I have called out B/G on 3* contract because my 14 year old Glow-worm combi boiler is failing the pilot light go's out when the heating is called for.todays visit they have found a leaking heat exchange (which has been leaking for many years but never detected on previous services)they put the fault down to the system needs flushing with a sludge build up causing blockage in the pipes? this outs the pilot light but I may be able to have hot water. and now they are saying the system needs power flushing an with a new high efficency boiler installed want £2300 is B/G being truthful or what

bampi, September 2008

Demand a new heat exchanger,then get a local plumber/RGI to flush the system (not power flush) with a good quality cleanser,then add an inhibitor(should cost a couple hundred quid at most).That should keep you going for another 5/10 years.

Gasman, September 2008

Problem with British Gas nowadays is they only carry out a safety check using a combustion analyser and very rarely strip the boiler down.The only reason they have found the problem will be because the pilot has gone out.Dont fall for the old flush out of the system routine.Their engineer will be on a commission for getting you to have that done and it will cost a fortune.When a boiler gets to that sort of age British Gas dont want you on a 3 star contract and you have to ask yourself if you are getting value for money as they will worm their way out of any repair work claiming the boiler is obsolete.I should know i used to work for them.

Tony S, September 2008

it is probably fair to say that at 14yrs old the heating system could do with bringing up to date with a more up to date boiler but like anything in life it is always best to get various quotes in your area to see if the price is fair or not

Andy, September 2008