British Gas & Power Flush

[slick132]

Good stuff Mr H.

 

You've been Repped !

 

8)

[heating-eng]

Hi

 

New member having just found this forum. Currently have BG Homecare 400 agreement for a boiler which is approx 18 years old.

 

Been covered since 1998 with BG - had to have a power flush before they would take the boiler on back then. Anyway, last week hot water stopped (central heating works fine) so booked an engineer. Engineer comes out and says that I need a powerflush (£700 quote) however due to the age of the boiler I'd be better off getting a new boiler. Engineer persuades me to book an appointment with BG for a new boiler quote this coming Friday.

 

Questions I have are (if anyone can help) -

 

- As I have already had a powerflush from BG (albeit sometime go) should I be entitled to this powerflush free? as per the homecare agreement.

 

- If I get the powerflush done by a local company will this invalidate my agreement with BG?

 

- Would I be better advised to get a new boiler?

 

Thanks

 

No BG will not give you a free powerflush.

Edited March 28, 2011 by heating-eng

[slick132]

Hi Heating Eng,

 

According to post #324, DoctorFox has already been told the PF will be carried out again at no cost.

 

8)

[heating-eng]

Hi Plubingforfun,

 

If you are connected to the PowerFlushing Thingy, please see site rules about promoting and/or advertising.

 

8)

Is it not a good idea to let people know where they can get the powerflush done correctly as we would also advise to get a gassafe plumber etc ?

[heating-eng]

Hi Heating Eng,

 

According to post #324, DoctorFox has already been told the PF will be carried out again at no cost.

 

8)

Missed that bit sorry .seems strange that they will. they would,nt of done that when i was an engineer at BG

[heating-eng]

I think some people on here are getting a bit carried away with their 'expertise'! I am a BG engineer, and indeed an engineer who carries out powerflushing on a regular basis (everyday just now!) Ideas like 'just turning your pump up a notch' and 'I bled the radiators and now we dont need a new boiler' are complete rubbish!

 

When a system is drawing air in and needing bled regularly, a powerflush will temporarily cure the problem, however, when we carry this work out we will normally cut & clear system blockages (normally occuring in the cold beed pipe where hot & cold water meets), combine the cold feed & expansion pipes if possible (open vented systems) only if the appliance has an overheat protection device. We will also balance the system and set the correct pump speed. In most cases the pump, and and valves (pump, motorised or manual) will be replaced.

If the flush is done correctly and the reason why it needed doing sorted then it shouldnt need another flush

 

Twin entry radiator valves (valves with one valve & 2 pipes) require to be split & replaced with a valve either side of the radiator before a powerflush can be done, as there is a small tube which circulates the water attatched to these which can become dislodged during a flush. If you have had a powerflush but still have twin entry valves, chances are the system hasn't been flushed correctly.

 

We now use a magnaclean filter (a strong magnetic filter) incorporated into our powerflush machines to extract any iron oxide in the radiators & pipework. We can supply & install a permanent magnaclean filter to any system at additional cost.

 

I read that one user reckons 4 hrs is a good time to powerflush a system, BG powerflush (including remedial work to rectify faults) is normally done in around 8 hrs and priced accordingly. Our price includes all parts (irrespective of cost) and labour.

 

The powerflush lifetime guarantee was only introduced in 2004 (I think) but we will do a re-flush if needed as long as the same customer owns the property. Any radiators which corrode badly and leak will be replaced if a powerflush has been carried out. Our average price is around £600, and we use fixed price quotations (subject to region) but if the powerflush is done correctly it IS good value for money when you look at the work we do. Lets see if your £250 flush gets you anywhere near a service like that, I'd think not.

 

 

I worked for BG for many years and like yourself i did powerflushes ,BG prices are a joke in my opinion and i can do a flush for £245 all in.

The powerflush lifetime guarantee .this is a joke there is so many terms and conditions with this ..the customer also needs to pay for a contract for over £250 a year to keep this cover.

I think customers should think twice about using BG and having service cover.

Pay your local guy £40 a year for a service and save the £210 and you will be quids in over the 20 year life of a boiler.

[heating-eng]

I worked for BG for many years and like yourself i did powerflushes ,BG prices are a joke in my opinion and i can do a flush for £245 all in.

The powerflush lifetime guarantee .this is a joke there is so many terms and conditions with this ..the customer also needs to pay for a contract for over £250 a year to keep this cover.

I think customers should think twice about using BG and having service cover.

Pay your local guy £40 a year for a service and save the £210 and you will be quids in over the 20 year life of a boiler.

 

Then if your boiler breaks down phone BG and get it fixed for £99 .never ever pay for that silly cover..

[heating-eng]

always search for the best prices for your powerflush this company only charges £245 http://www.powerflushingin.com/ there will be companys in your area will do it for this price.

[ihateyes]

I worked for BG for many years and like yourself i did powerflushes ,BG prices are a joke in my opinion and i can do a flush for £245 all in.

The powerflush lifetime guarantee .this is a joke there is so many terms and conditions with this ..the customer also needs to pay for a contract for over £250 a year to keep this cover.

I think customers should think twice about using BG and having service cover.

Pay your local guy £40 a year for a service and save the £210 and you will be quids in over the 20 year life of a boiler.

 

 

Aye bt the local man is just as likely to rip you off... u ee watchdog the other night??? the gas valve that cost £108 they guy wanted to charge £280?? £500 for the repair including labour>>> thats what u would pay for heat exchanger (which is the most expensive single part to get repaired)... he then comes back saying part was obsolete!! my my.... the part was readily available.. he then tried his hand at getting the punter to ay £2850 for a new boiler!!

 

So wheather its a contract or your local, yor just as likely to get done in....

 

Infact if your local does a bad job, and you sue him, they just wind the company up, and start trading a new one, to avoid paying judgements..... again wathing consumer programmes show this happens ALOT.

[heating-eng]

Aye bt the local man is just as likely to rip you off... u ee watchdog the other night??? the gas valve that cost £108 they guy wanted to charge £280?? £500 for the repair including labour>>> thats what u would pay for heat exchanger (which is the most expensive single part to get repaired)... he then comes back saying part was obsolete!! my my.... the part was readily available.. he then tried his hand at getting the punter to ay £2850 for a new boiler!!

 

So wheather its a contract or your local, yor just as likely to get done in....

 

Infact if your local does a bad job, and you sue him, they just wind the company up, and start trading a new one, to avoid paying judgements..... again wathing consumer programmes show this happens ALOT.

 

Not sure i would agree, one bad person in the gas trade does not mean that everybody is bad. i would advise all customers to get 3 quotes and see if they all say the same.

[ihateyes]

Not sure i would agree, one bad person in the gas trade does not mean that everybody is bad. i would advise all customers to get 3 quotes and see if they all say the same.

 

Getting 3 quotes for a simple breakdown isnt feasible, specially in the winter, when its freezing

[heating-eng]

Getting 3 quotes for a simple breakdown isnt feasible, specially in the winter, when its freezing

Think the post title is british gas and power flush, so i do not see a problem in telling people to get 3 quotes for a power flush.

As for break downs you can still ask the company how much they charge per hour and if they have any mark up on mat's.

BG is good for breakdowns as they charge £99 for any repair.

[heating-eng]

There is not that much work around and customers can get good deals.

[ihateyes]

Totally agree..... good for breakdowns....

As im sure you know, some boilers work with no trouble, some boilers remiind me of Darren Anderton - sicknote...

Also some people who dont earn loads can budet better paying monthly than keeping the money aside for emergencys.... im one of them!! if i got it, i spend it!

[TanyaLebr]

I was recommended a power flush last year. The only real way to know if you need a power flush or NOT is to have the water quality tested, which the power flush association did for free. I posted them a sample of my water and they emailed me the results. I DIDN’T need it at all, the problem was a broken part on the boiler which got fixed in the end. Very proud of saving myself £450

[slick132]

Hi Tanya and welcome to CAG

 

Well done on saving yourself from an unnecessary Power Flush.

 

Hope the system is working well for you.

 

[Mrs E Blackadder]

I've not come across this thread before and I've read some of it with interest.

 

Two years ago British Gas said I needed a power flush when my heating was playing up. Same engineer came out twice, and twice said that a power flush was needed. Left me a quote for £598. Thankfully I live next door to a plumber, so I went to ask him what he would charge. His rate was £295 (inc vat), but he said that he would come and have a look first so that he could be sure that a power flush was needed. He said that I did not need a power flush and in his opinion what I actually needed was a frost stat that he could fit for under £50. Called British Gas again and got another engineer who agreed that a frost stat was what was needed, but they would charge £162. Guess who I went with?!

 

Plumber next door and frost stat cured the problem and saved me about £550.

[LaurynM]

The Powerflush nonsense from BG is a big [problem]. I worked for them for over 3 years in their retentions/cancellations dept and have first hand experience of dealing with these issues day in and day out. The number of people phoning to cancel because of this was ridiculous and we had no tools to retain these customers other than talking them round.

 

Some people do need it, those in areas where the water has a lot of scale, usually in and around London are affected badly when the water leaves deposits and starts to block the heat exchanger and the system, which I don't have a problem with and any breakdowns relating to the scale/sludge are therefore excluded, but it is fast becoming a total get out clause for paying for a lot of boiler repairs which I don't like. They also charge WELL over the odds for a PowerFlush - genuinely required or not. I know HomeCare inside out so if anyone has any questions I will do my best to assist.

[ssfoe]

I have a Potterton Performa boiler that is 9 yrs old. We have owned the house since it was built.

 

Around 2 yrs ago during the bad winter the boiler stopped producing hot water. I called Scottish Gas and joined their Homecare scheme. They came and sorted the boiler. I had no further callouts until they came to do the annual service and it all seems to have gone wrong since then.

 

First I needed a new wall thermostat which was done, then one night I heard a very loud clicking noise, like a tick tock sound from somewhere near the top of the boiler. The engineer called and said he could find no problem, cleaned some diodes and left.

 

I then had the boiler just on hot water only during the summer and put it onto heating and water occasionally if it was a bit cold at night. I then realised that the boiler would complete one cycle of heating up the radiators, then the 30 degree button would be flashing. To cut a long story short, and engineer called and said almost immediately that I would require a Powerflush.

 

I said I would think about it. I left it a few weeks then called to say that the problem had not been fixed, another engineer came out and said a Magnaclean was the answer. He changed the pump which was covered in black liquid. Now, I signed up for the Magnaclean but it has not been done yet. After complaining about the advice given from the first engineer I got a call from a manager who said that if I really wanted the repair done properly, the Powerflush would be the way to go.

 

I forgot to mention tht sometimes the boiler seems to take a few attempts to flash up.

 

I feel that they are not exhausting the possible fault with the boiler and jumping to the conclusion that I need this Powerflush. I feel pressured. I have signed for the Magnaclean to be fitted but I assume they will not pursue me if I do not then go onto have it fitted.

 

Any views would be appreciated.

Edited September 18, 2011 by slick132
Put in some paragraphs so post is legible

[slick132]

Hi SSFoe and welcome to CAG

 

I've put paragraph spaces into your post to make it more easily legible.

 

I hope one of our contributors will stop by and comment for you.

 

If you've read through this thread, you'll see the CHS service companies do like to promote PowerFlushes which are not normally covered in your service agreement.

 

[ssfoe]

Many thanx.

[martin2006]

The loud clicking noise you heard was most likely the solenoid on the gas valve, a common fault, this would also explain the boiler not heating the water as, if the solenoid doesnt open the gas valve then the burner doesnt light. Initially these tend to be intermittent faults but can easily be replaced by any half decent engineer.

 

As for the powerflush, you said you had black liquid on/in the pump, the blackness is a substance called magnatite and is most prevalent in boilers with cast iron heat exchangers, which from memory, yours is one. It is iron deposits from the system rads and heat exchanger that forms this lovely stuff. A powerflush would be a good idea but i would hesitate at BG prices.

 

Its virtually impossible for anyone to advise you 100% correctly on here without seeing the system and performing some checks and tests but from what you say, it sounds like you at least have the beginnings of sludge deposits in your system.

[ssfoe]

Thanx for that reply.I'm going to phone Scottish Gas tomorrow anyway as I can't keep the appointment for the Magnaclean on Wed as hubby has to fly to London to get his Amercian work visa, so I will mention the solenoid to them then.

[ihateyes]

If the engineer ADVISES you must either have a powerflush or magna clean done, if you dont they ill not cover any water based parts on you boiler.

[martin2006]

If the engineer ADVISES you must either have a powerflush or magna clean done, if you dont they ill not cover any water based parts on you boiler.

BG cant say we advise that you must anything. If the OP MUST have a powerflush, then that isnt advice, thats an insistence.

if the blackness/magnatite in your system is in its early stages then a magnaclean would be suitable, if its more advanced and you have a sludge build up then you will need a flush of some kind, not necessarily a powerflush and if the sludge has been there for donkeys years with no treatment then you may well end up having to repipe the system. these are all variants which no one can diagnose as there is not the required amount of information in the OP.

 

with regard to the solenoid, i'm only guessing because i havent seen your boiler. as i said, its virtually impossible to try to diagnose whats wrong on a forum such as this.