Powermax 155

[Spiddy6969]

I moved into a new property around 6 months ago which has a powermax 155 boiler. It had been working fine but to be on the safe side I called british gas to come and give it an initial service before taking out a homecare plan.

unfortunatly after serveral visits to replace various parts they wrote the thing off! This was due to some heavy corrosion on what I believe is some sort of sump plate at the bottom of the cylinder within the boiler. I was told that the whole cylinder would need replacing but the boiler is now obselete and therefore unable to order (Is this correct).

I was quoted a massive £5000 for a new system to be installed by British Gas and £3500 by another heating contractor. This was for a wall mounted combi with veverticlelue to roof. Existing flue is to roof but as its a flat, the mamanagmentompany has kicked up a fuss with regards to roof work.

The whole thing is a nightmare and I do not really have that sort of money for a new system. Am I still able to locate any powermax parts or can anyone suggest another suitable floor standing boiler that can drop in its place. Would appreciate any help

 

[ollski]

The cylinder on a powermax is certainly obsolete. The new powermax units are a better boiler and use the same type of flue arrangement.

 

[Deleted member 105431]

That's BG for you! Should be a nice little earner for them. . . . . .

 

[simond]

An ACV Heatmaster is a similar boiler but is very expensive.

The Powermax is a troublesome piece of kit and I would have thought the last thing you would want is another one. The old IMI Powermaxes have long been discontinued.

Similar products (but of a better quality) would be a Viessmann 333 (floor standing), Vaillant 837 or 937(wall mounted) Worcester Hiflow 440 (or the new Highflow 440CDi, out in a few weeks)(floor mounted).

If your block is full of Powermaxes (its not in South Croydon by any chance - ?) then the management company are going to have to come to terms with them being taken out. It is as sure as death and taxes.

 

[corgiman]

Looks like the consensus is that you do have to change it, but its the "what with" that is the question.

Sorry

 

[nickso]

That's BG for you! Should be a nice little earner for them. . . . . .

 

[nickso]

II was quoted a massive £5000 for a new system to be installed by British Gas and £3500 by another heating contractor. This was for a wall mounted combi with veverticlelue to roof. Existing flue is to roof but as its a flat, the mamanagmentompany has kicked up a fuss with regards to roof work.

The whole thing is a nightmare and I do not really have that sort of money for a new system. Am I still able to locate any powermax parts or can anyone suggest another suitable floor standing boiler that can drop in its place. Would appreciate any help

whats the problem with roof work? you have to ask the factoring company (im assuming thats what you have) what the specific problem is with it.

 

[Agile]

Whatever boiler you have it will need a new flue!

The manamanagement company (?) cannot refuse to allow you to replace the flue and do the roof work associated with that change.

They can impose reasonable ( to them ) conditions and in some circumstances they might be able to argue that they should manage roof work ( at your cost ).

You would have been better to just do it without contacting them! Of course if there is no roof access and scaffolding is required that may not be so easy.

There may well be an alternative location for a combi where a veverticlelue (?) flue is not needed.

Tony

 

[Spiddy6969]

*******s!!! Powermax spares for sale, anyone interested!

 

[corgiman]

****!!! Powermax spares for sale, anyone interested!

 

[Deleted member 105431]

.

Similar products (but of a better quality) would be a Viessmann 333 (floor standing), Vaillant 837 or 937(wall mounted) Worcester Hiflow 440 (or the new Highflow 440CDi, out in a few weeks)(floor mounted).

add the glow worm ultrapower sxi to that list.

 

[mrperfect]

well without seeing the corrosion a comment can not really be made.
in my opinion bg are not up to standards at repairing these machines,most other repair guys will not want to work on these.
these are very basic boilers in operation but need specialist engineers to repair and maintain them
i am sure this boiler can be repaired,if you live in a block with similar boilers ask your neighbours who maintaines their boilers or get baxi (heat team) to fix it,latter good value on a powermax.
do you have any more info about the corrosion,sump is stainless steel and body very tough,some corrosion is acceptable due to condense, water in flue and most usually not being serviced to makers instructions.
good luck.

 

[Spiddy6969]

During the visit Mr BG was here and discovered the corrosion I was shown. There is a plate that comes off the bottom of the cyliner. He originally removed this due to the baffles also being heavily corroded, some of which had fallen to the bottom of the cylinder. He removed the plate to clear debris and bits of baffle from the bottom. There is a flange on the bottom of the cylinder which is the plate fixes to (guessing with some sort of gasket used). This flange is what has corroded heavily.

What sort of cost would I be looking at to get baxi out. Also after hearing many of the comments I think I would rather save my pennies and get a real boiler! Thank you for all the feedback so far.

 

[simond]

Mrperfect wrote

well without seeing the corrosion a comment can not really be made.
in my opinion bg are not up to standards at repairing these machines,most other repair guys will not want to work on these.
these are very basic boilers in operation but need specialist engineers to repair and maintain them
i am sure this boiler can be repaired,if you live in a block with similar boilers ask your neighbours who maintaines their boilers or get baxi (heat team) to fix it,latter good value on a powermax.
do you have any more info about the corrosion,sump is stainless steel and body very tough,some corrosion is acceptable due to condense, water in flue and most usually not being serviced to makers instructions.
good luck.

This chap writes very much in the same vein as a posting before, under the name Luis21x. He was a DIYer who liked to give advice on Powermax faults. Only problem was he had never worked on one.

 

[ollski]

well without seeing the corrosion a comment can not really be made.
in my opinion bg are not up to standards at repairing these machines,most other repair guys will not want to work on these.

You must be joking, almost all bg guys have received powermax specific training and more safety and technical bulletins and updates than you can imagine , they have absolutley no intention of being caught out by one of these again.