Powerflush

[DenG1]

Sorry you guys must be sick of my questions. From the various quotes Ive had from heating engineers for my new boiler some of them have included a powerflush in the price, one before the new boiler is installed, one afterwards. Two havent mentioned it. One wants to install a Boiler Buddy? one a Magnatech? Do these do the same job, are they a good investment. Would I have to clean them (like I do my washing machine filter) or would a corgi registered person need to do this.

Helppppppppppp again please!

 

[CortinaV8]

Not a Corgi plumber but had a long chat with the plumber while he was powerflushing my heating pipework.

He was telling me there are some cowboys who just circulate the water with the cleaning agent in, takes a couple of hours and its done.

He had a water heater and large magnet in line that removed particles of metal from the system, he must have cleaned the magnet off 8-10 times on my system, it was absolutely filthy. (Circulated the water round each radiator individually, vibrated them, took an entire day)

As for powerflushing after the new boiler has been fitted, I can't see the point in circulating all the crap round a new boiler when thats the exact situation you are trying to avoid.

I also has a Magnaclean Twintec fitted, cleaned it weekly since the system has been fitted (around a month ago) it really does pick up quite a lot of particles of crud that would have otherwise been forced into the heat exhanger etc, for the money its a decent investment.

 

[DenG1]

This is a nightmare!!! It was the British Gas quote who said do the powerflush after. A local HE said he would do it first and be getting on "preparing" for the new installation whilst it was flushing. He said £50 to hire the machine,it would take best part of a day, but he could be doing other stuff for his days money.

 

[CortinaV8]

With the flush he needed to change flow direction every so often, vibrate radiators, open and close valves etc, clean the magnet. Quite time consuming really. He got on with some other work while he was waiting, but not a huge amount.

As for brittish gas, when the guy came round to quote I struggled to contain the laughter at the price.

 

[Kev F]

i do a lot of powerflushing after the new boiler is in basically cos te ones coming out are dead or illegal. best thing to do is powerflush with the new boiler turned off at the flow and return valves, i also fit a magna clean to every system now, dont give the customer a choice, well worth every penny

 

[JohnD]

if the powerflush CAN be done with the old boiler fitted, that is preferable, since it prevents the muck getting into the new boiler.

If the old boiler is still in working order, you could even circulate a mild sludge-loosener like Sentinel X400 for a few weeks prior to the powerflush - ask your installer if it is compatible with what he is going to do - you can add it yourself if you have a simple old system with a feed and expansion tank in the loft. Bale out any mud from it first.

The Magnaclean you can easily empty out yourself, and it is very satisfying

I don't know about the Boilerbuddy.

I am just a householder.

 

[DenG1]

Im not using the old boiler at the moment. The problem was with the heat exchanger leaking. Whereas I had been unaware of a problem until the time came for it to be serviced, where it has been messed around with with 2 local HE's and a British Gas one it has made the leak worse and it was dripping on to the pilot and it wouldnt stay alight. So annoying as I had all the parts but when the old parts were removed the HE found a big rust hole in the combustion box and that couldnt be replaced. So thinking about it I dont see how it can be done before installation. Points noted on the magnaclean - thanks

 

[JohnD]

for my recent powerflush, the installers pulled the old boiler off the wall and attached the flushing machine hoses to the old pipe stubs, so they were able to clean the system before fitting the new boiler. Seemed a good approach to me.

I believe it is more common, with a boiler in place, to take the circulating pump off and connect the flushing machine hoses to the pump valves.

I am just a householder.

 

[DenG1]

But my old one's a back boiler!!

This evening is being spent going over the various quotes. If money was no object I'd probably go with British Gas as they can do it next week - we have the necessary boarding, lighting and fixed ladder in loft, but I think it will be a local HE.

Will probably be back here again with more questions when something goes wrong!

 

[gas4you]

BBU's give probably the dirtiest systems to be cleaned.

I agree with eaton, I always flush with x800 and fit a magnaclean.

A magnaclean, magnatech or boiler buddy are meant to be used after the flush to keep the boiler clean, NOT instead of a flush.

DONT use ayone who does not include a full flush of the system, powerflush or otherwise.

 

[kitch0978]

slight change of subject........if your heat exchanger was leaking it should have been classed as immediatly dangerous there and then and never been used again.....is that what happened?

your post sounds like someone knew it was leaking and then it was left on and you got other engineers to look at it afterwards...?



RGI

 

[muggles]

for my recent powerflush, the installers pulled the old boiler off the wall and attached the flushing machine hoses to the old pipe stubs.

Well that ain't right, powerflushing should be done with hot water, presumably they did yours cold if they pulled the boiler out and latched on there.

I believe it is more common, with a boiler in place, to take the circulating pump off and connect the flushing machine hoses to the pump valves.

Or remove the pump head and use a pump head adapter, which saves disturbing the pump valve sealing washers.

 

[muggles]

I also has a Magnaclean Twintec fitted, cleaned it weekly since the system has been fitted (around a month ago) it really does pick up quite a lot of particles of crud that would have otherwise been forced into the heat exhanger etc, for the money its a decent investment.

You've had to clean it weekly? Properly powerflushed and inhibited, your Magnaclean shouldn't be building up anywhere near that much rubbish. Should be a good 3-6 months, maybe more, before you'd need to clean it out.

 

[DenG1]

your post sounds like someone knew it was leaking and then it was left on and you got other engineers to look at it afterwards...?

Boiler was due its annual service, my usual guy turned up, took off fire front but couldnt remove the thermostat from the heat exchanger, told me it was leaking and he couldnt do the service. He said he should condemn and recommend new boiler but as i was a long standing client and he didnt want to leave me heat and hot waterless he would just put it back together. He checked for gas leaks and when I asked him, he said it wasnt dangerous and the worst that could happen was it would put itself out. He suggested British Gas one off repair would be cheaper than him and off he went. I then asked a local plumber who's just gone self employed to come and do safety checks to make sure there was nothing else British Gas could "get" me on. When BG eventually came out they didnt condemn the boiler, just put a warning on it. But by this stage I couldnt use it any way as what had been a little leak that I had been unaware of was a constant drip and pilot wouldnt stay on - well you did ask

 

[kitch0978]

a leaking heat exchanger is classed as immediately dangerous...! i can`t understand why any gas fitter would not have condemned it....!? anyway at least your on your way to gettin it all sorted...good luck..