Just spent the best part of an hour trying to calm my 88 yr old mother down as she has been on the verge of tears borne out of frustration.
The engineer attended again today, left a form for my mum to sign and left with the understanding that he would speak to me later in the afternoon to explain what has
been done.
I visited my mum after work and start running a hot bath to test. Within a few minutes it was clear that the original problem remains i.e. hot water for a couple of minutes then luke warm at best. Turning the hot tap off, waiting a minute or two and then opening tap gives another short burst of hot water but not really a solution.
I read the form he left with my mum which had two recommendations "re-pipe required" and "powerflush". The power flush recommendation irked me a but as he told me himself on his earlier visit that a power flush would be a waste of time due to the narrow pipes i.e. 10 mm plastic pipes to all rads.
I spoke to him a few moments later and he explained he had taken out and cleaned the secondary heat exchange (?) and I think something else but can't flipping remember what now as I wrote it down at my mum's house ! He also used some chemicals to flush the boiler which he said could taken between 1-2 weeks before it works it's way fully through the system.
I explained that the hot water is no better than it was before we called British Gas out and he said to give it 1-2 weeks for the chemicals to flush the system out and ring him then if there are still problems.
We then had a discussion about the best course of action and he said we need the system re-piping. He made a remark that we should follow BG's advice if we are paying them as they are professionals (or words to that effect). I pointed out that if every BG engineer that worked on our boiler gave the same diagnosis and the advice was consistent throughout then we would happily listen AND pay but one engineer says one thing and the other says something else. I wouldn't want my mum to pay for re-piping and then the system not work because BG decide that the water pressure into the property is too low or some other reason.
I've had a suspicion that the plastic pipes to the rads are too narrow based on everyone else's piping that I come across. Sad I know but I actually notice the piping width when I'm in someone else's house now
The house is a large'ish 3 bed terrace with 7 radiators. Do you agree that 10mm plastic piping is not sufficient ?
After I spoke to the engineer another question popped into my head which I hope someone here can kindly help with. The combi boiler is directly behind my mum's bath (in the room nextdoor on the same wall). Would narrow plastic piping or sludge in the piping affect the temperature of the water on the other side of the wall ?
Thanks guys and sorry for the epic but it's been a stressful evening and wanted to get this off my chest.