Are you curious about what a heating specialist is and why you’d need one?
You get many different types of tradesmen these days. Including companies or engineers who offer heating and plumbing, domestic and commercial heating, and who work on various different types of systems (electric, oil, gas etc.).
Think of it this way – who do you think is likely to do the best job:
Someone who works on nothing but domestic boilers day-in, day-out, or someone who works on a mixture of commercial and domestic boilers in-between fitting bathrooms for a living and therefore has built up less knowledge to understand your specific needs as a homeowner?
As an experienced engineer – and yes, I also call myself a specialist – I’m going to explain more on this topic below.
What is a heating specialist?
A heating specialist is someone who puts their time into knowing and learning everything about one segment. That way, they’re focused, experienced and incredibly knowledgeable – a bit like Superwarm when it comes to boilers and heating.
If someone asks me about plumbing, I say I can do it, but they’d be better getting someone who specialises in bathrooms or drainage, if that’s what they need done. By no means am I an expert in plumbing and I’d have more chance of making mistakes than someone whose job is to working on plumbing every day.
To give you an even better idea; here at Superwarm, we’re specialists in domestic boilers and heating. This means we don’t do commercial heating (think hotels or swimming pools), so this way we’re really good at what we do. We don’t get caught out thinking it’s all the same.
And we don’t do plumbing, as there are so many sides of it. From fitting bathrooms, leadwork, drainage, hot water systems with secondary returns… it’s a lot. How can you become good or well-versed in all of it? We find it’s better to stick to one segment and know it inside-out.
The benefits of a heating specialist
So, why should you choose a gas heating specialist rather than someone who isn’t as focused on what you need?
Well, a gas heating specialist has:
- The best knowledge and expertise
- Experience working on gas central heating day in, day out
- Awareness of all current and changing regulations
- Awareness of the new advances and technology for that particular segment
- A vast knowledge of his specialty, so will be able to offer solutions others may not have thought of or did not think were possible
How to find a true specialist
Many people claim to be specialists, however it’s not until you speak to them in person or by email that you can really gauge this. You have to ask them about your particular needs, and this is when their experience and expertise should really shine through.
You’ll often find the ones who aren’t as experienced, or specialists, won’t want to answer your questions or don’t know the answer to questions. They also might not have the knowledge to find a solution to your needs, compared to someone who immediately knows from experience the best way forward to suit what you’re looking for.
Often, it’s the heating engineers who also offer things like plumbing and roofwork and call themselves the ‘masters of all trades’ are actually the specialists of none. So, when speaking to engineers or heating companies, ask them what they specialise in, and whether they offer any other work.
They should preferably specialise in domestic boilers, but they might also be particularly proficient in specific brands – and be accredited engineers with those brands. For example, you can easily put trust in a Worcester Bosch-accredited installer who has been through rigorous training and specialises in that specific brand.
Advice from an experienced engineer
The best advice I can give you is to take your time, get two or three fixed price quotes, and ask as many questions as possible. Do they install boilers day-in, day-out, or only every other week whilst fitting bathrooms or lead roof work the rest of the time? You’ll find engineers who are dedicated to fitting boilers will have more knowledge and experience.
I’ve been asked to quote for a job recently where the customer was very budget-oriented. He essentially told me he could get the job done for £1,800. However, looking at the quote and giving my honest opinion, I said the boiler being fitted was cheap and nasty. It was also undersized for the customer’s house.
When the customer started asking the initial company questions, he was told it was an estimated cost – rather than a fixed price quote – and that it may change when they lift the floors. The customer preferred our honest, more transparent approach, and went for the specialist option.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to read. I hope you’ve managed to find this blog helpful when choosing the right engineer or heating specialist for the job. That extra knowledge and experience an engineer can give you really can make a world of difference.
Do you have any questions about heating specialists or choosing the right engineer for the job? Let me know in the comments’ section. I’ll be happy to help!
