How to find the right plumber?
Finding the right plumber or heating engineer is a daunting task, and many times
has to be done under extreme time pressure, for example when the boiler is not
working on a very cold day.
We have developed a list of top criteria to help you find the right plumber and
heating engineer:
- CORGI Certificate
- Credentials
- Technical Knowledge
- Customer Service
CORGI Certificate
Any plumber or heating engineer that is going to service your boiler must be
CORGI registered and be able to display their CORGI identification card (showing
the CORGI shield in either orange or blue as is the new design). A new card is
issued to registered plumbers and heating installers every year, so they should
be relatively up to date.
Current estimates show that there are approximately 20 million gas users in the
United Kingdom. With around 55,000 members in the heating and plumbing industry
employing around 110,000 operatives, CORGI holds the definitive list of
engineers that can service and install boilers and work on central heating
systems. CORGI, which stands for Council for Registered Gas Installers, was
established in 1970, and registration to it has been a legal requirement for any
business working on gas heating and plumbing systems since 1991. CORGI
registration is required by law in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland,
Isle of Man and Guernsey for gas related systems (such as natural gas boilers).
We can not over emphasise the important of dealing with a CORGI registered
plumber or heating engineer. As a stark reminder, there are around 30 deaths
every year form CO (Carbon Monoxide) poisoning every year. Such cases happen
primarily when there is incomplete combustion, and the boiler is working
incorrectly. Since carbon monoxide has no smell or colour it is impossible to
see or smell it and therefore impossible to detect it before it is too late.
There is a serious risk of dealing with ‘cowboys’ that are not properly trained
and certified. Corgi estimates there are approximately 20,000 people working on
boilers and other heating systems without the right certification and
accreditation. Not only can such individual damage your system and cause further
costs down the line, but the real risk is of incorrect installation that may
cause serious health risk potentially leading the carbon monoxide poisoning.
Credentials and Reviews
Manufacturing industries tend to have easier comparability factors. It is easy
to compare two cars’ performance (e.g. time to reach 60 miles per hour), or fuel
efficiency (e.g. miles per gallon). It is much more difficult to compare
performance in a service industry, such as the heating and plumbing sector in
general and the boiler service and installation in particular.
n the past the general public used the traditional tool of word-of-mouth, to
learn about reliable and knowledgeable plumbers. This approach is still valid
today but has the limitation of size and geography. What happens if none of your
trusted friends and family know of a good boiler engineer, that they could
recommend warmly. What happens if you move home a new area with limited social
network to rely on for such word-of-mouth?
Technical Knowledge
Modern boilers and central heating systems have become very sophisticated to
improve their efficiency and value for money. Without a strong training and
constant updates from manufacturers and training bodies it is getting difficult
for plumbers and heating engineers to keep abreast of the rapidly changing
environment.
A professional plumber will carry a respectable training CV with on going
training on a regular basis on all major makes of boilers and central heating
systems. Only someone who has the right initially training together with
continuous training posses the right credentials to work on your boiler.
Customer Service
Modern boilers and central heating systems have become very sophisticated to
improve their efficiency and value for money. Without a strong training and
constant updates from manufacturers and training bodies it is getting difficult
for plumbers and heating engineers to keep abreast of the rapidly changing
environment.
A professional plumber will carry a respectable training CV with on going
training on a regular basis on all major makes of boilers and central heating
systems. Only someone who has the right initially training together with
continuous training posses the right credentials to work on your boiler.
Call your Colchester Plumber now