Heating
How to select the best heating engineer for your home
Your home is where you spend years of your life, and you want that time to be comfortable. In addition to comfort, the climate control of your home also contributes to the lifespan of its physical structures. There are many different types of heating related jobs that may need to be performed in a home build or renovation.
With this in mind, it is imperative that the heating expert that you service your heating needs be an expert in their field. Today we are going to look at the specific items you should take into consideration when hiring a tradesman to service or install the heating system in your home.
- Select a heating engineer with relevant job experience
- Inquire if your heating engineer is Gas Safe registered if needed for your job
- Discuss detailed work plans for your job
- Inquire about professional memberships and accreditations
- Get a detailed written quote
Let’s take a look at each of these points in more detail.
Look into comparable job experience
You want to seek out a heating engineer that has expertise in the specific type of job that you are quoting. For instance, if you need gas work done and your heating tradesman is not Gas Safe certified, then they may not be a great fit for your particular heating needs.
Once you have found someone that focuses their work on the heating repair or installation needs that you have, ask to see some examples and photos of their work. It can also be very helpful to call references they provide to get some first-hand accounts regarding their quality of work. In some instances, the heating engineer may be able to take you to visit prior job sites so that you can see their work first hand.
Completing these investigative steps should put you in a place to make an educated selection when choosing a heating installer for your project.
If gas work is needed, inquire if your tradesman is Gas Safe certified
A large majority of heating jobs require the tradesman to work with natural gas. Any heating engineer that participates in this type of work is required to be Gas Safe Certified. They should have a registration card with them at all times when on the job, and you should ask to see their membership card before any work begins.
Being Gas Safe registered protects you and your heating engineer’s safety, as it ensures they have the skill set to work with gas safely. You can find a list of Gas Safe certified heating engineers on the Gas Safe Register website.
Discuss the specific plans for your job
In order for your heating job to be completed to the highest quality, you will want to have a detailed brief describing the project in detail. Some jobs are simple and may be able to be quoted over the phone. However, for larger jobs, you will want the tradesman to come to the job location to see the need in person. That way, they can give you the most accurate quote for both cost and time needed to complete the job.
Ask about professional memberships and any accreditations
You should seek a tradesman that has a City & Guilds qualification in Plumbing and Domestic Heating or another related NVQ qualification. This indicates that the heating engineer takes their trade quite seriously. In addition, heating engineers that are members of the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), offer consumers the protection of another member completing the contracted work should their chosen engineer go out of business mid-job.
Get job estimates in writing
It is important with any home heating system work to obtain at least 3 like for like quotes in writing from the heating engineers you are considering. These quotes should include labour, materials, special equipment rentals and waste removal and disposal. In addition, a payment plan should be detailed and workmanship guarantee. Be cautious of any heating tradesman who requires full upfront payment before the job has begun.
We hope that this helpful guide assists you in choosing the best heating engineer for your home heating project.