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what to consider when selecting a plumbing & heating specialist

Most people are fully aware of the services a plumber can provide and plumbers’ services are, unfortunately, often required in emergency. This may include, for example, a burst pipe, having no hot water or a blocked lavatory.

Plumbers can also be used for the installation of central heating, bathrooms, kitchens or perhaps even a hot tub! Many plumbers offer additional services to the standard pipework, radiators, boilers and bathroom fittings, for example kitchen or bathroom tiling.

Basic plumbing, such as changing the washer in a tap or perhaps unblocking a sink is the kind of thing many people are happy to undertake themselves. However, for any modifications to the water supply which is connected to the mains it’s advisable to call a professional. You face the potential to be prosecuted if you fail to adhere to this regulation.

Qualifications you should look for in a plumber are an NVQ level 2 or 3 in plumbing, or a City and Guilds Advanced Craft Level. Consider that someone who has been in the trade for years may not posses these relatively new qualifications; however they should be able to provide years of experience and recommendations from satisfied customers. If a plumber is a member of The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) they will have been vetted to ensure they have the necessary qualifications and experience.

It is also paramount to remember that any plumber working on gas, such as fires or boilers, must be a registered member of Gas Safe and has passed their relevant qualification. You can check this on the website for Gas Safe by clicking here. This register replaced Corgi on 1st April 2009.

Remember, with any tradesperson it’s always worth considering the following:-

• Is the price given for a quotation or an estimate and does it include VAT
• Does the price include all materials and is it for the completed job
• Will the completed job be guaranteed and if so, in what way
• Is the tradesperson fully insured