Powerflush

[jhunter]

Hi,

Every 6 months or so the pressure in my boiler was building up causing the heating to stop working. I decided to join the homecare plan with British Gas to get it fully checked an hopefully fix in the longterm

British Gas came replaced a pump and made it worse, it stopped working every 2 or 3 days both heating and hot water. They then told me the system needed a powerflush and it would cost £600!

I came off the scheme and got someone else to do it, it cost £250 took between 3 1/2 to 4 hours for a 2 bedroom house. The plumber who done it said the pipes were really bad but it was orange sludge with hints or metal in it which suggested the problem was something boiler related, he suggested the heat exchanger. My tenant watched the water start orange and go clear at the end.

I went back to British Gas as I had originally paid £99 and got nothing fixed, they managed to get heating working and and approve the boiler to go back on the scheme. 3 days later it all stops working again, no heating or hot water and clear water pouring out the chute in the back garden. I have since had 7 British Gas engineers out who cant fix it, they are all trying to say the system still needs a powerflush!!

I phoned the plumber who done the powerflush who told me there is no way that is the case and that the system is fine, there is a more fundamental problem that British Gas dont want to fix.

Who do I believe?

Does the time taken etc for the powerflush seem ok and are British Gas trying to take the p1ss out of me!!

It has now been 2 weeks that my tenant has had no heating or hot water

Any opinions would help greatly as I feel like both parties have there own agends

 

[Alpha man]

What boiler/system have you got?

 

[jhunter]

It is a relatively new combi boiler, only got it fitted 4 years ago. It is a house that I rent out, not entirely sure what make it is, I have text the tenant to find out

Thanks

 

[md68]

It sounds a bit like the filling loop is letting by which would cause the pressure to rise overtime even if its only 1 or 2 drops a day. Try disconecting the loop and see if the pressure stabalises

 

[aggis]

Have they checked the expansion vessel, if it's lost it's pressure, then when the heating's on the pressure guage on the boiler will rise & release water out of the pressure relief pipe, dropping the guage to zero & cutting boiler off.
The same could happen if the pipe/tube to the expansion vessel is blocked.

The powerflushing will have cleaned the the radiators, pipes & boiler, but the supply pipe to the expansion vessel doesn't circulate water, so could stay blocked.

I'd find out if BG have checked the expansion vessel.

Also check with the engineer who PF'd the system that it's been inhibited.
As I was a bit concerned when you said the water was orange/red, which is signs of active corrosion & it'd need a good dose of inhibitor to protect it after PF'ing.
If it is re-sludging up you'd be best sending a sample off to a lab to be checked. [Sentinel Solultions]

 

[abcgascare]

We have been called out to powerflush 3 systems & British Gas wrongly requested powerflushing the systems had faults on one poor guy had no heating for 3 months they kept saying it was blocked with a powerflushing to revive it unfortunatly my lad diagnosed it in 10 min but they must have good engineers but they didnt send 2 of them to help him .
But the BG contract is money for nothing in my books or piece of mind for others .
If you Buy a good boiler fit a Magnaclean have it serviced & it will last trouble free years we have 35 & the magnaclean was the best investment ever in our rental houses.
[email protected]

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

if its orange its aerated look at loop passing or plate heat exchanger failed,also some earlier types of plastic pipe (if fitted)can cause this fault but the first 2 faults are the most likely suspects

 

[jhunter]

These are the same sugesstions that the plumber who done the powerflush had so it seems to me British Gas either don't have a clue or are trying to fleece me! Thanks for your help

 

[stevetheplumber]

These are the same sugesstions that the plumber who done the powerflush had so it seems to me British Gas either don't have a clue or are trying to fleece me! Thanks for your help

id say both statements are pretty accurate