Powerflush
A Powerflush (or power flush) is an efficient way of removing the sludge and dirt that build up inside your central heating system over time. Without a Powerflush you could see a gradual reduction in efficiency of your boiler system as this sludge coats the internal piping and reduces circulating efficiency.
Most central heating systems develop this sludge over time, there will be more in 
older systems. You do not want to replace and update your boiler with the latest model without commissioning a Powerflush first. As the sludge and general dirt are disturbed in the new installation it will find its way into your new boiler and reduce its effectiveness or life span.
The following are some of the problems that could be avoided with a Powerflush as it removes the Magnetite sludge from your system : -
- Cold Radiators
- Boiler Deposits
- Heating Pump circulation problems
- Pipe Blockages
- Internal Corrosion
- System blockages
- Noisy systems
As a result the benefits of a professionally delivered Powerflush could be :-
- Increased pump life as your central heating pump handles clear water instead of sludge
- Curing radiator cold spots so that the full surface of the radiator heats your room
- Improved central heating system efficiency so reducing fuel costs in future years.
- Clearing the boiler heat exchanger to stop banging noises (kettling) and prolonging the boiler life
- Reduces Hydrogen gas build up which can lead to radiator corrosion and reduced heat output
- Clearing your system of contaminated water which could lead to internal heating system corrosion.
A Powerflush machine is used to complete the task. It is connected to your system and the central heating water is routed through the machine where it filters out the contaminants. The Powerflush literally flushes the new liquid through your central heating system. Once the task is completed the Engineer should refill your central heating system adding a corrosion inhibiter to prolong its operating life.
A Powerflush needs to be performed by trained engineers and there will be no mess or complicated installations. The Powerflush machine connects to your existing piping enabling the task to be completed rapidly, it can then be de-coupled leaving your heating system as it was, minus the sludge.
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What is the cost of a powerflush?
I’ve had two quotations, one for £329 and the other for £400. Both include VAT.
A PowerFlush is classed as an upgrade to a Central Heating System and will therefore need a engineer to visit and provide a no obligation quotation. The cost depends upon the ease of access to the system and radiators and the amount of time personnel will need to be at your premises. If you want to telephone British Gas Home Services (0808 178 2098) they will be happy to arrange for an a engineer to visit and provide a no obligation quotation to you.
Should this “power flush” be part of the maintenance package I am paying for?
I have never been offered this service…..yet it seems a logicial service to include in the package………
A Powerflush is a labour intensive and hence costly operation. If it were included in the maintenance plan that you have the monthly cost of the plan would need to increase to cover these costs. For that reason it is excluded but available separately if required.
Hello,
I need to change my boiler but i also (urgently) need more pressure in my shower. Can a combi boiler increase the pressure as well without a separate pump? If yes, whhich one?
Thank you very much in advance for your advice
Kind regards,
Isabelle
A combi boiler cannot be installed with a power shower (pumped shower). The reason is that combi boilers produce hot water on demand and have no ( or a very small) hot water reserve and the hot water demand from the pump would be more than the boiler could provide.
It is rare to need a pump with a combi boiler as a combi boiler produces hot water at the same water pressure as your cold water supply
We currently have a (very old) Main Mersey gas water heater and a seperate 15 year old central heating boiler. We are looking to replace the two - would this be more expensive than a simple replacement of one boiler? Plus if you have a new boiler installed (but not radiators etc) is it likely that floors etc would need to be lifted for the pipework?
You can still get multi point water heaters and gas central heating boilers separate but a combi boiler will do the job of both of them quite easily and you will get a much better flow rate through your taps.
It is impossible to advise re the price or pipes being altered as that would need a survey to check where the pipes go etc…
British Gas are able to send a heating advisor to your home to review the installation requirements and help to select the right boiler for your home. This visit is free with no-obligations on your part and will also enable an accurate quotation to be developed for a new boiler.