Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Power flush of the central heating system

(9 Posts)
shysal Fri 05-Jun-26 09:18:51

British Gas suggested this a couple of years ago. I think it is something they were pushing at the time, as I heard of other customers being told the same. It was not mentioned at the next service.
I had a drop in boiler pressure recently and BG brought in Dyno Plumbing to check for under floor leaks. Fortunately it was a radiator leak above ground, but on chatting to the chap he advised me not to use BG for the flush as they are expensive and don't always do a good job. I took it with a pinch of salt but will bear it in mind.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 05-Jun-26 09:16:59

Thank you everyone. Has put my mind at rest.

Charleygirl5 Fri 05-Jun-26 09:13:43

I had it done when I had a combi boiler installed a couple of years ago, Microbore and very hard water here also. I can't remember the price, but there were no leaks afterwards. I trust the gas engineer who has been looking after my system for years, and he wouldn't recommend unless he thought it was necessary.

The weather was warm because he hasn't learned to close the front door!

J52 Fri 05-Jun-26 09:05:30

Yes we’ve had it done in past houses, with no problems. It does help as there can be a build up of sediment? over a period of years
Our current system was installed new as the old one was inefficient so a power flush is not needed yet.

Jaxjacky Fri 05-Jun-26 08:55:54

Yes, we’ve had it done, as other have said it helps the water flow, no problems afterwards.

Greyduster Fri 05-Jun-26 08:48:45

I had a complete system change in 2022, and the system was power flushed then as part of the installation. I was very nervous about it as we have microbore piping which doesn’t lend itself readily to powerflushing. If your system was installed 40 years ago I doubt your pipes will be microbore so flushing shouldn’t cause any problems but the plumber will advise you. Your system will work better for it. It’s relatively straightforward and shouldn’t take a whole day.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 05-Jun-26 08:47:51

Thank you Tilly. Thats very helpful

TillyTrotter Fri 05-Jun-26 08:43:30

Yes we have.
No leaks, just a better flow of water through the radiators. A product is put in that sluices the sludge that collects in the pipe work.
We have a central heating overhaul every 12 months.
It took about 4 hours (4 bed house) and it isn’t cheap but we have hard water here and it is necessary every few years.
Cost as I remember last time a few hundred pounds.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 05-Jun-26 08:27:42

Anyone had a power flush? Was it successful? Any down sides? Extra leaks?
Was it expensive and did it take a whole day or a few hours?

Just had a new pump fitted and a power flush was recommended. Our central heating system was installed 40 or so years ago. The boiler was replaced 7 years ago and is regulalarly serviced.

We have used the same company for the last 20 years.