British Gas Care

[R32UK]

what boiler do you have? it must be rubbish if it breaks down every winter!

If you have a very temperamental system then british gas is the way forward. However if your boiler rarely breaks down then you'll end up giving them a lot of money for no reason.

Didnt know the mega flow needs a service 

In all honesty the boiler has always been fine, we just seem to have lots of problems with the electronic switch that flips between hot water and central heating.

Tried many many plumbers and every time they open the cupboard to the mega flow they just looked confused. One even told me it wasnt fitted properly, but not sure how true that was.

The system was fitted about 6yrs ago (not by me) however I have been told that the water prussure is not enought to feed the mega flow and we would need an additional pump in the garage. Looked at a few of the pupms and they are quite a big unit so have ruled this out as it will make the garage useless

Thanks for the tips though... BG homescare looks like a good deal

[clipperjay]

Just make sure you know what they cover in the small print.
I paid loads every month then worked out they changed timers pumps valves thats all that went wrong on mine.
I've cancelled it three years ago and did the work myself which came to less than three years of repairs!
But I know my boiler well and its good even service it myself usually means not touching anything gas related, but have done, fan, thermostats, valve, pumps, immersion heaters, PCB, Pilots and pipe work Still ended up cheaper than what I've paid for cover!
 
I'm getting the loft insulated on monday and went out bought some insulation for the cold water pipes and tank. It came to about £40 £20 of that was the sh!tty plastic lid, but you are right preparing this winter to come is not a bad thing considering getting a pumber @ Christmas is a bloody nightmare! 

[VW BUSH]

Homeserve suck balls, so many clauses designed to add cost to your breakdown.
My cover is now through my Bank......

Top tip, service your boiler in the summer its cheaper and easier to get a plumber.
I flushed, bled and inhibited my CH myself this summer, fixed all the dripping taps etc.
Its then cheep to get the plumber in to check it over and sign it all off

The loss of pressure in the CH is the most common fault which can kill your boiler, by keeping it topped up to minimum pressure you can avoid costly repair bills.
I check mine every week when its going full pelt in the cold winter, takes 30 seconds

[emery1990]

Sounds like you shouldn't of had a megaflow in the first place, ( an unvented system). I doubt British gas would no anything about these systems, my mate knows everything about gas but get him to talk about plumbing and heating and he hasn't got a clue!

But tbh that wouldn't effect your boiler anyway so they wouldn't need to worry about it.

New boiler time maybe?

[R32UK]

As said, the boiler seems to be ok for now and the only trouble whe had was a frozen pipe outside last year. Just want to be sure to not be left without any hot water at any point.

As for the mega flow.. it was recommended as i didnt want loss of pressure, esp having more than 1 shower upstairs. It seemed pointless if the pressure was always going to drop... guess the inital plumber pulled a bit of a swift one there  however the builder claims he no longer works with that plumber so at a bit of a loss there.

The tank does also have an immersion heater on it... but I have never managed to get this to work either  dont even know if its ever worked tbh as never needed it 

going to be going with the BG homecare though, just to be on the safe side

[emery1990]

Ah right yer sounded like he did a bit, expensive the megaflows! All the pipework comes premade onto the cylinder so all the plumber does it connect onto it, at a price! Megaflow is just a brand name like a stanley knife for instance. The systems an unvented system 

You'll always get a slight pressure drop but where the pressure is higher ( the cylinder is fed at mains water pressure, what comes out your kitchen tap) you wouldn't notice it was much as if you had a tank in your left dripping out!

It's a good system though if done right !

[justalex81]

if you have poor water pressure then an unvented system should never have been installed. Only other way around it is a break tank and booster pump. If you're programmer keeps failing then get them to fit a decent one!

A megaflow service involves checking all pressure relief valves (there should be at least 2), in your case recharging the air gap in your megaflow, cleaning out the filter in the pressure reducing valve and checking all safety devices (high limit stat, stat and 2 port valve).

[R32UK]

It does have the 2 valves which I was told to keep an eye on but have no idea what they do... or any effect when I do play with them. 

think i need to find someone who knows about these things!!

[justalex81]

unfortunately i can't see it being cost effective to travel to leeds 

[R32UK]

which is a shame.. but thanks for the help anyway