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If your boiler has been playing up lately or just stopped working all together it’s advised that you contact a boiler repair company as soon as possible so they can come and assess and fix the issue. That being said, finding a qualified and reputable professional is often difficult. 

When deciding on a company to carry out your boiler repairs or servicing you first and foremost must use a Gas Safe registered heating engineer. All companies must have gas safe personnel to carry out any jobs involving boilers. It’s important that you never attempt to fix the problem yourself or use a sub-standard heating engineer who isn’t registered with any bodies or schemes.

The Difference Between a Plumber and Heating Engineer

Plumbing and heating come hand in hand. More often than not, a plumber will also be a heating engineer and visa versa. Plumbers can do a number of things, such as installing certain appliances (washing machines, dishwashers etc), drainage, hot and cold feeds and more. Plumbers can also install gas appliances, such as a boiler, if they’re on the Gas Safe register. A heating engineer is someone who specialises in heating systems and has experience working in both domestic and commercial building installing boilers, heating systems and carrying out repairs and maintenance. 

Whether a plumber or a heating engineer assesses or repairs your boiler it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that they are Gas Safe registered.

Should I Choose a Local or National Company? 

When choosing a large and well known organisation you can be sure of their credibility and reputation. This is the reason why a lot of people opt for these companies when needing a boiler repair or service. These bigger companies often have an abundance of engineers on their book so will likely be able to send someone out to you in no time. However, you will likely pay the price for using national companies in comparison to choosing a smaller and local business.

The other option is to go with a local company. There are many upsides to this such as supporting local businesses, paying less and getting a more personable experience. Before making any decisions on who to choose it’s a good idea to do some research online. Many local companies offer free quotes and will be more than happy to give advice and information before you book them in.

The best thing to do is to have a look at websites such as trustatrader, checkatrade and mybuilder to give just a few examples. Another great way to choose a company is through word of mouth recommendations.

What to look for in a company?

Just some things to consider when making a choice on the company includes:

Years of experience and operation – Check to see how many years they have been operating as a business. This isn’t to say newer companies won’t be just as qualified but often it can set your mind at rest to know someone has 5, 10 or more years experience in their job. 

Proof of insurance – A credible company should have liability insurance. This means that if an engineer were to cause any damage to your property accidentally, the damages could be covered.

Manufacturer preference – The majority of heating engineers will have a preference to which boiler manufacturers they are most familiar with. If you have a certain brand boiler it’s worth researching who might be the best option to repair yours. 

Professional qualifications and accreditations – Firstly make sure they are Gas Safe Registered. You could also find out if they are members of any professional bodies such as the The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) which will keep them in touch with the latest innovations in the industry.

Reviews and ratings – check trades websites, google reviews, their website and anywhere else they might appear.

Book your Boiler Repair 

If you need your boiler repaired, you should take action to book in at your earliest convenience. Eric Collier is a family run, experienced heating engineer who covers Cardiff and the surrounding areas. Get in touch with their team today to learn more about boiler repair in Cardiff.

Sam Allcock