Central Heating Prob
- Thread starter TitanTim
- Start date
Hope you get it sorted, with central heating it can be so many things, had to replace the diverter valve actuator last winter 
sex problems are easily solved by a little blue pill
PerryGunn said:They all get posted in the Agony Aunts (Caz & Sars) section...TitanTim said:I guess utility problems has to be better than $ex probs:? :lol:
sex problems are easily solved by a little blue pill
TitanTim said:Thanks everyone for your replies much appreciated.
Yes it was the pump and now replaced and all goodThe fitter tried freeing it first but it wouldn't budge so time to replace. I asked about having a system flush but he said it's quite pricey. Anyways when he removed the pump it was pretty sludgy in the pipework so think I will get it done. The fitter did say though if I had a new boiler it would include flushing the system anyways (hint hint sales patter) so might consider this as been thinking of replacing the boiler next year anyways. Current boiler is 14 years old and been pretty good but would like something a bit more energy efficient.
Are today's boilers that more efficient. I would be looking at a non combi and non condensing if possible.
It was pure coincidence that my heating packed up with the outside gas leak
Tim.
Glad you fixed it.
In terms of flushing - I wouldn't waste your money. Can cost £500 to do which I'd put towards a new boiler when in general they do it as a part of the job. Just been through the whole thing with my aged parents and had all their system replaced yesterday/today.
As far as I'm aware all boilers are now condensing. Replaced mine a few years ago with a decent condenser boiler and made a massive difference compared to a 20 year old Potterton. Coupled to Wi-Fi controlled rad valves that heat each room when needed and smart 'Hive' system controlling the system, I'm using less than 50% of the gas I was before.
cj10jeeper said:TitanTim said:Thanks everyone for your replies much appreciated.
Yes it was the pump and now replaced and all good
Are today's boilers that more efficient. I would be looking at a non combi and non condensing if possible.
It was pure coincidence that my heating packed up with the outside gas leak
Tim.
Glad you fixed it.
In terms of flushing - I wouldn't waste your money. Can cost £500 to do which I'd put towards a new boiler when in general they do it as a part of the job. Just been through the whole thing with my aged parents and had all their system replaced yesterday/today.
As far as I'm aware all boilers are now condensing. Replaced mine a few years ago with a decent condenser boiler and made a massive difference compared to a 20 year old Potterton. Coupled to Wi-Fi controlled rad valves that heat each room when needed and smart 'Hive' system controlling the system, I'm using less than 50% of the gas I was before.
Thanks jeeper, the British Gas guy said it would be around 500 quid for a power flush but as they're doing 400 quid scrappage on your old boiler and they flush the system as part of fitting a new boiler it would kinda make sense to change the boiler. Anyways arranged for one of their advisors to pop round next week and give me a quote so will see how painful it will be :?
Tim.
By the seaside...
Don't use BG whatever you do. Just been through the whole process and they wanted £4K for the boiler. Gave me all tha scrappage sh*t too.
High end local installer that fitted mine did my did the entire job for <£2k.
High end local installer that fitted mine did my did the entire job for <£2k.
cj10jeeper said:
Thanks jeeper, I've just used their online boiler cost calculator and it comes out at £2,870 - £2,960 inc VAT and fitting, doesn't say though if that includes the 400 cash back or not, if not then around £2500 I guess. I guess depends on size of the house, number of radiators etc, as mines a 2 bed bungalow I don't expect it to be 4k. The home visit and quote is free so will see what they come up with.
To be honest I've used BG for years, they fitted my current boiler and whilst they're probably not the cheapest around I've never really had any problems with their standard of work. I'm quite nervous using a private plumber to be honest, probably why I have the BG homecare for central heating and electrics. I just find with private plumbers they're forever too busy and like today I booked a BG engineer online last night and he turned up at 2pm today and job done in 30 mins.
Tim.
I understand and didn't use an individual plumber but a large local specialist gas hearing company (butco, Sutton Coldfield) Believe me I have a decent sized and nice house and would not have a 1 man band causing me stress...
Figures I quoted were parents large detached bungalow. I'd expect smaller to be cheaper. Purely for boiler size.
Figures I quoted were parents large detached bungalow. I'd expect smaller to be cheaper. Purely for boiler size.
cj10jeeper said:
To be honest I'm a little unsure what to do, current boiler is a 14 year old Gloworm and has been pretty reliable but just fancy something more efficient, however reading up on condenser boilers whilst being more efficient their lifespan and reliability seem iffy and can be uneconomic to repair. I'm almost of the thinking if it aint broke don't fix. Think I will definitely need the heating system power flushed through as I didn't realise it was sludged up so much when the guy removed the old pump.
Tim.
DumfriesDik said:
I should get a job in IT...
I wish I had been less hasty at the time before ordering a new circulation pump and tried the basics first, national grid eventually knocked on the door some time later advising of the low pressure fault and offering to reset boilers for people
Would recommend a sludge/magnetite filter on the return to the boiler to keep it in good condition; cleared up my sludge when combined with flushing and generous use of sentinel products.
@ Tim: I use BG for the same reasons Tim, and funnily enough they fitted my last boiler. I would consider updating the system to include the Hive stuff one day.
@ Adam: The only thing better than turn off/on is put paper in the printer!
@ Adam: The only thing better than turn off/on is put paper in the printer!
Tim
You have to do what you're comfortable with and you can make the case to keep or replace.
I'm running a large 5 bed house and family who try to roast me. Boiler and later fitting Hive and wifi rad stats. cost around £3k
I'm saving £500+ per annum which will increase with gas. Payback in c5 years and boiler has a 5 year warranty. No-brainer for me.
I wouldn't waste money on flushing and supporting what is now very obsolete equipment
You have to do what you're comfortable with and you can make the case to keep or replace.
I'm running a large 5 bed house and family who try to roast me. Boiler and later fitting Hive and wifi rad stats. cost around £3k
I'm saving £500+ per annum which will increase with gas. Payback in c5 years and boiler has a 5 year warranty. No-brainer for me.
I wouldn't waste money on flushing and supporting what is now very obsolete equipment
cj10jeeper said:
I've cancelled the BG apointment with the heating advisor lol, after doing some Googling it seems their prices for boiler supply and fit is quite extortionate so will pass on that one.
I've been recommended a local Gas heating specialist so will contact them and ask to get a powerflush done and look at getting a filter fitted, magnafow or something similar, if anything a powerflush should help the life of the pump etc. While their doing that I can discuss replacing the boiler and ask them for a quote.
I was slightly cheesed off with BG as the guy who fitted the pump he put on the work completed form, boiler checked, 14 years old, seviceable parts unavailable. This I now know is a standard ploy used to temp the customer into considering a new boiler :x
Tim.
OK Tim- delighted you're getting an indy to take a look as an alternative. BG annoy me that they overprice based on this perceived brand and are actually just ripping off people for the same spec or less than a decent specialist will do and often for huge savings.
The only thing I would still recommend is that you ask him to quote on the best way forward not just book this powerflush to save a pump. You can get and fit a pump fro £100 and in 15 minutes yourself (close both taps and undo 2 nuts), so why spend £00's to protect it.
The only thing I would still recommend is that you ask him to quote on the best way forward not just book this powerflush to save a pump. You can get and fit a pump fro £100 and in 15 minutes yourself (close both taps and undo 2 nuts), so why spend £00's to protect it.