Central Heating Power Flush

[mikesnr1]

My girlfriend has a Worcester Bosch Boiler Greenstar 24 Junior, to heat her CH system.

She recently had a quote for a new Bosch boiler, including a hot water cylinder = £2500.

She had a power flush 5 years ago: the plumber suggests another power flush = £500.


Questions: Does her system NEED another power flush?
Is the quote reasonable?

Many thanks

[douglas9401]

A friend who has a plumbers merchant business reckon not really and at last count suggested a clear profit of over £400 on that £500 bill.

No and no.

[Buenchico]

From a firm that only sells radiators, etc (and therefore ought to know a thing or two about them) but doesn't offer plumbing services (and therefore has no vested interest in getting customers to have the job done at very frequent intervals):

"If you want to keep your system in tip-top shape then power flushing every 5 to 6 years is a good idea.

Still, you should be able to get away with power-flushing your radiators every 8 to 10 years depending on the quality of the materials used in your system."

Source:
https://www.onlyradiators.co.uk/blog/heating-essentials/how-often-should-you-power-flush-central-heating

As a read that, the plumber isn't telling porkies just to get some extra work but the job's not actually essential at the moment.

[bhg481]

I put rust inhibitor in my central heating system - Fernox-1B. Just tip a 5 litre bottle into the header tank every 7 or 8 years and in 40 years I've never needed to even bleed the system let alone do a power-flush.

[davebro]

Combi boilers don't generally have header tanks do they?

Never flushed mine since the new boiler was installed in 1996 (and I don't think it was flushed then). No obvious problems.

[bhg481]

dave - I know nothing about combi-boilers, I have the conventional system with 2 header tanks, one for CH and one for hot water.

[davebro]

the OP's boiler is a combi

[davebro]

don't understand where a hot water cylinder comes in though

[davebro]

//She had a power flush 5 years ago//

Yeah - but what about the central heating system? lol

[ZebuSanctuary]

mikesnr1

Combi boilers do away with the need for a hot water cylinder.

Ensure your girlfriend is making the right decision when replacing her boiler. Since going back to a 'system' type boiler, would require finding room to house the (large and cumbersome) cylinder.

[mikesnr1]

Thanks to ALL for your helpful comments.

I will check the situation with girlfriend; suspect she may be misunderstanding, or is a shade misled, concerning hot water cylinder. Meanwhile, following the majority view, I'll suggest the next power flush in 3-5 years hence - at more reasonable price!

Again, Many thanks...

[goodgoalie]

How old is the boiler? I recently had a Worcester Greenstar boiler fitted and it is a combi, so does not need a hot water cylinder - are you sure she has one with her present boiler?

[mikesnr1]

I'm long distance from the lady, but I have seen the boiler; it IS a combi, I believe, so as you say, she doesn't need a hot water cylinder! May be a bit of sharp practice here..?