Customers commonly ask us what the difference is between a plumber and a heating or gas engineer, if you have every wondered which you need to solve your issue then read on………
Plumbers – If your toilet has broken, if you want to install a new bath, unblock a kitchen sink or just fix a leaky tap then you’ll need a plumber. Believe it or not Plumbers in the UK do not have to have any qualifications to call themselves a plumber but here at Ace Energy all our plumbers have undergone a plumbing course at college and have reached stage 2 of NVQ or City and Guilds qualification. Plumbers do no touch anything to do with your gas appliances, so cannot service your boiler, or install a gas fire. Heating engineers are governed by a highly regulated industry and if they work with gas, LPG or oil must be trained, qualified and registered with the appropriate body. Many heating engineers started as a plumber and have worked their way up through the ranks. The rule of thumb here is that a registered heating engineer can do all heating AND plumbing jobs whereas a plumber can do everything but work on gas or oil appliances.
Still unsure whether you need a plumber or a heating engineer? Here are some of the jobs that each profession can do:
Plumbers can repair, replace and maintain:
- Sinks, basins, baths & taps
- Toilets and cisterns
- Showers
- Tap replacements
- Outside taps and drains
- Showers and shower pumps
- Dishwasher and washing machine installations
- Hot water cylinders
- Roof tanks
- Tap washers and ball valves
- Ball valves
- Appliance Installations
- Tap washer changes
- Replacing ball valves
- Replacement showers
- Dripping taps
- Leaks and blockages
- Hot water tank problems
- Cold water storage tank
- Immersion heater
Heating Engineers are qualified to complete the following jobs:
- Mains gas, oil and LPG boiler replacements
- Boiler and central heating servicing & repairs
- Full central heating system design & installation
- Underfloor heating design & installation
- New & replacement radiators
- Radiator controls
- MagnaClean central heating protection
- Combimate boiler protection
- Powerflushing and central heating maintenance/restoration
- Heating system controls
- Gas central heating
- Gas fire installations
- Fully registered gas safe installer – all gas services
- Gas cooker installations
- Immersion heater
Ace Energy are a member of the Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineers IHPE , gas & oil heating engineers are registered with Gas Safe and OFTEC