Remember the last time you purchased a car. Chances are you didn’t go to the Yellow Pages, choose a dealership at random, and buy your car from the first lot you visited. Many times, though, this describes the way homeowners find a plumbing and heating engineer -- they look in Yellow Pages and call the plumbing and heating engineer with the largest ad or the first one listed. But much like purchasing a car, finding a qualified plumbing and heating engineer requires research and comparison shopping.

What type of plumber/heating engineer?

Do you have a leaking tap? A blocked sink? An emergency leak?. Most plumbers can deal with them. However there are plenty of other plumbing and heating jobs which are much larger and require specialist skills which not all plumbers have. Do you want a new boiler? Do you want your boiler repaired? What type of boiler do you want? Do you need a new pump or some additional radiators. Do you want your central heating upgraded or replaced. These are larger and more long term jobs – and a lot more expensive, which will require more specialist skills. With these types of jobs – improvements in your central heating system, you will have more time to plan and research so that you can find a heating engineer who can do a good job for you at the right price

The first step in finding a good plumbing and heating engineer is to ask family and friends for recommendations of professionals they’ve hired in the past. Other good sources of referrals include contractors, estate agents and your local plumbing supply store.

The key questions to ask are: Were you satisfied with the work done by the plumbing and heating engineer? Did they deliver the job within budget? Would you use them again?

When asking for referrals, be sure to check the type of job the plumbing and heating engineer was called in to accomplish. Also, determine if the plumber specialises in residential or commercial work.

What to Look For in a Qualified Plumbing and heating engineer.

There are a number of qualifications which can set a professional plumbing and heating engineer apart.

Those plumbing and heating engineers who are going to work with your gas supply system in sorting out your heating system should be ‘Gas Safe’ qualified. Check their Gas Safe registration document

Insurance -- Be sure that the prospective plumbing and heating engineer you are considering is fully insured, having both workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Your selected heating engineer should be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy.

Questions to Ask

When you have narrowed the list, ask two or three plumbing and heating engineers to your home to survey the job and provide a written estimate that includes a materials list. The contract should spell out the scope of the project, any items that are excluded and the payment terms.

When obtaining a quote, one of the most important questions to ask your heating engineer is the type of materials to be used. Remember, a plumbing part defect has the potential to cause serious damage to your home with collapsed ceilings, ruined furniture, and sometimes an uninhabitable home.

Quality Materials

Don’t let your plumbing and heating engineer install products made with inexpensive and inferior materials. Ask for quality materials, often with recognizable brand names that offer manufacturers’ warranties to the consumer. You may pay more for these parts initially, but you will be glad you did if there ever is a problem or parts need replacing.

Length in business/references

Ask each plumbing and heating engineer how long he or she has been in business and if you have not been personally referred, ask to speak to several people who can vouch for the quality of their work and whether they completed the work on time and within budget.

Written contract

Make sure you get a written contract spelling out what work will be done, what materials will be used, the anticipated timescale for the project, the pricing of the job and a commitment to clean everything up once the job is completed

Service Warranty

What warranty does the heating engineer provide. Is the work guaranteed for any period?

Safety

Accidents can happen with almost any home improvement project. So ask your prospective candidate what steps he or she will take to prevent injuries and property damage.

Clean Up

Ask the plumbing and heating engineer how he or she intends to leave the work area once the job is completed. You don’t want to be cleaning up for hours after they’ve left your home. Also, ask about disruption during the project.

Pricing

Compare prices, but remember the cheapest quote isn’t necessarily the best plumbing and heating engineer for the job. An experienced, qualified plumber may charge more for the work, but could save you money in the end by doing the job right and using the best materials. The most expensive quote may also be deliberately high. It may mean that the firm is up to its eyes in work and doesn’t want your job.