Finding a Qualified Heating Engineer By Mark Andrew Woodcock
If your home is heated by gas central heating then you should be aware that only a qualified engineer should attempt to undertake any installation, safety checks and routine boiler servicing. Gas appliances that are not installed or maintained correctly could prove to be lethal so there really is no point trying to undertake this work yourself.
Until March 2009 qualified heating engineers had to be Corgi registered. However, you should be aware that in March the Corgi register was replaced by a new scheme called Gas Safe. The Gas Safe register operates in a similar manner to the Corgi scheme and you should not allow any engineer to install or service your gas central heating system unless they can prove they are on the new register. The Corgi scheme is no longer recognised by UK law, so always ask to see your engineers Gas Safe registration card before allowing them to start any work.
Why do I need to use a qualified and approved engineer?
The register is in place to provide protection for yourself, your home and your family. It helps to ensure that any work done is carried out by a professional person who has been fully trained and inspected. This is vital because work not carried out correctly can be dangerous and can lead to gas leaks and potential explosions.
It is actually a legal requirement that anyone undertaking any kind of installation or maintenance work on a gas appliance should be Gas Safe registered. If they are not registered they are breaking the law and can be prosecuted.
The Gas Safe register currently contains over 120,000 approved engineers so you should have little problem finding a qualified engineer. The work undertaken by the Gas Safe approved engineer is routinely and randomly inspected. Anyone found to be completing sub-standard work is removed from the register.
The Gas Safe identification card is an easy way of identifying if your heating engineer is qualified. However, if you do not yet have a heating engineer or have not chosen the company you wish to undertake your gas installation or maintenance then you can refer to the Gas Safe website. This website allows you to search from a database of Gas Safe approved engineers and organisations so you can chose with confidence.
You should never attempt to undertake this kind of work yourself. This includes not only central heating installation and repairs but also fitting gas hobs and ovens. DIY gas installation and servicing can lead to carbon monoxide leaks, which kill around 14 people each year. An additional safeguard against carbon monoxide poisoning includes buying and fitting a carbon monoxide detector. Many local councils offer carbon monoxide detectors free of charge so check with your local authority to see if you are eligible.
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