When it comes to installing a new boiler or making necessary boiler repairs, it’s important to find a professional heating engineer you can trust. Fitting a new boiler in your property is a big investment and it’s important you choose the right person to complete the installation for you – and this means doing some research beforehand.
While a simple search on the internet can pull up hundreds of local heating engineers and plumbing companies in your area, working out which ones are trustworthy and reliable is key. Finding a heating engineer who is qualified, professional, affordable and local isn’t always easy and therefore it’s important to get clued up on exactly what to look for beforehand. Knowing what questions to ask is also important.
Asking the right questions can help you make sure you don’t run into any surprises or unexpected costs along the way and give you peace of mind the engineer you’re hiring is trustworthy and accredited. Below, we share our top tips for finding the right heating installation company along with some questions to consider asking.
Tips for finding the right heating engineer
Ask for recommendations
The best recommendation is word of mouth. To find a reliable heating engineer, ask friends, family and neighbours for recommendations; it’s more than likely someone you know will have a trustworthy heating engineer on hand. If you’re short of recommendations, the internet can be a useful tool for checking the reliability of a heating engineer or company. Take the time to read through customer reviews and testimonials, paying attention to any negative reviews. Always choose a company that has great reviews and a sparkling reputation.
Check accreditations
Before you hire anyone, it’s important to make sure they have the appropriate accreditation. The number one thing to check is if they’re on the Gas Safe Register. In 2016, a study from the Gas Safe Register showed that around one million gas works are carried out each year in the UK by engineers that are not qualified. To avoid this happening to you, you should always check the Gas Safe Register website to check whether the engineer in question is accredited.
Gather quotes
To ensure you choose an affordable heating engineer and get the best service possible, it’s a good idea to gather several quotes before you make a decision. We recommend gathering at least three quotes from different companies to compare. Remember to always ask for a full breakdown of costs before!
Questions to ask your heating engineer
Here are some questions to ask your heating engineer before you hire them.
Can you provide your Gas Safe Register number and ID?
This is one of the most important questions to ask a heating engineer. Before an installer carries out any work on your property, it’s crucial to ask to see their Gas Safe Register number and ID. You can request this either prior to your appointment on the day or on the day they turn up at your property. Their card will contain a unique licence number which can be checked. Their ID card will also tell you which jobs they are qualified to complete – for example gas boiler, cooker, water heater and more.
How long have you been trading?
To ensure you get the best service possible, you want to choose a heating engineer who has plenty of experience in the industry. While it’s always good to support startup companies, we recommend choosing an experienced company when it comes to your boiler and heating system. Ideally, you’ll want someone with a minimum of two years of experience to ensure your heating engineer has enough experience to handle the job.
Do you have insurance?
Before you allow anyone to do any work on your home, it’s crucial to ask if they have insurance. If they don’t have insurance and an accident takes place while they’re working on your premises, you could be liable for it. Insurance ensures you won’t be held liable if the contractor gets injured while working on your property and ensures you stay protected. Ask the heating engineer for the name and phone number of their insurance carrier and don’t be afraid to call up and confirm with them.
How long will the work take?
You’ll need to plan ahead for the work being carried out on your property and therefore it’s important to ask your heating engineer exactly how long the job will take. You’ll need to know the heating engineer’s schedule and have a basic understanding of how they plan to proceed. It’s possible you may encounter a few things along the way, but having an idea of how long the job will take can help you better prepare.
Can you provide references?
As previously mentioned, customer references and testimonials are key. Reading customer reviews is a great way to find out what kind of work the heating engineer has completed in the past and the standard of their work. Ask for references of people who had work carried out similar to yours. When checking references, don’t be afraid to ask how long the work took, if they were happy with it and whether there were any issues along the way.
How do you take payment?
Asking how the heating engineer takes payment is important. Most engineers will accept a direct bank transfer, but it’s always important to check this just in case. Some may want cash, whereas others may prefer to be paid as they work. Either way, any reputable gas engineer won’t ask for an advance and you should never give an advance to contractors. If this is a requirement, take your business elsewhere. It’s also important to make sure the payment terms are drawn up in the contract. This will tell you how much is due and when it’s due.
Do you belong to any reliable trade associations?
When you hire someone, it’s always worth checking if they belong to any reliable trade associations. If someone isn’t fully qualified or they refuse to give you the details of trade associations and organisations they belong to, this is a warning sign and you should take your business elsewhere. Reliable trade associations to keep an eye out for include TrustMark, Thompson Local and Yellow Pages, Check A Trade.
West London Gas: your reliable gas, heating and plumbing engineers
Whether you need a new boiler installed or your central heating system needs servicing, the experienced and professional team at West London Gas can help. We provide high-quality installations and repairs; when you choose us, you’ll never need to worry about finding reliable gas services again. Our comprehensive range of services includes everything you need for your gas appliances, boiler and central heating system.
Many customers stay with us year after year for the quality we provide. We’re available from Kensington to Greenford, Richmond and Wembley and everywhere in between. Our team of experienced and qualified engineers are all Gas Safe registered, ensuring they have the skills, experience and qualifications necessary.
For more information about our services, visit our website today.