New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I worry?

[ShaunCorbs]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Thanks, Scott. I'm a landlord (living about 20 miles away) and can only get there at the weekend as I look after 3 x toddlers each day during the week as my real job. I"m planning to go over this weekend but I thought I would ask as I want to pay the invoice today as the work was finished yesterday.

Good point, though. ; )

When you go take some pics and post them up

 

[bacon_sandwich]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

I haven't been in the flat to check, but he's put a Worcester Magna Filter on his invoice, so I hope so!

Sounds great, when you have it checked / serviced get the guy to top up the inhibitor, he can do it easily using the filter, he will be cleaning the filter anyway (hopefully) so only takes a few seconds.

 

[munchkin19]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Sounds great, when you have it checked / serviced get the guy to top up the inhibitor, he can do it easily using the filter, he will be cleaning the filter anyway (hopefully) so only takes a few seconds.

Thanks, Bacon Sandwich. That's given me the peace of mind I was looking for. I've had the guarantee registration email through from Worcester. I think it's got servicing built in there, so I'll keep a note of the dates and add "top up the inhibitor" into my calendar entry. (Memory is hopeless otherwise - lol.)

You're a diamond!

 

[munchkin19]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Sounds great, when you have it checked / serviced get the guy to top up the inhibitor, he can do it easily using the filter, he will be cleaning the filter anyway (hopefully) so only takes a few seconds.

Thanks, Bacon Sandwich. That's given me the peace of mind I was looking for. I've had the guarantee registration email through from Worcester. I think it's got servicing built in there, so I'll keep a note of the dates and add "top up the inhibitor" into my calendar entry. (Memory is hopeless otherwise - lol.)

You're a diamond!

 

[CHRISX]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Duplicated post - I had edited my post below before I noticed this.

I don`t know how to just delete a post ?

This has happened to me a few times - could anyone let me know how to delete duplicates Please ?

Chris

 

[CHRISX]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Hello munchkin 19, ,

Hopefully the Heating Engineer meant the Powerflushing chemicals - hopefully either Non Acidic because of the age of your system - or including the use of a Neutralising chemical - used before the new Boiler is installed.

And also a System Cleansing chemical and Corrosion Inhibitor chemical which are added after the new Boiler has been installed.

The Powerflushing chemicals should have been used before the new Combi Boiler was installed - while the old Boiler was still in situ.

A System Cleanser chemical should have been used when the system was filled up for the first time after the new Combi was installed - the Heating should then have been operated for a period of time dependant upon the manufacturers instructions and the amount of pipework replaced to install the new Combi - in order to neutralise the soldering flux etc. that was used.

The system should then have been drained down - ideally immediately after the Cleanser has been circulating / while still reasonably Hot.

After the Boiler has been allowed to cool down the system should be `filled and drained` with Mains water and then filled again introducing the Corrosion Inhibitor chemical which protects the Boiler and Radiators fro corrosion.


Powerflushing even an `average sized` Heating system is a time consuming job - often taking a full day for a House system to be completed correctly.


Do You know how long He was at the property ?


If your previous Combi Boiler was 21 years old I wonder whether there was any replacement of the Corrosion Inhibitor since it was installed [perhaps when radiators were replaced or other alterations ?].

Perhaps there was never any Inhibitor added 21 years ago ?


Although there may not be a replacement date on most Corrosion Inhibitors I replace my Home`s Heating system Inhibitor at least every 5 Years after introducing a Cleanser for a few days - I top up the F/E Tank at least yearly to prevent bacterial growth / dilution of the chemical in the tank.


Depending upon whether there was Corrosion Inhibitor protecting the system and the amount of Radiators / more than one floor level at the property a correctly carried out Powerflush would take at least half a day or longer even for someone who was doing it every day.

In the past when I have Powerflushed for example a 3 Bedroom House it has taken me most of a Day - but I would have also removed all of the Radiators to outside and flushed them out with a Mains water hosepipe and `Radiator Hammer` into either a Road Drain Gully or a Manhole.


Many years ago after having a Powerflush done by a Company that `specialised` in that [contracted previously by the Homeowner / Landlord] I found that there was still plenty of `sludge` in the bottom of most of the Radiators.

After that experience I then made a point of checking this on systems that I was working on [mostly new Boiler installations] which had been Powerflushed [contracted out] and I found that on every system there was still `sludge` in some Radiators - not just a couple - probably half the Radiators.

I would then inform the Homeowner / Landlord / Managing Agent and quote for removing, `Flushing out` and refitting the individual Radiators before installing the new Boiler etc. - taking Photos / Video of the sludge coming out of the Radiators to show them that even after Powerflushing there is still sludge left in some Radiators.


Personally I feel that to correctly Flush out a Heating system the Radiators should be removed to outside and flushed out individually - after the `Powerflush` and I have frequently seen the evidence that shows I am correct in that approach.

I am fairly sure that this hardly ever happens.


In my opinion the Powerflush process does not generate enough pressure / flow to `lift` all of the sludge from the bottom of all of the Radiators and circulate it to be drained off - even if the `Radiator Hammer` has been used to disturb / loosen it.

The process probably does move sludge from some of the Radiators - but deposits it in others - hence my previous findings that up to about half of the Radiators in a system still have a significant amount of sludge in them after Powerflushing.


If I was Flushing out systems - depending on what paperwork needed to be produced - I would have identified the Flushing Chemicals used / Manufacturer - or at the very least the Cleanser / Corrosion Inhibitor & dosage.


Chris

 

[munchkin19]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Wow, Chris,

No - bits had been replaced on the boiler during its life (can't remember what exactly), but not the radiators.

The engineer was at the property for a day and a half, and told me on the first day the boiler had been installed and the flush done. He went back on the second day to tidy up the flue outside. It's only a one bedroom flat with only 4 or 5 radiators in total, so I'm hoping he did everything right. The boiler is in now so I suppose only time will tell. I found the guy on the Worcester Bosch site when I put in my flat's postcode - haven't used him before. Plus, I couldn't be there as I'm a childminder and have children with me all week (then I've got my own two coming in from school).

I was in a flap and had to get the work done quickly as the boiler died, the tenants were rightly doing their nut with no heating in January, and it took me a week of trying to get permission from the management company at the flat (then getting it refused) for an external condensate pipe to be fitted.

The guy in the flat downstairs is a Director and was kicking up a fuss about any internal installation, insisting the pump should be completely inaudible from anywhere outside the flat (therefore in his flat downstairs). So I went with a Worcester Bosch engineer so that I could show I'd done everything in my power to ensure it had been installed by an expert. (Even though the initial guy that was going to do the job does work for my estate agent and is their trusted guy who I would much rather have used. Plus he would have been a grand cheaper.)

I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best. Apparently, it's got a 10 year guarantee (which I'm waiting on coming through), so hopefully I'm OK.

Maybe when this tenant moves out, I'll get it powerflushed to be on the safe side. If you're anywhere near North London, maybe drop me a PM. Thanks again. Sounds like you do an amazing job.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, though. I really appreciate it.

 

[CHRISX]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Wow, Chris,

No - bits had been replaced on the boiler during its life (can't remember what exactly), but not the radiators.

The engineer was at the property for a day and a half, and told me on the first day the boiler had been installed and the flush done. He went back on the second day to tidy up the flue outside. It's only a one bedroom flat with only 4 or 5 radiators in total, so I'm hoping he did everything right. The boiler is in now so I suppose only time will tell. I found the guy on the Worcester Bosch site when I put in my flat's postcode - haven't used him before. Plus, I couldn't be there as I'm a childminder and have children with me all week (then I've got my own two coming in from school).

I was in a flap and had to get the work done quickly as the boiler died, the tenants were rightly doing their nut with no heating in January, and it took me a week of trying to get permission from the management company at the flat (then getting it refused) for an external condensate pipe to be fitted.

The guy in the flat downstairs is a Director and was kicking up a fuss about any internal installation, insisting the pump should be completely inaudible from anywhere outside the flat (therefore in his flat downstairs). So I went with a Worcester Bosch engineer so that I could show I'd done everything in my power to ensure it had been installed by an expert. (Even though the initial guy that was going to do the job does work for my estate agent and is their trusted guy who I would much rather have used. Plus he would have been a grand cheaper.)

I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best. Apparently, it's got a 10 year guarantee (which I'm waiting on coming through), so hopefully I'm OK.

Maybe when this tenant moves out, I'll get it powerflushed to be on the safe side. If you're anywhere near North London, maybe drop me a PM. Thanks again. Sounds like you do an amazing job.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, though. I really appreciate it.

Hello again munchkin,

Hopefully He carried out the Powerflush BEFORE installing the new Combi Boiler !


Regarding the 10 year guarantee:


Please read the `Terms & Conditions` regarding the 10 year guarantee very carefully.

You must make sure that you have got the Benchmark booklet / document filled out to prove that the Boiler was Installed & Commissioned correctly by a Worcester Engineer / Gas Safe Engineer.

The Benchmark booklet / document comes with the Boiler and must have the Commissioning details correctly filled in and the Installers details in order to comply with the Building Regulations and Manufacturers warranty terms & conditions.

The Boiler installation must also be notified to Gas Safe by the Installer - Gas Safe will in turn notify the local Authority Building Control department and also You [as the owner] that it has been installed adhering to the Building Regulations and the Gas regulations.

You must also have the Boiler serviced every year to keep that in place - and you MUST ensure that you get an Invoice which details the fact that the service has been done by a Gas Safe / Worcester Engineer.

Having Worcester Bosch Engineers carrying out the service every year would be advisable as you would have irrefutable proof / a record at Worcester that You have kept to the terms of the Guarantee.

When I described what I used to do when Powerflushing a Heating system that was quite a while ago when I had access to the Powerflushing Pump / equipment via a friend who bought the equipment - I borrowed it a few times but then decided to pay Him to do any system flushing that I needed done - getting `Mates rates` because I used to also give Him some work / work with Him on some jobs.

I don`t have access to borrow that Flushing equipment now and my days of installing Central Heating / Boilers are finished due to `Age & Injuries` - so I would not be able to help you in the future with a Powerflush / Radiator removal etc.

Chris

 

[CHRISX]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Duplicated Post removed

Chris

 

[hammers4spanner]

Re: New boiler: "Inserted necessary chemicals" - is that a Powerflush or should I wor

Inserted chemicals means to me he has wee'd into the filter.