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Why? He has already paid for it.
British Gas Homecare - Free Boiler Replacement - Choices
- Thread starter SirLancelot
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Why? He has already paid for it.
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I too am a bit puzzled by the choice of boiler, every replacement I have been involved with is a Worcester.
If the heat engine has burst through the rear and taken out the case, that's the only thing I can think that makes it uneconomical to repair.
If the heat engine has burst through the rear and taken out the case, that's the only thing I can think that makes it uneconomical to repair.
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So this is where we are my friends,
1.The central heating system is old, and the water is rather black. Should I risk a power flush? Are there ways to do a power flush, but with reduced risks for an old system?
2.Which filter would you recommend. I've heard about so many. BG are saying they won't cover the boiler in the future unless we get their (£800) powerflush. They claim it's not just the magnetic particles that are the issue, but scale that can build up in a HE over time. Is there a filter that can also take care of scale+no magnetic debris.
I really appreciate many of you must be busy during the winter period, with Christmas round the corner to boot.
Your advice is really helping me get through this difficult period.
Warmest and Sincere thanks,
SirLancealot.
1.The central heating system is old, and the water is rather black. Should I risk a power flush? Are there ways to do a power flush, but with reduced risks for an old system?
2.Which filter would you recommend. I've heard about so many. BG are saying they won't cover the boiler in the future unless we get their (£800) powerflush. They claim it's not just the magnetic particles that are the issue, but scale that can build up in a HE over time. Is there a filter that can also take care of scale+no magnetic debris.
I really appreciate many of you must be busy during the winter period, with Christmas round the corner to boot.
Your advice is really helping me get through this difficult period.
Warmest and Sincere thanks,
SirLancealot.
You gotta love those caveats 
OP - can you put the full quote up for us - personal info deleted of course.
OP - can you put the full quote up for us - personal info deleted of course.
Guys, I promise I will put up the quote (with personal details omitted). But I am not in for the £800 flush.
Just for now, may we please go with what's in my last post (third one back).
What is clear is that there is debris in the system. I would ideally like to do a powerflush from a third party contractor, preferably from one of the forum members. Are there any third parties, whose work BG have to accept as valid? They are making me believe that only their own PF will reinstate boiler cover after install.
But I need to understand a.the risks of PF for an old system, b.How to reduce the risks for an old system, C. the most productive (and cost realistic) way of protecting the new boiler, given that we're in minus temperatures now. We've a 7 year old son that needs a warm house, and shower!
Again, you know i appreciate your time and energy in helping me.
My sincerest thanks.
Just for now, may we please go with what's in my last post (third one back).
What is clear is that there is debris in the system. I would ideally like to do a powerflush from a third party contractor, preferably from one of the forum members. Are there any third parties, whose work BG have to accept as valid? They are making me believe that only their own PF will reinstate boiler cover after install.
But I need to understand a.the risks of PF for an old system, b.How to reduce the risks for an old system, C. the most productive (and cost realistic) way of protecting the new boiler, given that we're in minus temperatures now. We've a 7 year old son that needs a warm house, and shower!
Again, you know i appreciate your time and energy in helping me.
My sincerest thanks.
The risks of powerflushing are impossible to ascertain over the interweb.
As a company policy we no longer do them and should we think one needed will refer the customer on to a specialist. Partly for our own protection, and partly because it is a horrible job.
BG tried to scare us independents a few years ago by claiming copy write on the term power-flushing and have tried to fleece tens of thousands out of the public especially when tied in with their contracts - which is another thread entirely.
One argument though is that if your system is going to cave in during a powerflush, the nit is shag'ed anyway.
As a company policy we no longer do them and should we think one needed will refer the customer on to a specialist. Partly for our own protection, and partly because it is a horrible job.
BG tried to scare us independents a few years ago by claiming copy write on the term power-flushing and have tried to fleece tens of thousands out of the public especially when tied in with their contracts - which is another thread entirely.
One argument though is that if your system is going to cave in during a powerflush, the nit is shag'ed anyway.
They are saying that. They will only accept their own PF for contract.
But I wonder, where does it say this in the T & C's.
Also, is there anyway around this technicality? Is it something that would stand in court?
I guess this is my point. They find a problem. They fix the problem, but just before they complete it they recommend a powerflush. If you don't take their own PF, as opposed to a third party's, they refuse to continue cover.
It's 'our own PF or else, no future cover'.
I wonder, is this just a hedge. Are there ways around this? I want to do the powerflush, but not from them. Surely there must be a way around this. Can they actually do this and get away with it, or is it just a bluff?
But I wonder, where does it say this in the T & C's.
Also, is there anyway around this technicality? Is it something that would stand in court?
I guess this is my point. They find a problem. They fix the problem, but just before they complete it they recommend a powerflush. If you don't take their own PF, as opposed to a third party's, they refuse to continue cover.
It's 'our own PF or else, no future cover'.
I wonder, is this just a hedge. Are there ways around this? I want to do the powerflush, but not from them. Surely there must be a way around this. Can they actually do this and get away with it, or is it just a bluff?
Since they charge £800 for that and as I only charge £740 to fit most heat only boilers they seem to have adjusted THEIR terms to the point where the free boiler becomes largely irrelevant!
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They can and will "get away with it". I find it strange that you actually think BG would continue covering something that has maybe been flushed by a third party that they have no knowledge of and be happy to keep paying out.
I haven't read the T&C's for some time so can't help you there other than to remind you that they are contractually obliged to repair the first issue deemed to be caused by water quality issues, then they quote you to rectify it and if you don't you are no longer covered for water quality issues only......they will still honour the rest of the contract.
this is not wishing to wind up anyone, but it must be a record! This is in my house where I live.
I moved here in 1975! that is over 37 years ago! There was no Central heating but only gas fires in every room!
In 1976, I had CH installed on the ground floor only with 5 double rads.
Ironically the heat rises so upstairs was not too cold, and never felt the need to take CH to first floor, right till now except one bedroom where I sleep!
For the record, we have only ever had 2 boilers installed so far.
The first boiler was Vaillant VCW sine 18, it served me very well until 1994, that is 16 good years! Then when I had my extension build at the rear, 3 more rads went in, and the sine 18 was then replaced only because it looked old, it had nothing wrong with it, during its life I remember replacing just the diverter valve wax module, and nothing else. it was never serviced and only repaired when minor faults developed as stated above.
The pipe work was never flushed, or filled with any additives or inhibitors! in 1976 CH was relatively new, and there weren't many houses with CH or even Double Galzing that time.
Then as the new extension was build, the old sine looked old, not fitting with modern style, it was too long a boiler, so I decided to upgrade with VCW GB221, that is now 20 years old, and still running trouble free, in its 18 years life, it had its lower heat exchanger skirt replaced, servo valve replaced, differential valve that pops a pin up when you open hot water tap - that was replaced, and the main diverter valve diaphram replaced,
and the DHW plastic HX was replaced with a plated HX about 10 yaers ago, just these few parts! The top primary main heat excahnger is still original, the original pump is still ticking along happily!
Again it was only ever serviced properly whehn its lower heat exchanger skirt went, it is made of a sheet of copper and surrounds the burner.
When this boiler was installed, the pipe work was not flushed, no chemicals or additives were added, and about 2 years ago it started to loose water pressure, the cause was an internally leaky expansion chamber! so without having to take the boiler off the wall, I added an additional expansion vessel that I bought from a scrap boiler merchant for 20 quid! and since last year not a drop of water has been added to the system. No lies what so ever!
That is for the record, so if I got myself a new boiler installed by anyone, I would refuse to buy into adding chemicals, rust inhibitors, and so on, 37 years on, not a single leak on my pipework, or on any radiators, so this is why I find it hard to accept that you must need all this BS power flush and inhibitors, you have to convince me some other way!
what I think must happen is when installers use too much acidic flux, and that is what may be causing these problems, corrosion etc, none of my rads has ever been blocked, or required to be removed to remove any sludge, i am not saying that it hasn't got any sludge, it must have some, but so far in 37 years it has not caused me any problems, this must be a record, and if you like my boiler is probably fit to serve for another 5 or may be even 10 years provided I keep the pro away from it.
sorry but I don't easily buy into things, door to door salesmen come offering me free loft insulation......free..my foot, is there such a thing as free, I just send them packing!
Please don't react adversely, if you don't believe, then! come and have a look for your self!
On top of that, I could show anyone, who challenges me, another installation where the pipe work has never been flushed not even after completing the pipe work, or additives added, Biasi S24 runs like new and never packed up even once except when a mice got into the circuit board some how, and did a piddle on its spark generator and HT tracks were wet, that is when it wouldn't fire up, cleaned that piddle and it was good as new! and that installation is still running like new, not topped up more than once or twice in its 10 years since installed! that is another record!
I think it is the same thing as companies trying to sell their products even if they don't really do sod all, Do you take Multivitamins? why not?
I moved here in 1975! that is over 37 years ago! There was no Central heating but only gas fires in every room!
In 1976, I had CH installed on the ground floor only with 5 double rads.
Ironically the heat rises so upstairs was not too cold, and never felt the need to take CH to first floor, right till now except one bedroom where I sleep!
For the record, we have only ever had 2 boilers installed so far.
The first boiler was Vaillant VCW sine 18, it served me very well until 1994, that is 16 good years! Then when I had my extension build at the rear, 3 more rads went in, and the sine 18 was then replaced only because it looked old, it had nothing wrong with it, during its life I remember replacing just the diverter valve wax module, and nothing else. it was never serviced and only repaired when minor faults developed as stated above.
The pipe work was never flushed, or filled with any additives or inhibitors! in 1976 CH was relatively new, and there weren't many houses with CH or even Double Galzing that time.
Then as the new extension was build, the old sine looked old, not fitting with modern style, it was too long a boiler, so I decided to upgrade with VCW GB221, that is now 20 years old, and still running trouble free, in its 18 years life, it had its lower heat exchanger skirt replaced, servo valve replaced, differential valve that pops a pin up when you open hot water tap - that was replaced, and the main diverter valve diaphram replaced,
and the DHW plastic HX was replaced with a plated HX about 10 yaers ago, just these few parts! The top primary main heat excahnger is still original, the original pump is still ticking along happily!
Again it was only ever serviced properly whehn its lower heat exchanger skirt went, it is made of a sheet of copper and surrounds the burner.
When this boiler was installed, the pipe work was not flushed, no chemicals or additives were added, and about 2 years ago it started to loose water pressure, the cause was an internally leaky expansion chamber! so without having to take the boiler off the wall, I added an additional expansion vessel that I bought from a scrap boiler merchant for 20 quid! and since last year not a drop of water has been added to the system. No lies what so ever!
That is for the record, so if I got myself a new boiler installed by anyone, I would refuse to buy into adding chemicals, rust inhibitors, and so on, 37 years on, not a single leak on my pipework, or on any radiators, so this is why I find it hard to accept that you must need all this BS power flush and inhibitors, you have to convince me some other way!
what I think must happen is when installers use too much acidic flux, and that is what may be causing these problems, corrosion etc, none of my rads has ever been blocked, or required to be removed to remove any sludge, i am not saying that it hasn't got any sludge, it must have some, but so far in 37 years it has not caused me any problems, this must be a record, and if you like my boiler is probably fit to serve for another 5 or may be even 10 years provided I keep the pro away from it.
sorry but I don't easily buy into things, door to door salesmen come offering me free loft insulation......free..my foot, is there such a thing as free, I just send them packing!
Please don't react adversely, if you don't believe, then! come and have a look for your self!
On top of that, I could show anyone, who challenges me, another installation where the pipe work has never been flushed not even after completing the pipe work, or additives added, Biasi S24 runs like new and never packed up even once except when a mice got into the circuit board some how, and did a piddle on its spark generator and HT tracks were wet, that is when it wouldn't fire up, cleaned that piddle and it was good as new! and that installation is still running like new, not topped up more than once or twice in its 10 years since installed! that is another record!
I think it is the same thing as companies trying to sell their products even if they don't really do sod all, Do you take Multivitamins? why not?
Well done mike you have an old boiler
There are thousands of people in a similar situation with old and older boilers still running well.
My mum and dads is 24 years old and hasnt broken down as far as i recall.
Dirty system can and will cause premature wear on components regardless.
There are thousands of people in a similar situation with old and older boilers still running well.
My mum and dads is 24 years old and hasnt broken down as far as i recall.
Dirty system can and will cause premature wear on components regardless.
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