many thanks for the information

Hi Kevvy,

In November 2007, I was then a landlord and used the same Corgi Engineer every year for boiler servicing and a safety certificate.

At that time, he did a power flush, replaced a pump in the boiler and put in an outside drain valve.

The price came to £350 labour plus the cost of the pump, for the whole job. Shouldn't be much more this year.

Motorsed rad valves are available from £30 to £50, and the standard valves for about £6 to £8 a pair at Plumbers merchants. No need to pay any more than that for parts. You can buy at the trade counters yourself, as a pensioner you probably don't have money to waste on BG's or other firms profits. Good Luck

Hi Kevvy,

BG are notoriously expensive when it comes to getting stuff repaired or installed. My Mum & Dad needed a new boiler last year, BG quoted them £4000+. My dad bought the boiler from a supplier and had a corgi engineer fit it, and the total came to around £1500. Do NOT trust em, BG are rip off merchants when it comes to pretty much everything.

I have an independant gas engineer calling next week interesting to see how much he will quote

British Gas are u bunch of crooks i took out the homecare plan and was told by the engineer the boiler needed changing as it was not big enough for the property, funny thing is they had fitted it themselfs 2 years previous for the old owner!!

alright kevvy i am a gas engineer and you have been well over quoted, the 2 motorised valves will cost about £104 each the radiator valves are around £15 a set and the flush is around £350 so altogether its around £700 maximum

conmankiller thank you for your replyI think BG are ripping people off.

kevvy -- Just so you have an idea for comparison reasons only, this firm below only charges £350 for the most expensive deluxe power flush and they will probably substantially be beaten on price by an engineer who lives in your locality. !

http://www.taps-uk.co.uk/

Unfortunately when the new bolier was fitted we only had a chemical flush. BG said a chemical flush is not good enough

Thanks for your reply

Thank you I am beginning to doubt all they have told me. They must make a massive profit from this job.

We had a power flush 2 years ago, not done by British Gas. I can't remember how much. Nothing like your being quoted. Shop around. Anyway, you probably had a power flush whenyou had your new boiler fitted. Can't believe you need another. Good luck.

I had the same advise from a BG engineer when they came out, I double checked with another engineer and it turned out that all my system needed was to be balanced.

I have since established that BG engineers get a commision on selling this product !!!!

I wonder why they seem to suggest this remidy !!!!!!

Thank you for your reply . I will certaily do whatyou have suggested.

kevvy -- Get some quotes from reputable local heating engineers who will provide an itemised certificate as proof the work has been carried out, which will enable your homecare contract to continue.

A power flush and replacement valves should not cost you more than half the price you are being quoted by BG, at the very most. !

My central heating system is 25 years old but 3 years ago I had a new boiler. The engineer (corgi Registered) installed the boiler and did a chemical flush. Until recently system was fine. I have homecare insurance with the gas board and called them out recently as my boiler had gone out. I was told by British gas that I urgently needed a power flush at the cost of £1220 this would include putting twin valves on 5 of the 11 radiators and changing the two motorized valves.They told me that until I have this power flush my homecare insurace is invalid.

We are pensioners and this seems exessive and does it really need this power flush.

Any comments I would be grateful for