The Important Role of Local Heating Engineers in Maintenance

Want to understand everything there is to know about using local heating engineers?

Look no further…

It’s a bit of a secret that most people don’t think about their boiler until it goes bust.

It’s always a scramble at that point to find someone reliable who can come out, help and fix the problem. With 23 million UK homes using gas boilers for both heating and hot water, that’s a lot of potential breakdowns on people’s hands.

Thankfully,

If you educate yourself as to what local heating engineers do and how vital maintenance is, then this doesn’t have to be the case. When the time comes to use local heating engineers for either regular servicing or emergency repairs, a little knowledge goes a long way.

Without further ado, here’s what I’ll be covering in this article:

• What Local Heating Engineers Do
• Why Local Heating Engineers Are Best
• The Tasks that Fall Under “Maintenance”
• How to Find a Good Engineer

The Real Purpose of Heating Engineers

Local heating engineers are the skilled tradesmen who install, repair and maintain your home’s heating systems. However, their duties don’t stop there.

In fact, they also service heating systems, check for faults and safety hazards and can even make recommendations to help you use your heating more efficiently.

Most people don’t realise…

Maintaining your heating and hot water system isn’t just about staying warm. A poorly maintained system can pose a real safety hazard to your home and family.

Leaks in the system can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks and dangerous pressure imbalances. It’s not something to take lightly.

Here’s what a local heating engineer typically does:

• Annual servicing of boilers and safety inspections
• Emergency breakdown repairs
• Installing new boilers
• Upgrading or replacing old systems
• Maintaining central heating systems
• Bleeding and balancing radiators

Phew. That was a long list wasn’t it?

Overall, The boiler and heating industry employs 165,000 people across the UK, with 130,000 of them being Gas Safe registered installers. They all need years of training and annual qualifications renewal to do the job.

Heating Engineers That Are Local Are Best

So far we’ve established that local heating engineers can come to your home and carry out the maintenance you need. But why should you call a local heating engineer and not one of the national trade companies?

Fair question.

Local engineers tend to have much quicker response times in comparison to national companies. When your boiler does finally break down in the dead of winter, you don’t have time to wait three days for someone to come and look at it. Local engineers are able to attend the same day or within 24 hours in most cases.

Local engineers will often charge a lot less in comparison to national trade companies. The latter have massive overheads and advertising costs that are passed on to the customer. Local engineers have no need for those and keep their costs to a minimum as a result.

Here’s the kicker though…

Local engineers rely on their local reputation. They live and work in the same area as their customers, meaning they rely on word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat business. That means local engineers are far more likely to provide honest advice, do good quality work that lasts and be available when you need them again.

After all, a local heating engineer isn’t going to risk their reputation by carrying out shoddy work or overcharging the customer. Their business is built on keeping their local customer happy.

The Cost of Forgetting Maintenance

Ok. Time for a little-known fact.

In the UK alone, boiler failures cost households an astonishing £32.1 million per year. The average cost of a repair per boiler is around £300.

Here’s the kicker…

Most of these failures could have been avoided if people had just performed regular maintenance.

Boilers are relatively reliable these days. When they break down, it’s more often than not due to poor maintenance rather than a manufacturing fault. That means that if people would just do some servicing then they’d save themselves hundreds of pounds in emergency call-outs.

Here’s what happens when you skip maintenance:

• Inefficient boilers lead to higher energy bills every month
• Small problems fester and become bigger and more expensive to fix
• You’re more likely to have a breakdown when you need your boiler most – usually in winter
• Dangerous carbon monoxide leaks increase
• Warranties will become void

I could go on. But you get the gist. Regularly spending £80-£120 on a service could be stopping an £300+ emergency repair in its tracks. The numbers are all there for you to work out.

Services Explained

Most homeowners have no idea what a heating engineer actually does when they come around to service your boiler.

The work takes around an hour in total and involves the engineer inspecting every component of your heating system.

The engineer will visually inspect the boiler and surrounding area for any signs of damage or leaks.

They will also check the flue and ventilation system for blockages, testing gas pressure and flow.

Then, they’ll inspect the heat exchanger for cracks and corrosion, cleaning the burner and main components.

Safety devices will be tested to ensure they’re working correctly, and the engineer will check for any leaks.

Engineers should also check the operating pressure of the boiler and test for carbon monoxide leaks.

If they find anything, they’ll let you know straight away and can either advise or fix the problem.

Little maintenance jobs like this will add years to the life of your boiler. You can expect a boiler to last around 10-15 years with the correct care and attention.

How to Find a Good Local Engineer

Ok. So let’s not beat around the bush here.

There are good engineers and there are bad engineers.

Some are Gas Safe registered and have years of experience under their belts. Others are a bit more sketchy and might cut corners to save money.

Here’s a few things you need to check:

• Check they are Gas Safe registered – this is a given
• Ask for references or check online reviews from local customers
• Get a written quote before any work is done
• Check how long they’ve been operating in your area
• Find out about their response times for emergency breakdowns
• Ask about their guarantee on work carried out

A good local engineer won’t mind you asking these questions. In fact, they’ll welcome it. After all, it shows you’re a homeowner that values quality work.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that some engineers specialise in certain types of boilers or heating systems. If you have a certain brand then it’s worth trying to find an engineer who has knowledge of that make.

Don’t just go for the cheapest quote either. Quality work will always cost more – but it will last longer and cause fewer problems in the long term.

Warning Signs You Need a Heating Engineer

By the way.

Don’t leave it until your boiler breaks down completely before you call a heating engineer. Here are some signs that you need professional help.

Here are the warning signs that you need professional help:

• Strange noises – banging, whistling or gurgling sounds
• Radiators not heating up properly or taking a long time to warm up
• Pilot light frequently goes out or burns yellow instead of blue
• You notice a drop in water pressure
• Energy bills increase for no obvious reason
• The boiler is leaking water
• Gas smell near the boiler

Any of these? Call a heating engineer ASAP. Don’t wait for it to get worse.

Emergency breakdowns always seem to happen at the worst possible time. Usually when it’s cold outside and you’re desperate for some heat. That’s why I think it’s worth building a relationship with a local engineer before you need them.

To Wrap This Up…

The importance of local heating engineers can not be understated. They’re not just there to fix a broken boiler, but can help keep your home safe and toasty through regular maintenance and professional advice.

Educating yourself about what they do and why it’s important can save you money, stress and cold winter nights. With thousands of jobs in the boiler and heating industry across the UK, these skilled tradesmen are more essential than ever.

The key thing to take away is that you shouldn’t wait for a breakdown. Find yourself a reliable local heating engineer now, get your system serviced annually and sort out small problems before they become big ones. Your wallet will thank you for it.