Standard fit
Quoted
MagnaClean Pro2 or Atom, fitted on existing pipework
- Filter supplied + installed
- Fitted on the boiler return pipe
- Pressure-tested
- System rebalanced
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
Plumbing
MagnaClean & system filters
Magnetic system filter installation; protects the boiler, extends pump life, required by manufacturer warranty on most modern installs.
Pricing Quoted
Clear quote · Gas Safe registered · Checkatrade approved
- 1Send the detailsPhotos, postcode, what's happening: phone, WhatsApp or form.
- 2Same-day replyNigel confirms price, visit time or survey slot.
- 3Fixed quoteWritten down before any work starts. No surprises.
Indicative scope
Exact pricing is confirmed before work starts and depends on the property, access, parts and fault diagnosis.
Filter + inhibitor refresh
Quoted
Filter fit + Sentinel X100 dosed to spec
- Everything in standard fit
- Sentinel X100 inhibitor refresh
- Inhibitor concentration tested
- Magnetic plug clean before we leave
- 12-month workmanship warranty
Bundle with annual service
Quoted
Add to a same-visit boiler service (saves £60)
- Filter fitted alongside annual service
- Service certificate + warranty paperwork
- Filter clean every annual service after
- Single visit, single charge
MagnaClean
New boiler installed without a magnetic filter?
Magnetic system filter installation; protects the boiler, extends pump life, required by manufacturer warranty on most modern installs.
At a glance
Quick facts before you read on.
What's included
5 things, no extras on the day- Filter supplied + installed
- Fitted on the boiler return pipe
- Pressure-tested
- System rebalanced
How we quote
Confirmed before work startsFilter supply + fit on existing pipework.
Certification
Gas Safe RegisteredJob done to standards. Paperwork on the day.
Service area
Cardiff, Penarth, Barry, CaerphillyA magnetic system filter sits in the return pipework to your boiler and grabs the iron-oxide sludge that would otherwise circulate through the pump and the heat exchanger. Modern boilers (Worcester, Vaillant, Viessmann, Ideal, or anything from 2018 onwards) require one to keep the manufacturer warranty valid.
Why a filter matters
Iron-oxide sludge, the black gunge that builds up in central heating systems, is the single biggest cause of premature boiler failure. The pump corrodes, the heat exchanger blocks, efficiency drops, and the warranty department politely declines to cover it.
A magnetic filter intercepts the sludge before it reaches the boiler. It’s a 90-minute install, sits permanently on the return pipe, and gets cleaned at every annual service. Over a 10-year boiler life, the savings (warranty preservation, no premature pump failure, no early heat-exchanger replacement) are typically £600–£900 against a £220 install.
What we fit
- MagnaClean Pro2: the industry standard. Stainless steel construction, 22mm or 28mm. 5-year manufacturer warranty.
- Adey MagnaClean Atom: compact alternative for tight spaces or under-counter boiler installs.
- Adey MagnaClean Professional 3 Sense: the smart version with Wi-Fi monitoring of inhibitor levels.
- Fernox TF1 Total Filter: does the same job; we’ll fit whichever you prefer or whatever’s compatible with your existing boiler.
For new boiler installs we always include a filter as standard: it’s not an upsell, it’s a warranty requirement.
Pricing
- Filter supply + installation on existing pipework: £220 fitted
- Filter + a fresh dose of inhibitor (Sentinel X100): £245 fitted
- Add to a same-visit boiler service: £160 (saves £60 versus separate visits)
- Adey 3 Sense (smart filter with Wi-Fi monitoring): £310 fitted
Annual cleaning
The filter needs draining and cleaning at every annual boiler service. We do that as part of the standard service; the magnetic plug is removed, the captured iron-oxide cleaned off, the filter rinsed through, and the inhibitor concentration tested before we refill.
The first annual clean is typically the most dramatic, capturing a few years’ worth of accumulated sludge that pre-dates the filter install. After that, each year’s catch is small and steady. If the magnetic plug ever comes out clean three years running, we’ll tell you the system is in genuinely good shape.
Common mistakes other firms make
- Fitting on the flow, not the return. A filter on the flow pipe still works but loads up faster and reduces system pressure. Always on the return.
- Skipping the inhibitor refresh. Fitting a filter on a system with low or zero inhibitor concentration means the sludge keeps forming. Filter without inhibitor refresh is half a job.
- Ignoring the warranty paperwork. Most manufacturer warranties require the filter install to be registered. We register every fit on the same day with you copied in.
- Cheap aftermarket filters. Some cheaper magnetic filters use mild steel that corrodes; we only fit Adey, Fernox or stainless-steel pattern equivalents.
Workmanship and warranty
12-month workmanship warranty on every install. The Adey/Fernox manufacturer warranty is 5 years on the filter body. Every fit is registered through the manufacturer portal with you copied in.
Worcester told me the warranty needed a magnetic filter. Two firms quoted £400+. PHBLUE did it for £220, fitted in 90 minutes, the warranty registration is in the manufacturer portal that afternoon. No drama. Use them again.
Recent jobs near you
A few of the jobs we have finished lately, with the postcode and what was involved.
- CF24 April
MagnaClean Pro2 retrofit, Worcester combi, warranty preserved.
- CF14 April
Adey Atom in tight cupboard install. Whitchurch flat.
- CF11 March
Fernox TF1 + inhibitor refresh, Canton townhouse.
- CF64 March
Penarth, bundle with annual Vaillant service, saved £60.
How the job runs
- 01
Pre-visit check
5 minPhoto of the boiler and the pipework underneath. We'll confirm the filter type and pipe size on the back of that.
- 02
Drain section
20 minJust the boiler return pipe is drained, not the whole system. Heat down for around 90 minutes.
- 03
Fit + pressure-test
45 minFilter cut into the return pipe, soldered or push-fit depending on the run. Pressure-tested before we refill the system.
- 04
Refill + balance
30 minSystem refilled, vented, balanced. Inhibitor topped up if not already full strength. Sentinel X100 to manufacturer spec.
- 05
Annual aftercare
At each serviceAt every annual boiler service, the filter is drained, opened, the magnetic plug cleaned. Captured contamination shows you what's circulating.
Common questions
How long does a boiler installation take?
A like-for-like combi swap is usually a single working day. System or regular boiler upgrades, or installs that need the flue rerouted, take one to two days. Back-boiler removals add half a day for the chimney sweep and asbestos check. We'll give you a firm timeline at quote stage so you can plan around it.
Which boiler brand should I pick?
PHBLUE's existing site says we service and repair all major boiler makes and models, including Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Ideal and Baxi. The right brand depends on the house, budget, warranty and parts availability, so we confirm the recommendation in the quote.
What's included in a fixed-price boiler quote?
A written boiler quote should set out the boiler, flue work, controls, any filter or system-cleaning work, warranty position, registration requirements and removal of the old unit where included. We confirm the exact scope before work starts.
How much should a new boiler cost in 2026?
Boiler prices depend on the model, flue route, controls, system condition, access and whether extra pipework or cleaning is needed. Send the boiler details and postcode and we will confirm the price before work starts.
Will you remove the old boiler?
Yes, every install includes removal and recycling of the old unit, packaging take-away, and a full clean-down before we leave. You'll get the warranty paperwork and the Gas Safety Certificate handed to you on the day.
Do you service boilers you didn't install?
Yes. The existing PHBLUE site says we service and repair all boiler makes and models, including Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Ideal, Baxi and more.
How much does a new bathroom cost in Cardiff?
For a standard 3-piece bathroom (bath, basin, WC) refit including tiling, flooring and second-fix electrics: £6,500–£9,500 fitted, depending on tile choice and whether the layout moves. Wet rooms and en-suites with shower trays start £8,500. We quote fully fixed-price after a survey; supply-only items are at trade plus 10%.
How long does a bathroom installation take?
A straight refit (same layout, same waste positions) is 5–7 working days. Layout changes that need waste pipe reroutes add 2–3 days. We work clean: dust sheets up, daily clean-down, the rest of the house stays liveable.
Do you do tap repairs or just full installs?
Both. Most tap drips are a £20 cartridge, and we charge £90 for the first hour (covers diagnosis and most repairs) and £55 per hour after. If your taps are end-of-life we'll tell you and quote a swap, never the other way round.
What's the difference between a powerflush and a magnetic filter?
A powerflush is a one-time deep clean of the heating system using a high-flow pump and inhibitor, which clears years of magnetite sludge from radiators, boilers and pipework. A magnetic filter (MagnaClean or equivalent) is fitted permanently on the return pipe and traps sludge as it circulates, year on year. Both are needed for a long-lasting modern system. Powerflush £450; magnetic filter retrofit £180 fitted.
My water pressure is low, can you help?
Yes, first we'll find out whether it's coming in low (a problem with the incoming main, your stopcock, or a partially-closed valve), or dropping mid-house (a leak, a cylinder issue, or scale in the pipework). Diagnostic visit is £90 and gets credited if you go on to have the work done.
Are you WaterSafe registered?
Yes: WaterSafe approved plumber scheme. That's the recognised standard for any work that touches the mains supply (stopcocks, incoming mains repairs, unvented cylinders, water softeners). It's also the scheme insurers and conveyancers look for on home reports.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
No, not for any job we go on to quote or carry out. Diagnostic visits where we don't end up doing work are charged at our standard hourly rate (£90 first hour, £55 after) and we'll always tell you that up front.
Are quotes fixed price or estimates?
Fixed-price for everything we can survey: boiler installs, bathrooms, EV chargers, EICRs, central heating refurbs, heat pumps. Variable-rate for diagnostic and repair work, but with hourly rates published on every relevant page so you know before we start.
Can you take a deposit and stage payments?
For jobs over £3,000 we take a 30% deposit at scheduling, 50% on day one, balance on completion. That covers our materials outlay without exposing you. Smaller jobs are paid on completion. We accept bank transfer, card, and Apple/Google Pay; no cash in hand.
Do you offer finance?
Not directly: we're not authorised to broker credit. For boiler installs, Worcester Bosch and Vaillant both run their own finance schemes (0% over 12 months on installs through accredited installers like us). Ask at quote stage and we'll send you the application link.
Do you give written quotes?
Always. Every job over £200 gets a written, itemised, fixed-price quote before any work starts. The quote is yours to keep, valid for 30 days, and the price on it is what you'll pay: line-item breakdown for materials, labour, and any provisional sums.