Corgi/ Gas Safe Plumbers

[jase158]

Hi I am looking to start a powerflush company, my question is, Would any Gas safe registered plumber's be willing to recommend powerflush companies to there customers before a new boiler is installed or are you happy to do the work yourselves.

If you were to recommend a company to the customer, how much would be a reasonable commision for each job?

How often do you recommend, is it only when the system is really dirty or is it at every installation?

I am not selling Powerflushes here, (although any new custom in the buckinghamshire area would be greatly appreciated) but i am simply wanting to know if it is worth while to start advertising to gas safe plumbers or if it is a complete waste of time

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

every installation or boiler warranty is void

you will find most do it them selves

 

[jase158]

thanks plumbstar tom. but just because the warranty is void, doesnt neccessarily mean that everyone does it everytime?
Also there are other methods, like putting cleaner in the system?

 

[gassafe]

i think alot of plumbers dont like powerflushing so there is a market there.
After spending so much on the machine however i will be using mine when its needed myself, I only use mine for boiler changes really.

 

[Dannypipe]

Warrant isn't void if you haven't powerflushed. You can chemical flush a system, and it will be enough. Someone told me you can even just flush with water (put H20 on the benchmark book) and it is still classed as cleaned.

There is a BS number to abide by....but not everyone powerflushes, as it's not always needed.

 

[jase158]

Do you always check to see if all the radiators are working before you fit a new boiler or do you just give them a wash no matter what?
How much of a clean does the manufacturer reccomend. Is it just clean water in the system or is there stricter guidelines?

 

[franky]

I always powerflush before I put in a new boiler just tell the customer thats its the best thing to do. Theres a new thing coming out on the market though the magnacleanse that might wipe out powerflushing companies. There only £350 to buy and you just put it on to the system after you put on a boiler and that way you can use the new pump instead of the machine. Sorry to be negative but if it takes off it might knock a large chuck of your business away.

 

[ocentric]

I only chemical flush at best. Nothing in the MI says a powerflush is obligatory. However, if I was going to do a powerflush I'd try pflush.com - they advertise in the GSR mag and pay £50 for a referral....

 

[Alpha man]

I leave and recomend "powerflush" themselves, every job they get that I recomend - they send me a £50 cheque!!

 

[oldplumber]

id do the powerflush myself and earn £250

 

[jase158]

I leave and recomend "powerflush" themselves, every job they get that I recomend - they send me a £50 cheque!!

So you would recommend me if i was to give you a £50 cheque?
or is there more to it?

 

[jase158]

id do the powerflush myself and earn £250

Do all/ most plumbers have a powerflush machine though?

 

[oldplumber]

no, coz theres more money in it for me to do the job myself, why would i reccomend someone else, after all Im out there to earn money not give it away. additionally if it goes wrong and ive reccommended you or someone else Ive lost a customer, if it goes wrong and i can sort it all out, then chances are Ill keep the custard, coz I can really be smarmy if it involves cash and earnings.

 

[oldplumber]

if i need a powerflush I hire it for £30 & charge it out for £70 all goes towards earning a living

 

[jase158]

if i need a powerflush I hire it for £30 & charge it out for £70 all goes towards earning a living

ok, don't know where you are getting it for £30 a time,

 

[Alpha man]

So you would recommend me if i was to give you a £50 cheque?
or is there more to it?

You if you were local, and guaranteed to clean the system satisfactory and not to poach my customers afterward, then yep - I would!

 

[oldplumber]

from a hire shop

 

[Blackcatgas]

Warrant isn't void if you haven't powerflushed. You can chemical flush a system, and it will be enough. Someone told me you can even just flush with water (put H20 on the benchmark book) and it is still classed as cleaned.

There is a BS number to abide by....but not everyone powerflushes, as it's not always needed.

The water has to be within 10% of the water from the taps, tested with a tds meter, (Worcester stipulate this).

 

[oldplumber]

Another reason to avoid worcesters in my very humble opinion, they are trying to find new reasons not to warranty their boilers

 

[Blackcatgas]

Another reason to avoid worcesters in my very humble opinion, they are trying to find new reasons not to warranty their boilers

Yes correct, but will other manufacturers pull this one out of the bag if they are faced with a re occuring problem on thier boilers rather than a national recall/modification program.

 

[oldplumber]

only if they have to pay for major tv ad runs and not rely on their reputation for selling their products

 

[tamz]

It is not necessary to powerflush when doing a boiler swap just chemical flush. See BS7593 if you are thinking of doing this for a living you should know the standards.
I only recommend it if it really needs doing because i hate doing it but i do fit a filter to every job, either Magnaclean or Magnabooster. Of course i check if all the rads heat before i start but even if they don't and i didn't do a powerflush they would all be working when i left.
Even though i hate doing it, as i have my own machine i am not going to sub it out or pass the work to someone else. Why would i? I don't see the point in it. I think most who have their own machine would be the same. There is also the point oldplumber made about anything that went wrong after my recommendation. No thanks.

No doubt there is a market for powerflush companies who offer commission. Just not from me.

 

[Blackcatgas]

It is not necessary to powerflush when doing a boiler swap just chemical flush. See BS7593 if you are thinking of doing this for a living you should know the standards.
I only recommend it if it really needs doing because i hate doing it but i do fit a filter to every job, either Magnaclean or Magnabooster. Of course i check if all the rads heat before i start but even if they don't and i didn't do a powerflush they would all be working when i left.
Even though i hate doing it, as i have my own machine i am not going to sub it out or pass the work to someone else. Why would i? I don't see the point in it. I think most who have their own machine would be the same. There is also the point oldplumber made about anything that went wrong after my recommendation. No thanks.

No doubt there is a market for powerflush companies who offer commission. Just not from me.

I dont know if that was aimed at me Tamz, You can flush all you want to BS7593 but if after youve done that the water when tested by a TDS meter isnt within 10% of the water coming out of the tap and youve got a claim for a new flow switch for argumens sake on a new install WB or a few other manufacturers that I know of will test the water and say "its not clean enough as stipulated in our terms of garentee" your on your own.
Ive not yet had this situation arise but know people that have.

I power flush with a machine until the water is clean, Ive never usd a TDS meter, and Iam not sure if it is even realisticly possible to get the system water to within 10% of what comes out the tap and or wether it will still be within 10% when tested 2 wks etc later when the system has been in use.

 

[Dannypipe]

Will the water be 10% of tap water after 2 weeks even with a powerflush? Will it be 10% after 2 years, when the standard boiler warranty is just about to expire?

I'm not a gambling man, but my money would be on no in both cases.

If you chemically clean the system, and fit a filter, then I think you have satisfied your obligations as a reputable installer.

If my clients insist on a powerflusher or the system really needs it, then I will hire a machine.

Be interested to hear about this £300 gizmo.

 

[moogwai]

i run a powerflush company in birmingham....i give every engineer £50 for every powerflush they give me....and the main thing is...never never bite the hand that feeds you,if something else is needed to be done in the house i powerflush i always tell the owner to ask the engineer first and if he can't do it then ring me.
and pflush.com charge way way over the odds!!!