Are you worried or confused about who employees the heating engineers who will fit your new boiler?
I understand. If you spend your time carefully choosing a heating company, you’ll want to know the engineers who come to your home have a certain amount of loyalty to that company, and are loyal to that company. It also gives you peace of mind and reassurance that they’ll do the work to standard, and diligently.
People can often be very wary of subcontracted tradesmen and labourers – and it’s easy to see why. They could, in theory, fit your boiler and then be gone a week later – no longer around to fix faults or any shortcuts they might have taken.
I literally get asked this question by customers every week, which is why I want to take the time to answer, and give you some good tips on what to look for when choosing the right company for you.
Will heating engineers be employed by the company you choose?
Not always. However, this is something you should ask your chosen heating company. A reputable company will provide you a quote in writing, including exactly what will be supplied and what work will be carried out in your home – along with any guarantees you can expect.
At Superwarm, our engineers are employed by us – rather than being contracted out – and we always have a contract with all jobs we do, so both parties know what’s provided, included and expected.
You may also be worried in case you’re paying money (or a deposit) upfront, just in case something does go wrong and a subcontracted engineer does a botched job. A good, reputable engineer shouldn’t do this – and this is another reason why we provided a contract.
After all, who’s to say what a bad job is? We could fit a wonderful boiler that’s working well, however the carpets haven’t went down well due to the client’s expectations – or polished floors had to be cut. That’s why if we point these things out (say, you need a carpet fitter or floor specialist) then you’ll know what to expect.
Again, I’m not defending someone who’s done a bad job, however on the other hand, I would think it was unreasonable to have done a job worth £4,000 and not expect to pay anything because there are a few points you’re not happy with. Hence, it’s important for both parties to get everything down in writing.
Things to watch out for
There are some red flags I often warn people about when getting a quote from a heating engineer. The biggest one is receiving a quote in a text message – or on a piece of paper. These days, it takes nothing to type up a formal written quote that’s full of detail and explanations as to why they’re making certain choices.
People can very easily trade from home, but it’s very important to check that you’re going with a registered company with its own VAT number and postal address. If all you can see is a mobile phone number, with no record of the company’s history, you won’t get that feeling of security.
The third red flag that really gets to me is when a company quotes a customer for a boiler, but don’t tell them which model. They could literally be quoting for anything – a 24kW, or a 32kW. Who can tell? Certainly not the customer. You need to know what you’re going to be getting before you can agree to a quote.
Think of it as like a new iPad or a new iMac. You get different specifications, memory sizes, screen sizes – it can make a huge difference.
Advice from an experienced heating engineer
Every single week I cover this with clients, as it’s important to them. We need to let them know we employ engineers, and are responsible for their work. If there are ever any issues with a job (which is rare), all they have to do is let us know and we’ll come back and resolve them.
Customers send us emails after we’ve sent them the quote, so they can go over certain points with us. We cover everything via email so they have it for their records.
The one other thing you need to do for your peace of mind? Check your chosen engineer is Gas Safe registered, along with how long they’ve been trading, and whether they have experience in the type of job that you’re getting done.
Conclusion
Well, there we have it! Not all engineers will be employed by the heating company you hire to fit your new boiler, so this is something you should always check. Along with getting a formal written quote, and checking your engineer has the right experience to get the job done.
Most reputable engineers won’t charge anything upfront, and will be there to fix any issues if they arise.
Is there anything else you want to know about heating engineers and their relationship with the company you hire? Let me know in the comments below. I’m always here to help!
