No flush before new boiler

[Tcq889]

Hi all,

Homeowner here and would be really grateful of any feedback. I've had a new combi boiler installed into a 25y/o house yesterday.

Now the boilers intermittently v loud and intermittently not giving hot for a little while. Signs it seems (tho not a professional) of the system being dirty and clogging the heat exchange / pump of our brand spanking new boiler?

The water's also v black on the radiators.

The installer has said they only did a "system flush" and want to sell me an additional power flush.

Would you guys consider this unreasonable or do I need to bite the bullet for being naive and not delving into fine print?

 

[Scott_D]

What was in the Quote?
Is there a system filter?

 

[Knappers]

For me on an install I usually advise a powerflush but unless there is a clear issue I would likely just do a chemical flush.
Just draining system does not constitute a system flush.
Check your benchmark certificate in back of manual and see what system cleaner is listed, if none is listed (or not filled in) then I'd say you've got a good case against installer if the installation instructions state that system MUST be flushed.

Did they install a magnetic filter in the system?

 

[Tcq889]

Hi scott_d the quote included "system flush" and included a magnetic filter (which is fitted)

*edit Thanks Knappers. I've got the boiler manual with details about flue type and gas pressure etc. but not a benchmark certificate - should there always be one of these?

 

[Knappers]

The best job would include testing the water or include a powerflush anyway. For me with a straight swap its not practical as quotes would always come out too expensive and I'd not get any work.

 

[Knappers]

Hi scott_d the quote included "system flush" and included a magnetic filter (which is fitted)

*edit Thanks Knappers. I've got the boiler manual with details about flue type and gas pressure etc. but not a benchmark certificate - should there always be one of these?

In back of installation manual (usually last page)

 

[Tcq889]

In back of installation manual (usually last page)

Cheers found it - says

"Yes"
brand is blank
product "x800"
and inhibitor "x300"

Rads were only hot for about 30 mins until they finished and not all valves were turned to on.

Could they have actually done a proper job but I should've specified a more in depth clean?

 

[SJB060685]

If the system water is black that is a serious sign of system fouling. A cold flush probably won't be enough and a powerflush would be advised.

 

[Tcq889]

If the system water is black that is a serious sign of system fouling. A cold flush probably won't be enough and a powerflush would be advised.

Cheers all. Looks like I just need to dig into my pockets (I've short arms!)

 

[Knappers]

If they did a flush and fitted a filter and it's blocked up anyway then it may just be that it really needed a powerflush.
Expect £400-£500 and take solice in the fact that the guy that would have tested water and flushed automatically would likely have cost extra £800 on original install.

 

[SJB060685]

Cheers all. Looks like I just need to dig into my pockets (I've short arms!)

The installing engineer should have taken this into consideration. Magnetite or iron oxide appear because of a couple reasons.
Was the system originally open vented? Did you have air problems prior to the swap

 

[Knappers]

X800 is a good flushing chemical, no way to know if any mistakes were made.
Sometimes it's just one of those things.
If it were my install then I'd probably give a favorable quote for the powerflush.

 

[Ric2013]

Cheers found it - says

"Yes"
brand is blank
product "x800"
and inhibitor "x300"

Rads were only hot for about 30 mins until they finished and not all valves were turned to on.

Could they have actually done a proper job but I should've specified a more in depth clean?

X800 and X300 sound like Sentinel which seems to be a quality brand. But X300 is not an inhibitor.

X800 is a fast-acting flush chemical for old systems and was probably the correct product. X300, however, is a new system cleanser designed to remove grease, flux, and copper filings and should be removed within 24 hours. Then the system should be drained and filled with an inhibitor (e.g. X100).

Is the guy a surgeon by trade who just does a bit of plumbing in his spare time, or just incapable of reading and following basic instructions? At this point I'd be calling Gas-Safe and saying you have safety concerns about your new system as I'd like to know what else he's got up to!

 

[king of pipes]

If dirt gets in the new boiler it can cause alot of problems and your warranty will be effected, a twenty five year old system will be choked will magnatite and it would take alot to remove, it needs doing before even thinking about fitting a new boiler in reality this doesn't happen engineers do the swap in a day or two this is just not enough time to carry out the nessesary work involved to do it properly the cleaning alone is a good days work flushing reapeatly to remove clean chemical s and dirt a magna cleanse has made this job alot easier but it's not a way to cut corners the better you clean the system the more efficient it will be. Kop

 

[Ric2013]

You flushed with the NEW boiler fitted or the old one?

 

[king of pipes]

Two different jobs Ric one a existing alpha boiler kept locking out on high temperature so a alpha mag pro was installed it was chemically cleaned with the magna cleanse fitted , flushed the system that sorted it .

The Viessmann 222 upgrade the system was Hot flushed , a mains cold flush before removing the old boiler then chemically cleaned with the magna cleanse flushed and inhibitor added. No short cut here bud 😂. Kop

 

[SJB060685]

No short cut here bud 😂.

I agree. Flushing is no job to cut corners on. It has to be done with the right chemicals and thoroughly.