Powerflush Advice

[greenboy5]

I am considering a Powerflush done at my London house - 12 rads. Newly installed Vaillant boiler and Tempest unvented cylinder but radiators are prob +30 years old and at least one has lots of mucky black sludge. (Having said that, only have cold areas in 2/3 of the rads)

My question is - what qualifications do Powerflushers need? Do they need to be GasSafe registered? (wouldnt have thought so, just asking)

Also, what approx cost am I looking at? Dont want to get ripped off..

Thanks a lot.

 

[mickyg]

there's no requirement for any formal qualification to carry out powerflushing but a good knowledge of heating systems and to some extent boilers is necessary so its up to you how to decide if they have that! Most people I know who carry out powerflushing are gas registered heating guys as its all tied into the same type of work.
Personally I'm concerned that someone has installed a brand new boiler and cylinder onto a system that needs powerflushing, how has this happened? its backwards.
Prices vary drastically. BG charge in the region of £800, some specialist compaines I also believe charge similar amounts. However I've seen people doing it for as little as £200 and personally I charge £350 assuming its a straight forward powerflush and no other work is required.
Be aware that old valves may start leaking and there's a small chance rads can also start leaking during or after a powerflush but this is rare.
Whoever you ask to do it, ask them what sort of guarantee they will give if say in a few yrs it turns out its not been very succesful and needs doing again.

 

[greenboy5]

thanks for a great reply - very informative.

 

[The Baker]

I am considering a Powerflush done at my London house - 12 rads. Newly installed Vaillant boiler and Tempest unvented cylinder but radiators are prob +30 years old and at least one has lots of mucky black sludge. (Having said that, only have cold areas in 2/3 of the rads)

My question is - what qualifications do Powerflushers need? Do they need to be GasSafe registered? (wouldnt have thought so, just asking)

Also, what approx cost am I looking at? Dont want to get ripped off..

Thanks a lot.

Have you considered fitting a Magnetic filter in the Heating return pipework which along with adding a proprietry system cleaner?
This could do as good a job and give better value for money over the long term, especially when allowing for the age of the rads.

Tim

 

[Axel]

If it's a sealed system, once a filter is fitted it can be used as an outlet for a mains water flush - assuming the filling loop is on the return and the filter on the flow (not always the case) it is easy to connect a hose to the filter drain and flush each rad in turn by turning the rad valves on one at a time.

 

[looneyfitter]

If it's a sealed system, once a filter is fitted it can be used as an outlet for a mains water flush - assuming the filling loop is on the return and the filter on the flow (not always the case) it is easy to connect a hose to the filter drain and flush each rad in turn by turning the rad valves on one at a time.

ive found combi (mains) flushes are no where as good as a proper flush.

If it is really bad then it is a good idea to allow the sludge remover to work its way round the system for a while with the heating on.

 

[mysteryman]

I agree with looneyfitter on this.

As a guidance for anyone thinking of a new boiler on an old heating system - get it powerflushed BEFORE the new boiler goes in!

 

[kevplumb]

I agree with looneyfitter on this.

As a guidance for anyone thinking of a new boiler on an old heating system - get it powerflushed BEFORE the new boiler goes in!

 

[Axel]

I am thinking of starting a website which tells you which horse you SHOULD have bet on in yesterday's race...

 

[looneyfitter]

I am thinking of starting a website which tells you which horse you SHOULD have bet on in yesterday's race...

I don't get it?

 

[greenboy5]

I agree with looneyfitter on this.

As a guidance for anyone thinking of a new boiler on an old heating system - get it powerflushed BEFORE the new boiler goes in!

Would you mind explaining why (to the ignorant)?

Also, I have got a quote from a company who also suggested fitting a 'MagnaClean filter' for £115+vat - should I take them up on it?

 

[chapeau]

I am considering a Powerflush done at my London house - 12 rads.

You could get 12 modern efficient radiators for (lets say) £600 at screwfix, TRVs for another hundred quid, and fit them yourself. Guaranteed to get rid of the muck inside the radiator, unlike a powerflush which comes with all sorts of small print, and is dependant on the guy doing it being concientious.

If radiators old and don't match modern ones you'd also probably have to get under the floorboards and move the pipes. So another few hundred quid on bits and bobs. That's what I do, room by room, as I decorate. Probably works out not much more than british gas would charge, if you exclude cost of your time.

Or you could hire the powerflush machine yourself at your local hire shop and be certain there is a concientious guy doing it.

Well you asked for advice and it is a DIY site after all.

 

[Axel]

I am thinking of starting a website which tells you which horse you SHOULD have bet on in yesterday's race...

I don't get it?

Duh...the point is that the OP has ALREADY had the boiler fitted. Whilst a powerflush may still be beneficial, now that a new boiler is already fitted to dirty old rads, a long term clean with chemicals followed by a mains flush might well do a good job, and cost a lot less than a power flush.

 

[PRS1]

I would be finding out why the people that fitted the boiler have not done this as it is in the manufacturers installation instructions,so they are possibly affecting the warentee of your nice new boiler.

 

[greenboy5]

long term clean with chemicals followed by a mains flush might well do a good job, and cost a lot less than a power flush.

How do I go about arranging that? Is that a standard service a plumber/heat engineer would offer? (I am not a DIYer myself)

For those of you asking- contractor suggested doing a powerflush, but said it wasn't vital.. didnt mention anything about damaging the boiler..so i chose to wait