Are you in need of a good boiler repair company in Edinburgh?
There’s nothing worse than being left without heating and hot water when your faulty boiler breaks down. Over the years I’ve had to help out hundreds of stressed out clients in exactly the same situation, which is why I know how important it is to get it fixed fast.
And who do you call on? Your trusted boiler repair company, of course! But wait a minute – what if you don’t have one?
Well, it’s a good thing you’ve come to this blog post, as I’m about to tell you what to look out for when finding the best Edinburgh boiler repair company for you.
Do your research first
One of the best sources to find a good boiler repair company is actually through word of mouth, such as recommendations from trusted friends or family members. They’ve probably experienced the company first-hand and will be able to tell you the kind of service they received.
However, it’s also worth doing your homework by searching online, as you’ll be able to find several boiler specialists and repair companies in Edinburgh who may be suited for the job. You should take a close look at their website to see exactly which services they offer.
What to look for in a boiler repair company
You may be able to find out a lot of the following information from the company’s website, but if not, it might also be worth giving them a call to check before you request a call-out:
1. Are they Gas Safe registered?
The first thing you should always check – even if it’s a referral from a friend – is the Gas Safe register.
The law states that anyone fitting, servicing or repairing a gas boiler or appliance must be registered, and you can do a search on the above website (or ask to see an engineer’s ID card) to ensure this is the case before any work on your boiler is carried out.
2. Are they experienced?
Experience counts for a lot, so it’s worth checking how long a boiler repair company has been around for. There are plenty of well-established companies in Edinburgh who have been trading for 20+ years, and I’d always recommend opting for one of these over a newer company that’s only been around for a year or two.
The more experienced heating engineer is, the more knowledge they’re likely to have on the important things such as common boiler faults, diagnosing problems and quickly finding a cost-effective solution to the problem.
It’s also worth checking your chosen heating engineers are fully qualified for the job (for example, if your boiler runs on LPG, they’d need to be certified for that type of work). You can also check this on the Gas Safe register.
3. Do they specialise in boilers?
To clarify, there are many heating companies in Edinburgh but not many specialists. If you look at most adverts or signs on the side of vans, the most common phrase is ‘plumbing and heating’. Plumbing a toilet or fitting a bath does not necessarily make someone an expert in fault finding and fixing boilers.
So, what you really need to look out for is a company that specialises in fitting and repairing boilers. And if you can find an accredited installer in your boiler’s specific brand, even better. If your boiler has manufacturer’s warranty, you may find the manufacturer has its own dedicated engineers for call-outs.
However, you will still need your boiler serviced each year for that warranty to remain valid, and this is something you must arrange yourself. Also, as your boiler gets older and runs out of warranty, you’ll want to know you have a reputable, experienced engineer when you need them.
4. Do they offer fast turnaround in emergencies?
Understandably, some boiler repair companies in Edinburgh can become exceptionally busy at peak times, simply due to the amount of demand out there. And especially if you’re a new customer, you might find yourself being left at the back of the queue.
You should be looking for a company that will prioritise emergencies and help you out in a situation where you’d otherwise be left out in the cold. On many occasions, we have been called to jobs where other engineers have visited, changed parts, said they would be back and never returned – incredibly unprofessional.
You’ll find most reputable companies won’t do this, and will quite happily diagnose the problem, get the required parts and come up with a solution to fix the problem in a relatively timely manner – without leaving you for days on end without heating and hot water.
5. Do they charge extra for call-outs?
Always check your chosen boiler repair company will not charge you an upfront fee for call-outs, or charge a flat-rate fee regardless of the problem. Ideally, they should be able to carry out a visit, diagnose the problem and give you a fixed price detailed quote for exactly how much it’s going to cost.
For more information, read my blog entitled ‘How to Avoid Costly Call-Out Charges’.
6. Can you contact them easily?
It’s a really bad sign when you call a company and you’re left hanging in a queue – or worse, the phone just continues to ring with no answer at all. You should ensure you can get through to a landline number and speak to an actual human being without too much trouble.
This is a good indicator that if you run into any problems with the company later down the line, they won’t be difficult to get in touch with – otherwise, it’ll only add to the stress.
7. Do they keep thorough records?
Finally, most reputable boiler repair companies will keep thorough records of any repairs as well as things such as annual services – which is incredibly important, especially if you’re a landlord or you want to ensure your boiler is kept under warranty.
Companies with messy offices and paperwork scattered all over the place should be a warning sign, and you should ensure your chosen heating engineer will keep paperwork copies of everything for at Least two years. Most companies will keep a database where they will have records for probably up to ten years
In summary
I hope you’ve made it through to the end of this blog in good spirits, and with a better understanding of exactly what to look for when choosing the best Edinburgh boiler repair company for you. I don’t mean to put a downer on anything, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry when choosing someone to work on your boiler.
Remember, ask yourself these questions:
- Are they Gas Safe registered?
- Are they experienced?
- Do they specialise in boilers?
- Do they offer fast turnaround in emergencies?
- Do they charge extra for call-outs?
- Can you contact them easily?
- Do they keep thorough records?
If you have any specific questions on the topic of boiler repair companies, please feel free to leave a comment on this blog post and I’ll answer as quickly as possible.
Good luck!
