks that he is in a strong position, let him sue you for the money.

jessielicious

How do you know if you need a Powerflush?

We have just had a new boiler installed (last thursday). Unfortunately the company have turned out to be cowboys and we've had multiple problems. Heating is fine but we now can't get the hot water to stay hot, it keeps going hot cold hot cold.

The cowboys say that dirt/scale from the radiators has got into the heat exchanger, causing this problem. They are going to clean the heat exchanger but if it doesn't work or the problem comes back they say we will need a Powerflush. But surely if there was lots of gunk in the system I would have trouble with the heating, or there would be cold places on some of the radiators? No probs at all with rads, only this thing with the hot water, which started as soon as the new boiler went in. Could this be true or are they taking me for a ride? Our house is 12 years old so that's how long the rads have been working. Any advice?