Your Essential Guide
When a plumbing or heating issue strikes, it’s tempting to hire the first team you find. Making the wrong choice can have serious, lasting consequences, though. Here’s why it is essential to hire a Gas Safe registered heating engineer and plumber in Chelmsford, and how to spot and avoid cowboy traders to ensure that you get the best possible results.
What is a Gas Safe Registered Plumber and Heating Engineer?
It is required by law that any professional plumber and heating engineer working on gas appliances, such as boilers, must be Gas Safe registered. The Gas Safe Register is the official list of professionals who are legally allowed to carry out gas work. If a heating engineer isn’t on the Gas Safe Register but works on gas appliances anyway, they are breaking the law. Not only this, but they are also putting properties and even lives at risk. So, it’s important that you choose your provider wisely.
How to Spot a Cowboy
While we are on the subject of people operating dishonestly, let’s take a moment to talk about every property owner’s nightmare: a cowboy trader. Often unqualified and full of false promises, these individuals cut corners and overcharge or disappear after a job is done poorly or not at all.
Here’s what to look out for when hiring a plumbing team to make sure you’re not being taken for a ride:
No Gas Safe ID
If someone claims they can work on gas appliances but can’t show you a valid Gas Safe ID card, walk away immediately. If they do provide you with a licence number, head to the Gas Safe Register website to verify it.
They’re Cash Only
While some smaller companies and those carrying out odd jobs prefer cash, an insistence on it is a major red flag. A trusted team will give you choices when it comes to payment methods.
No Written Quote or Contract
A legitimate plumber and heating engineer should provide a written estimate or quote before work begins. Cowboy traders will just strike a deal with you verbally, which leaves you with no protection if things go wrong.
No References or Reviews
Check for online reviews or ask for references from previous clients. If they’re evasive or have no online presence at all, this could be a sign that all is not as it seems.
Impossibly Low Prices
Getting multiple quotes is the best way to ensure that you are getting a good deal, and anyone who is significantly undercutting the rest could be promising something that is too good to be true.
What Now?
Those who provide the best plumbing and heating services might cost a little more upfront, but it’s nothing compared to the cost of fixing work carried out by a cowboy or dealing with the aftermath of an unsafe installation. So, make sure that your chosen provider is Gas Safe registered, and trust your gut! If something feels off, you’ll be well served by looking elsewhere.
