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Question on Boiler Flushing

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  • 18-11-2013 11:28am
    #1
    Teyla Emmagan
    Registered Users Posts: 5,641 ✭✭✭


    My boiler is due a service, and I was told earlier in the year that the system was full of sludge and should also be flushed. The plumber at the time told me that would cost 600 euro, which is what the Bord Gais website says.

    There's a deal today for a service and a boiler flush with the latter being an add on at an extra €68. Does this sound like a complete con?

    Any thoughts?


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    #2
    Dtp1979
    Registered Users Posts: 12,734 ✭✭✭✭Dtp1979


    Teyla Emmagan wrote: »
    My boiler is due a service, and I was told earlier in the year that the system was full of sludge and should also be flushed. The plumber at the time told me that would cost 600 euro, which is what the Bord Gais website says.

    There's a deal today for a service and a boiler flush with the latter being an add on at an extra €68. Does this sound like a complete con?

    Any thoughts?

    It really depends on how big your system is. How many rads?
    What part of the country are you based?


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    #3
    Teyla Emmagan
    Registered Users Posts: 5,641 ✭✭✭Teyla Emmagan


    Dtp1979 wrote: »
    It really depends on how big your system is. How many rads?
    What part of the country are you based?

    Dublin. I have 5 big radiators and 3 little ones.

    It just sounds too cheap to me i.e. that it would end up being a waste of money.

    Thanks for replying.


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    #4
    Dtp1979
    Registered Users Posts: 12,734 ✭✭✭✭Dtp1979


    Teyla Emmagan wrote: »
    Dublin. I have 5 big radiators and 3 little ones.

    It just sounds too cheap to me i.e. that it would end up being a waste of money.

    Thanks for replying.

    68 for a boiler flush is stupid to be honest. The entire system needs a flush, not just the boiler. For an 8 rad house I'd say anywhere between 400-500 should be a fair price. Shane 0007 or johnnie k cover Dublin and their on here. Send them a pm


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    #5
    Teyla Emmagan
    Registered Users Posts: 5,641 ✭✭✭Teyla Emmagan


    Dtp1979 wrote: »
    68 for a boiler flush is stupid to be honest. The entire system needs a flush, not just the boiler. For an 8 rad house I'd say anywhere between 400-500 should be a fair price. Shane 0007 or johnnie k cover Dublin and their on here. Send them a pm

    Cool, that's great. Thanks for your input :).


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    #6
    shane0007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,677 ✭✭✭shane0007


    €450 for powerflush including chemicals & vat would be normal rate for systems upto 10 rads.
    €80 for boiler service.


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    #7
    Billy Bunting
    Registered Users Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Billy Bunting


    Teyla Emmagan wrote: »
    The plumber at the time told me that would cost 600 euro, which is what the Bord Gais website says.

    There's a deal today for a service and a boiler flush with the latter being an add on at an extra €68. Does this sound like a complete con?

    Any thoughts?

    600 euro is a joke, ask who ever quotes you to break it down to material and labour and let us know. IMHO system flushing is a money making racket if thats the sort of money being charged.

    Shane0007 will give you a discount though if you mention me. ;)


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    #8
    jimf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,952 ✭✭✭jimf


    Billy Bunting wrote: »
    600 euro is a joke, ask who ever quotes you to break it down to material and labour and let us know. IMHO system flushing is a money making racket if thats the sort of money being charged.

    Shane0007 will give you a discount though if you mention me. ;)


    reckon ur on commission if so your fcuked our ginger leader has it since last week :D


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    #9
    shane0007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,677 ✭✭✭shane0007


    Billy Bunting wrote: »
    Shane0007 will give you a discount though if you mention me. ;)

    Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm afraid the discount scheme has closed until further notice. Down to H & C's now but they are big!


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    #10
    rightjob!
    Registered Users Posts: 478 ✭✭rightjob!


    Billy Bunting wrote: »
    600 euro is a joke, ask who ever quotes you to break it down to material and labour and let us know. IMHO system flushing is a money making racket if thats the sort of money being charged.

    Shane0007 will give you a discount though if you mention me. ;)

    how is it a money making racket if a system is full of sludge rads not working and after the flushing the system is working fine?


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    #11
    Billy Bunting
    Registered Users Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Billy Bunting


    rightjob! wrote: »
    how is it a money making racket if a system is full of sludge rads not working and after the flushing the system is working fine?

    So what would it actually cost you to "flush" 10 rads ? materials and labour please.


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    #12
    rightjob!
    Registered Users Posts: 478 ✭✭rightjob!


    Billy Bunting wrote: »
    So what would it actually cost you to "flush" 10 rads ? materials and labour please.

    flushing a system the chemicals,your flushing kit ,the vat,your insurance,how you get to the job the van,the labour and all the rest!

    its not as if you magically appeared to somebodys house with a flushing unit and chemicals in your hand already!


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    #13
    gifted
    Registered Users Posts: 4,861 ✭✭✭gifted


    rightjob! wrote: »
    flushing a system the chemicals,your flushing kit ,the vat,your insurance,how you get to the job the van,the labour and all the rest!

    its not as if you magically appeared to somebodys house with a flushing unit and chemicals in your hand already!

    I could be wrong but I get the impression from Billy's previous post was that he reckons that €600 is a bit expensive for a powerflush, I don't think he means that powerflushing itself is a joke.


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    #14
    Billy Bunting
    Registered Users Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Billy Bunting


    You can buy the chemicals for €7, the good flushing kit for less than a grand.

    Life expectancy of the machine would be at least 50 flushes, 1000 divided by 50 = €20.

    My total kit for Boiler servicing costs me around the same, you recon i could get away with giving the custard a €600 bill.


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    #15
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    rightjob! wrote: »
    flushing a system the chemicals,your flushing kit ,the vat,your insurance,how you get to the job the van,the labour and all the rest!

    its not as if you magically appeared to somebodys house with a flushing unit and chemicals in your hand already!

    I started power flushing over 25 years ago it didn't cost big money then and doesn't now, power flushing for €600 is brutal.

    A little tip for you, if you're prices match Bord gais you're over charging;)


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    #16
    anthonyos
    Registered Users Posts: 1,019 ✭✭✭anthonyos


    I think 450 is a fair price that's if the plumber is good equipment and a magneclean which makes the job easier and less time consuming


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    #17
    shane0007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,677 ✭✭✭shane0007


    Billy Bunting wrote: »
    You can buy the chemicals for €7, the good flushing kit for less than a grand.

    Life expectancy of the machine would be at least 50 flushes, 1000 divided by 50 = €20.

    My total kit for Boiler servicing costs me around the same, you recon i could get away with giving the custard a €600 bill.

    Fernox F5 €28 + vat per bottle per 10 rads
    Fernox DS40 €45 + vat per box per 10 rads
    Fernox F1 €20 + vat per bottle per 10 rads
    My flushing equipment cost me €1,100 for the machine, €450 per the magnet, €2,500 for camera, TDS meter €100, pump head adapter €150, misc other items circa €300, water test kits, etc.
    A boiler service will take you 60 - 90 minutes. A proper powerflush will take all day & a re-balance of the system.
    Then there are the breaking balls systems where floors are lifted, drain the system to get at the 318 that is solid blocked where the chemicals just can't get into.
    IMO average €450 incl everything is not bad where the alternatives of new heat exchangers, new boilers, etc. is a hell of lot more. Then less than €300 when doing with a boiler change.


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    #18
    Billy Bunting
    Registered Users Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Billy Bunting


    shane0007 wrote: »
    IMO average €450 incl everything is not bad where the alternatives of new heat exchangers, new boilers, etc. is a hell of lot more. Then less than €300 when doing with a boiler change.

    I would agree that IF your using quality products and equipment then €450 wouldn't be taking the piss, too much!! but if the bord gais "team" do a powerflush anywhere near as good as they do a boiler service then €600 is a total piss take.


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    #19
    shane0007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,677 ✭✭✭shane0007


    Billy Bunting wrote: »
    I would agree that IF your using quality products and equipment then €450 wouldn't be taking the piss, too much!! but if the bord gais "team" do a powerflush anywhere near as good as they do a boiler service then €600 is a total piss take.

    Completely agree. I have powerflushed systems that had been so called powerflushed before & system was solid choked. As we all know it is not a case of you get what you pay for with certain companies.
    I only use Fernox products because I find them the best. I have used Sentinel which are good but I found better results with Fernox.
    Viessmann state in their manual that if you use products other than Fernox or Sentinel, the boiler warranty is null & void.

    I made the investment in my equipment because it offers the best possible service for my customers. At this time of year I would do probably 2 - 3 powerflushes per week but many of these relate to boiler changeovers.


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