Question 1

My radiators are cold at the bottom — what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

** Cold spots at the bottom of radiators usually means sludge and debris has built up in your system — a powerflush will fix this.

Over time, rust, scale, and sludge accumulate inside your central heating system. This causes:

- Cold spots on radiators (especially at the bottom)
- Noisy boiler or banging pipes
- Slow heating times
- Higher energy bills
- Premature boiler failure

> A powerflush clears all the sludge from your system and restores full heating performance. Most homes see an immediate improvement in how quickly radiators heat up.

1. We connect a powerflush machine to your system
2. High-flow water with cleaning chemicals breaks down the sludge
3. Each radiator is flushed individually
4. A magnetic filter is fitted to prevent future build-up
5. Inhibitor is added to protect the system going forward

Question 2

How do I know if I need a powerflush?

Accepted Answer

** If your radiators have cold spots, your boiler is noisy, or your heating is slow to warm up — you probably need a powerflush.

Signs your system needs flushing:

- Radiators cold at the top (need bleeding) or bottom (need flushing)
- Boiler makes banging, kettling, or gurgling noises
- Heating takes a long time to warm the house
- Some radiators don't heat up at all
- Discoloured water when you bleed radiators
- Your energy bills have increased for no obvious reason

! If you're having a new boiler installed, a powerflush is strongly recommended. Fitting a new boiler to a dirty system can damage it and void the warranty.

> A powerflush typically costs between £350 and £600 depending on the number of radiators. It usually takes half a day to complete.

Question 3

Can I bleed my radiators myself?

Accepted Answer

** Yes — bleeding radiators is a simple job most homeowners can do safely. You just need a radiator key.

How to bleed a radiator:

1. Turn your heating on and wait for radiators to warm up
2. Find the radiator that has a cold spot at the top
3. Turn the heating off and wait 10 minutes for the water to settle
4. Place a cloth under the bleed valve (top corner of the radiator)
5. Use a radiator key to slowly turn the valve anti-clockwise
6. You'll hear air hissing out — hold until water starts to drip
7. Close the valve and check your boiler pressure (should be 1–1.5 bar)

> If you're bleeding radiators frequently, it could indicate a bigger issue like a leak or a faulty expansion vessel. Call us for a proper diagnosis.

! Never bleed radiators while the heating is on — the water inside is very hot and under pressure.

Question 4

Are your engineers Gas Safe registered?

Accepted Answer

** Yes — every Empower Gas engineer is fully Gas Safe registered and carries their ID card on every job.

What Gas Safe registration means:

- The engineer has been assessed as competent to work safely with gas
- Their qualifications are verified annually
- You can check any engineer's registration on the Gas Safe Register website
- It is illegal for anyone not on the register to carry out gas work

> You can verify our Gas Safe registration number at any time. Our engineers will always show their Gas Safe ID card when they arrive — if they don't, ask to see it.

- We also carry £5,000,000 public liability insurance
- All work is guaranteed
- We provide certificates for every gas job completed

Question 5

Which areas in Birmingham do you cover?

Accepted Answer

** We cover all of Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands area — typically within a 15-mile radius of the city centre.

Areas we regularly work in:

- Stirchley, Bournville, and Cotteridge
- Kings Heath, Moseley, and Hall Green
- Selly Oak, Edgbaston, and Harborne
- Kings Norton, Northfield, and Longbridge
- Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, and Great Barr
- Solihull, Shirley, and Acocks Green
- Smethwick, Oldbury, and West Bromwich

> If your area isn't listed, call us anyway — we can usually help. We cover most of the West Midlands region.

Question 6

How do I get a quote?

Accepted Answer

** Call us on 07393 226 594 or fill in the contact form — we'll get back to you within a few hours.

Our quoting process:

1. Tell us what you need — repair, service, installation, or safety check
2. We'll ask a few quick questions about your current setup
3. For simple jobs, we can often quote over the phone
4. For installations, we'll arrange a free home visit to assess the job
5. You get a clear, written quote with no hidden extras

> All our quotes are free and come with no obligation. We won't pressure you — take your time to decide.

Question 7

Do you offer any guarantees on your work?

Accepted Answer

** Yes — all Empower Gas work comes with a minimum 12-month workmanship guarantee.

Our guarantee covers:

- All parts we supply and fit
- Labour and workmanship
- Boiler installations — covered by the manufacturer's warranty (up to 12 years with Worcester Bosch)
- Repairs — 12-month guarantee on parts and labour

> If anything goes wrong with work we've carried out, call us and we'll come back and put it right at no extra cost.

! Your manufacturer's warranty is separate from our workmanship guarantee. We register all new boilers with the manufacturer on your behalf to activate the full warranty period.

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