Whether it’s your gas boiler breaking down or you need a new one installed, it will be best to call in a local heating engineer to do the work. However, finding a heating engineer with the right qualifications and experience can be tricky. This is especially the case as some of these tradies are often misunderstood and not always reputable.
Fortunately, there are many different ways to find a good heating engineer and the best way will depend on your specific needs. You can ask for recommendations from friends and family members or look for online reviews. You can also use an online comparison service to get quotes from multiple local engineers. This is an excellent idea as it can give you a great sense of what the average cost of a heating job should be and it could help you to avoid getting overcharged.
In addition to the technical skills, a heating engineer will need to be a people person. This is because they are likely to be working in people’s homes or businesses when things go wrong and it will be up to them to soothe frayed nerves, explain complex issues and deliver a high standard of customer service. For this reason, it is worth checking that your heating engineer has excellent communication and interpersonal skills before hiring them for any work.
It’s important to make sure that your heating engineer is licensed and insured before they start any work on your home. This can help you to avoid any unnecessary costs and protect yourself in the event of any damage that is caused by a rogue tradesperson. You can do this by checking that they have a Gas Safe register number and it’s also worth checking that they have public liability insurance to cover the cost of any damages.
Another thing to check is that your heating engineer has the necessary industry qualifications to do the work you need them to. This will usually mean that they will be certified by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE). You can do this by asking for their Gas Safe certificate before hiring them to complete any gas-related work on your property.
Another benefit of using a local heating engineer is that they are more likely to be able to respond to your calls quickly. This is because they are more likely to be based nearby and will know where you live. This means that they are more likely to be able give you an accurate estimate of how long the job will take and will be less likely to overcharge you for any work that is required. Lastly, when you do hire a local heating engineer, it’s a good idea to ask them for an itemised quote in writing. This will break down the cost of each individual component of a new boiler installation or repair and will allow you to easily compare prices. It will also help to avoid any nasty surprises down the line.