Plumbing problems

[elspeth]

So, my central heating has developed gremlins and I think it's going to need what they call powerflushing. Sounds painful and expensive! But, I figure it's better to have done over the summer as the winter will be miserable if it's a cold one if I haven't had it fixed, and in winter the central heating people will be busier with people like me who didn't sort the heating out in the summer. Mind you, as I live in Yorkshire, it could easily be a miserable summer if it's a cold one as well!

Anybody had to have this done to their central heating system? Did it work? Was your house still standing afterwards?

Plumbers make me nervous - somehow I always suspect they have more capacity for ruining my house than other tradesmen, just because there's water involved...

[ahinton]

So, my central heating has developed gremlins and I think it's going to need what they call powerflushing. Sounds painful and expensive! But, I figure it's better to have done over the summer as the winter will be miserable if it's a cold one if I haven't had it fixed, and in winter the central heating people will be busier with people like me who didn't sort the heating out in the summer. Mind you, as I live in Yorkshire, it could easily be a miserable summer if it's a cold one as well!

Anybody had to have this done to their central heating system? Did it work? Was your house still standing afterwards?

Plumbers make me nervous - somehow I always suspect they have more capacity for ruining my house than other tradesmen, just because there's water involved...

First get yourself some independent (i.e. not that of the "I can do that for £££" type) advice to ascertain if the problem is actually a hardening of the arteries in your central heating pipework which means that furring up is impeding the flow of hot water around the system and, if indeed it is that, then yes, have it flushed out with a Fernox type product. Before you do this, however, do make sure that your pump/s are functioning correctly and sort out that problem if it/they are not. In suggesting this, I am assuming that your boiler is known to be functioning OK.

Hope that helps.

Best,

Alistair

[elspeth]

I think I'm just going to have to have the whole system serviced and then just tell them to do whatever they need to to get the gremlin out. Plumbing has always been more or less of a sealed book to me - I can sort out my electrics and most simple joinery-type things myself, but I don't muck about with plumbing. Far too much scope for disasters!

I shall be spending the next week or two asking everyone I know for plumber references, I think! I'd far rather pay a bit extra and have a good plumber who'll do the thing properly, within reason of course.

[ahinton]

I think I'm just going to have to have the whole system serviced and then just tell them to do whatever they need to to get the gremlin out. Plumbing has always been more or less of a sealed book to me - I can sort out my electrics and most simple joinery-type things myself, but I don't muck about with plumbing. Far too much scope for disasters!

I shall be spending the next week or two asking everyone I know for plumber references, I think! I'd far rather pay a bit extra and have a good plumber who'll do the thing properly, within reason of course.

Sure, but hang on a moment; what specifically are the gremlins of which you write? - by which I mean what are the particular symptoms that you notice? Might you, for example, have radiator valves that may simply need "bleeding" in order to release any possible airlocks? - if so, just get a radiator key and a cloth to catch any water spillage and open the valves to see if any air comes out. Just another suggestion that might possibly save you getting the experts in (unless you've already done this, of course)...

Best,

Alistair

[michel dvorsky]

K. I can help you out with your plumbing problems. I can come round and fix any leak, crack, break etc. starting rate: forty squid.

[a-sharp]

hahah - BTDT - slab leak. $16K. Last summer. Fortunately, insurance covered it. Sorry for your truobles! 

[elspeth]

Sorry, I'm venting a bit about my plumbing troubles again!

So, the plumber came today to sort the gremlin out. I wasn't here, my parents were housesitting for me while I went to work. But he got rid of the gremlin and had my central heating working and all my radiators piping hot.

But he left before I got home. I've had my heating on for three hours this evening and the radiators are barely any better than they were previously. I've left a message on the plumber's answering machine to ring me about it - a nice, calm, civil message - and at least I haven't paid him yet. But I'm REALLY REALLY annoyed. How can it have broken again in the three hours between him leaving and me getting home and putting the heating on to test?

GAAAAHHHHH.

It's not airlocks. I know that because the radiators are warm at the top and cold at the bottom, and it's the other way round if you've got airlocks. He's cleaned the system out so it shouldn't be clogged arteries. It shouldn't be dodgy valves because he's replaced them. I know the boiler works because my hot water nearly melts the taps when you turn it on now it's been on for three hours. And it must be pumping, albeit possibly not efficiently, because all the radiators are either tepid or warm. What else is there?

I'm having a really bad week and I just didn't need this. I was so pleased when my dad rang and told me the heating was working and the guy had packed up and gone. And now it's just another thing gone wrong and I've had enough.

[thalbergmad]

What do you need the heating for, its bloody summer

[elspeth]

I live in Yorkshire, summer is liable to last all of about half an hour!

And besides - sort the problem out now then it's fixed for when I will need it.

[thalbergmad]

Oh yes, if you live in Yorskshire it is a different matter entirely.

Thal