FabSwingers.com forum: power flush central heating boiler

By *reelove1969 OP Couple
over a year ago

bristol

have a maintenance contract on central heating system to the tune of £35 a month ...called them out today as we have no hot water only to be told the boiler needs a power flush which is not covered on maintenance contract and will cost £700 to do ...nearly keeled over !!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's a disgrace I rent a house out and done the same thing it's not right cheeky f-----rs I tell you make my blood boil

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By *ingleguy1973Man
over a year ago

peterborough

Go a week without heating and the money you save on your gas bill will pay for it and you should have enough left over for a few beers at the weekend

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You can buy the flushing sollution from DIY shops and a central heating test pump from hire shop.

Do it yourself for £30

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Some boiler manufacturers won't guarantee there guarantee if the system hasn't been owner flushed before installation. X

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Some boiler manufacturers won't guarantee there guarantee if the system hasn't been owner flushed before installation. X"

Power x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

What do you mean by power flush??£700 is ridiculous anyway!

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By *reelove1969 OP Couple
over a year ago

bristol

thanks guys for the responses ..have taken filters off minnie .. many thanks

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By *reelove1969 OP Couple
over a year ago

bristol

"What do you mean by power flush??£700 is ridiculous anyway!"

well he said there is 'sludge' that needs power flushed out of boiler for the hot water to work

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By *ymguy.1Man
over a year ago

Richmond

A power flush won't promise to fix the issue, yes it'll clean it out, but if it's an element that has gone, then the hot water still won't work, A power flush is more for clearing out the radiators (heating system) to clean them and make then efficient again, You just need to flush out the boiler £50, if that doesn't work, your looking at an element that has gone, possible £250-£350 tops.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Like somebody said you can buy solutions from a diy shop that would probably break it down.

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By *reelove1969 OP Couple
over a year ago

bristol

thanks for response guys ...so is this something i could actually do myself then ..is there that much to it ???

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sounds like joneseys the man for you!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A power flush won't promise to fix the issue, yes it'll clean it out, but if it's an element that has gone, then the hot water still won't work, A power flush is more for clearing out the radiators (heating system) to clean them and make then efficient again, You just need to flush out the boiler £50, if that doesn't work, your looking at an element that has gone, possible £250-£350 tops. "

My hot water wouldn't come on and when I had a look, all it was, was the bracket holding the micro switch was loose. Fixed it in 30 seconds.

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By *ymguy.1Man
over a year ago

Richmond

it depends on your boiler age, with the new ones, you can't even take the cover off without a gas safe registered engineer.

your hot water is not working, so there is an issue, I would call a couple of local gas safe registered plumbers, and ask for a budget price over the phone for cleaning out your boiler, if they don't give you one, don't use them or give them your details. should be around £50, and if that doesn't work, at least they are there to identify the further problem.

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"thanks for response guys ...so is this something i could actually do myself then ..is there that much to it ???"

There's probably instructions online. There are for everything else .

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By *reelove1969 OP Couple
over a year ago

bristol

"Sounds like joneseys the man for you!!"

where is jonesey when you need him ???

come out come out where ever you are !!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I fitted my central heating system myself. I bought the boiler from a plumbing suppliers, it was old stock but it was brand new. Its an Ariston. Anyway, I put the system in and got a Corgi registered guy to come and check it over, to do the gas connection and to commission it. He charged me £60 and that was 10yrs ago.

I've got a maintenance contract with British Gas and every year for the last 5yrs they've been telling me my system is inefficient and needs upgrading and for that, they want to charge me around £5000.

I told them that if and when my system packs up, then I'll do what I did last time and fit my own boiler and get a Corgi guy to commission it.

Whenever they come to service my system they are only her for 20mins.

I'm paying £35 a month for nearly 9yrs and I've never had to call them out once.

I think I'm a mug for paying them for fuck all every month

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"it depends on your boiler age, with the new ones, you can't even take the cover off without a gas safe registered engineer.

You need to be gas safe registered to touch the gas. Not the boiler, I don't know of any boilers you can't take the cover off of without being registered, I'm gas safe registered.

Try looking on screwfix or a plumbers merchant for the cleaning solution. If you live in a hard water area it could be the heat exchanger clogged up, this wouldn't be solved by power flushing the heating side as (if it's a combination boiler) it has two heat exchangers 1 for the heating and 1 for the hot water.

If I were you I'd get a second opinion as it could be a number of things from a flow sensor, divertor valve or micro switch.

I live in a soft water area so have never experienced a blocked heat exchanger but it does happen.

If it is the heat exchanger you could probably buy a new one for less than £700 so something tells me your engineer is a rip off merchant. Hence the 2nd opinion.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I fitted my central heating system myself. I bought the boiler from a plumbing suppliers, it was old stock but it was brand new. Its an Ariston. Anyway, I put the system in and got a Corgi registered guy to come and check it over, to do the gas connection and to commission it. He charged me £60 and that was 10yrs ago.

I told them that if and when my system packs up, then I'll do what I did last time and fit my own boiler and get a Corgi guy to commission it.

Whenever they come to service my system they are only her for 20mins.

I'm paying £35 a month for nearly 9yrs and I've never had to call them out once.

I think I'm a mug for paying them for fuck all every month

British Gas = rip off add those £35's up and you could have a very nice boiler.

If someone says they've had BG price a job I can usually say take £2000 off and I'll do the exact same job and make good money...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It's a disgrace I rent a house out and done the same thing it's not right cheeky f-----rs I tell you make my blood boil "

Shouldn't your landlord be responsible for this???

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By *opping_candyWoman
over a year ago

West Yorkshire

I told them that if and when my system packs up, then I'll do what I did last time and fit my own boiler and get a Corgi guy to commission it.

Whenever they come to service my system they are only her for 20mins.

I'm paying £35 a month for nearly 9yrs and I've never had to call them out once.

I think I'm a mug for paying them for fuck all every month

35 a month is a lot! I've got homecare with BG and pay 24 a month for boiler and heating system, plumbing and drainage, and electrical problems. I've had them out twice in 9 months and had parts replaced both times so I feel I have got my money's worth. Peace of mind is worth a lot for me too as I'd not be able to pay out for repairs. I know people say it is a waste of money but it is a very reassuring safety net for me in my financial position.

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By *igSuki81Man
over a year ago

Retirement Village

"have a maintenance contract on central heating system to the tune of £35 a month ...called them out today as we have no hot water only to be told the boiler needs a power flush which is not covered on maintenance contract and will cost £700 to do ...nearly keeled over !!!"

Sorry guys but that sounds like bollocks!! The kit doesn't cost much and runs through the hot water system (rads etc) & doesn't take that long to do.

i'd ask around at £700 you potentially could get a new boiler!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You could get a new boiler for less than £700!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Try rated people dot com

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

sounds more like a money making idea more like 3 way valve if got hot water tank other than that plate to plate heat exchanger if it a combi can be cleaned out with ease in my expirience !!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Try rated people dot com "
Minnie are rated people genuine and wont let you down?

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

There is a big difference between flushing the system and putting inhibitor in to a power flush. You can do the first one yourself. Different methods depending if you have a combi set up etc. you won't do a power flush yourself though. If it really needs it, get some independent quotes. Gas board prices are extortionate for that.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I told them that if and when my system packs up, then I'll do what I did last time and fit my own boiler and get a Corgi guy to commission it.

Whenever they come to service my system they are only her for 20mins.

I'm paying £35 a month for nearly 9yrs and I've never had to call them out once.

I think I'm a mug for paying them for fuck all every month

That's what we've got, but ours cost us £35 a month. I know I'm paying for peace of mind really, but nothings gone wrong since I've taken the contract.

I completely replumbed my house and put my own heating system in, so I take it as a compliment that I haven't had any problems.

I'm nothing more than an accomplished DIYer really, but I've been working in most engineering fields for 40yrs so I've picked up a few tricks along the way.

I only do my own house though so if I fuck up, I fuck my own stuff.

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By *reelove1969 OP Couple
over a year ago

bristol

i aint going to go down this route with maintenance contract quote as i did think it seemed like a rip off which everyone who has responded seems to have confirmed ...i will check out all the ideas proposed tomorrow so once again ..many thanks !!

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By *opping_candyWoman
over a year ago

West Yorkshire

I told them that if and when my system packs up, then I'll do what I did last time and fit my own boiler and get a Corgi guy to commission it.

Whenever they come to service my system they are only her for 20mins.

I'm paying £35 a month for nearly 9yrs and I've never had to call them out once.

I think I'm a mug for paying them for fuck all every month

That's what we've got, but ours cost us £35 a month. I know I'm paying for peace of mind really, but nothings gone wrong since I've taken the contract.

I completely replumbed my house and put my own heating system in, so I take it as a compliment that I haven't had any problems.

I'm nothing more than an accomplished DIYer really, but I've been working in most engineering fields for 40yrs so I've picked up a few tricks along the way.

I only do my own house though so if I fuck up, I fuck my own stuff. "

That's mad, if you've not made a claim on it for so long I wonder why you are paying so much more! Maybe it goes on the age of the boiler too? Then again I had cover back when I had an 18 year old back boiler and I'm sure it wasn't that much

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

"i aint going to go down this route with maintenance contract quote as i did think it seemed like a rip off which everyone who has responded seems to have confirmed ...i will check out all the ideas proposed tomorrow so once again ..many thanks !! "

Just be careful with the advice. A lot of people have misunderstood the "power" bit of the flush.

System flush is putting and agent in that breaks down the sludge. This is then flushed through.

Power flush is forcing water through the system at pressure. Dependant on how old the pipe work is, it's not always the best idea.

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

*an agent in

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

For a mid sized Worcester boiler a new secondary heat exchanger can be bought for £83 + vat online

Google boiler spares online and have a look for your boiler it wouldn't take over 2 hours to do, possibly do it in a hour.

You do have to take a gas pipe out to get at it in a lot of boilers though.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wish I could get that sort of money for a job that will take about an hour max

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Just be careful with the advice. A lot of people have misunderstood the "power" bit of the flush.

System flush is putting and agent in that breaks down the sludge. This is then flushed through.

Power flush is forcing water through the system at pressure. Dependant on how old the pipe work is, it's not always the best idea. "

Yeah, power flushing is going to test an old system and will only clean the primary heating circuit which is not where the hot water for your taps comes from unless you have a hot water tank. A good indicator for the need of cleaning of your system is if the bottom of your radiators are cold and the tops hot when the heating is on.

Cleaning agents without the power flush can take a few weeks to a month to work effectively so may be a bit long to wait for your hot water supply.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Wish I could get that sort of money for a job that will take about an hour max

A powerflush should take most of the day if done properly.

A powerflush machine will set you back £900ish to buy, plus the chemicals needed to dose the system with.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A price like that from a big company is about right. British gas etc will charge similar.

Powerflushing has to be done under manufacturers spec to make any warranty valid.

Powerflushing will remove build up of any sludge, carbon and magnetite before new boliers are fitted. You don't run your car on oil and fuel that's full of sludge. Same with new boilers.

Powerflushing won't solve the issue. It will defiantly help reduce any future problems tho.

Give an independent plumber a call and see what they say. Most don't charge call out.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

energy savings trust website

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"energy savings trust website"

* green homes cashback

I meant to add

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

are we on the right site here?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"are we on the right site here?

yes...oops, nice wife, can I shag her?????

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"are we on the right site here?

yes...oops, nice wife, can I shag her?????"

More chance of shitting in the queens handbag ...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"are we on the right site here?

yes...oops, nice wife, can I shag her?????

More chance of shitting in the queens handbag ..."

ok, back to boilers..made my point lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"are we on the right site here?

yes...oops, nice wife, can I shag her?????

More chance of shitting in the queens handbag ...

ok, back to boilers..made my point lol"

It was the years old black/white photo's that swung our decision ...... and the fact there's more female flesh on a "single" guys profile than owt else.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"are we on the right site here?

yes...oops, nice wife, can I shag her?????

More chance of shitting in the queens handbag ...

ok, back to boilers..made my point lol

It was the years old black/white photo's that swung our decision ...... and the fact there's more female flesh on a "single" guys profile than owt else."

thanks for looking

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

For anyone getting a new boiler then do check around for what you get for your money. I choose British Gas on price/service and it included free powerflush before instal and lifetime free powerflush thereafter. As previous posters say true powerflush is a professional job and the BG engineers were here for about 2 hours doing it - and I ssw the muck that came out! So imho worth the money if part of a bigger package or perhaps if you get a buy one get future ones free if necessary (and should be rare so win-win for everyone)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

profiles are just that ......... for looking at

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If its a combi boiler, is it not possible that the pressure has not just dropped in the system.

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By *ugby 123Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

O o O oo

"If its a combi boiler, is it not possible that the pressure has not just dropped in the system. "

This

A little tip for people on service plans, most home insurance offers insurance for major breakdowns in the home which include boilers and they pay out up to £500 a callout.

It cost us nothing for the first year and £ 30 the second.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I told them that if and when my system packs up, then I'll do what I did last time and fit my own boiler and get a Corgi guy to commission it.

Whenever they come to service my system they are only her for 20mins.

I'm paying £35 a month for nearly 9yrs and I've never had to call them out once.

I think I'm a mug for paying them for fuck all every month

Same here and they service the boiler and radiators every year. The thing is that the less you pay the less that's covered and I'm quite happy with British Gas

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"For anyone getting a new boiler then do check around for what you get for your money. I choose British Gas on price/service and it included free powerflush before instal and lifetime free powerflush thereafter. As previous posters say true powerflush is a professional job and the BG engineers were here for about 2 hours doing it - and I ssw the muck that came out! So imho worth the money if part of a bigger package or perhaps if you get a buy one get future ones free if necessary (and should be rare so win-win for everyone)"

Did you get any prices from an independent installer?

They will generally be several thousand £'s less expensive so you have paid £2000 for a powerflush...

Did you carry on paying BG when your boiler was under warranty? A lot of boilers come with a 5year parts and labour warranty these days. I tend to install these as any problems are covered by the manufacturer for 5 years with only a yearly service required costing a maximum of £85 I charge less than half of that to service a condensing boiler. BG won't tell you that though so will continue to charge you for your service contract even though the boiler is under warranty for upto 5 years...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Did you get any prices from an independent installer?

They will generally be several thousand £'s less expensive so you have paid £2000 for a powerflush...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Install a magnetic filter in the system, at the boiler, £60-100 and you'll maybe never need to get it flushed

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I moved into my house 27 yrsago, called british gas to check boiler and heating, engineer said my boiler was, old, inefficient and dangerous and I needed a new system at the time it was about 2 thousand pounds, I said thanks but no thanks, called a local guy, he serviced the boiler for £20 and it is still working well, now. I have it checked every year and it costs £25 for a clean and service

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