If something goes wrong with your heating system and you’re without hot water or central heating, you’ll need a heating engineer to come and look at your boilers and radiators to fix the problem.
In this guide, we’ll tell you about the costs of hiring a heating engineer, how you can find one, what affects the costs of hiring a heating engineer and answer some frequently asked questions.
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How Much Do Heating Engineers Charge?
A heating engineer will typically charge between £30 and £60 an hour or between £240 and £480 a day. Some heating engineers will charge per job.
For instance, if you have a faulty cooker hob they might quote a price for the repair, plus their callout, rather than charging on an hourly basis.
What Affects the Cost of a Heating Engineer?
Several factors are likely to have an impact on the final cost of hiring a heating engineer. We take a look at these factors below so you know what to take into account when it comes to setting a budget.
Time Taken to Identify and Fix the Problem
If your fault is found and repaired quickly this might cost a lot less than if the repair takes several hours to fix. It depends on whether the heating engineer charges you a minimum fee or not.
For instance, if a heating engineer has a minimum fee of £200 and the repair turns out to be a simple one, you may have paid more than you needed to.
When you want quotes from heating engineers, use HouseholdQuotes. Simply fill in the online form and tell us briefly what you need.
We’ll then find local heating engineers to give you no-obligation quotes.
Replacement of Parts
As well as a heating engineer’s labour charges, you must also take any parts you need into consideration. Some parts are more expensive than others.
A pressure relief valve for a boiler can be purchased for between £9 and £40. A new timer on the other hand can cost between £50 and £175.
Standard Terms or an Emergency
If you need the work done on an emergency basis, it will cost you more. It is likely that a call-out fee, which might be between £100 and £150, will be added to your bill.
You might also pay a higher hourly rate for the work to be done.
If you need a heating engineer, use HouseholdQuotes. Fill in our online form and we’ll find local heating engineers to give you no-obligation quotes, fast.
Click To Get QuotesHow Can I Save Money Hiring a Heating Engineer?
There’s a few different tips and tricks you can try to save money on hiring a heating engineer.
First, always get at least three quotes from different engineers and compare the quotes. This way you’ll be able to see for yourself what the best offer is.
Try and find a heating engineer who will find the problem without a callout fee and give you a fixed price quote for repairs.
You can also take out a monthly service contract for your boiler. If your boiler is out of guarantee you could take out a monthly service contract.
It will mean that if you do have a problem with the boiler, you might only have to find the excess you have on your policy. The average excess is between £30 and £100.
You can also take out a home emergency policy with your home insurance company, your boiler company, or a company specialising in home emergency cover.
You can also take out a yearly boiler maintenance contract. You pay a certain amount each month and once a year a boiler engineer will visit your home and service your boiler.
A service will help to maintain your boiler and keep it in optimum condition. It might also catch any potential problems early so you can replace a part before you have a boiler breakdown.
Most home emergency policies will come in a number of packages, and you can choose the package that suits you best. A basic package will cover your boiler.
Other packages cover your boiler and central heating system and plumbing.
Most boilers in UK households are powered by gas. The most common systems are the combi-boiler system and heat-only boilers.
Combi-Boilers
Combi boilers are connected to the mains cold water, so you don’t need a water tank. They supply hot water when you turn on the tap.
They are convenient because they save space, and you get instant hot water.
They aren’t very good for large families who may want to use the hot water system at the same time. You can’t have two separate showers running with a combi boiler system.
Heat-Only Boilers
Heat only boilers are connected to a hot water tank. You switch the water on to heat it.
It does mean you have to wait for the water if you want to bathe or shower, but in a large household, two showers will run at the same time with this system as long as you have a big enough water tank.
Condensing Boiler
Another type of boiler is a condensing boiler. While a traditional boiler has wasted gases that escape through the flue, a condensing boiler keeps these gases which turn into heat for your water.
It is more efficient with fewer carbon emissions.
Electric Boilers
Electric boilers are installed through your mains electricity. An electric combi-boiler gives you heating and hot water on demand.
How Do I Find and Hire a Heating Engineer?
The easiest way to find a heating engineer might be to ask around family, friends, and work colleagues. Someone who can give you a personal recommendation is always useful.
Looking online is easy too. If you use HouseholdQuotes and tell us what you need, we’ll find local heating engineers to give you no-obligation quotes.
If you want to look further online, you can check out the website of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE). Enter your postcode and you will see a list of plumbers and heating engineers in your area.
You can also browse the website belonging to the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC). Again, key in your postcode to see a list of local members.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Use the questions below to ensure the professional you’re hoping to hire is the best fit for the job and has the relevant experience to carry it out well.
Is There a Call-Out Fee or Minimum Charge?
Find out what type of charges you are expected to pay. If a heating engineer has a minimum charge or a callout fee, find out how much it is so that you can compare the price with other heating engineers.
Can You Give Me a Written Quote?
If your repair is an emergency then a written quote might not be available, but you could ask the heating engineer to confirm prices by email. If the heating engineer is visiting your home to give you a quote, then make sure it is in writing.
What Experience Do You Have?
If you have a complicated repair, you might prefer to hire a specialist. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask about experience.
If you know it’s something uncomplicated you might be happy to hire a person who has just gone into the business who may charge cheaper rates.
Are You a Member of a Trade Association?
If a heating engineer is a member of a trade association, it means that his work must be of a certain standard. The two main trade associations for plumbing and heating are CIPHE or APHC
Can I See References And/or Photos of Your Past Work?
If the heating engineer has a website, have a browse, and see if there are photos of past work or testimonials from previous customers. A website isn’t necessary, but some kind of customer feedback will help you to make up your mind about whether to hire a particular tradesperson.
Do You Have Public Liability Insurance?
Public liability insurance provides cover to a tradesperson. If an accident occurs, for example, you or a visitor to your property is injured, they might sue you and the tradesperson for negligence.
The public liability insurance covers the costs of a claim if the accident wasn’t due to the negligence of yourself or the tradesperson.
All tradespeople should have public liability cover to protect them from negligence claims.
Are You a Gas Safe Registered Engineer?
Only gas safe engineers can carry out gas work. You can check if your heating engineer is registered by going to the Gas Safe Register, putting in your postcode and seeing if he or she comes up on the list for your area.
Final Checklist
Use the checklist below to help you plan out the best steps to take to hire a heating engineer:
- Get quotes (if you have a gas heating system make sure the engineer is gas safe registered) you can use HouseholdQuotes for this!
- Compare your quotes (look at callout and minimum charges)
- Choose the heating engineer with the best quote for your needs
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between a Heating Engineer, a Gas Engineer, and a Plumber?
The differences are as follows:
Heating Engineer
A heating engineer specialises in the maintenance and repair of heating systems which include:
- Boilers
- Radiators
- Hot water cylinders
- Pipework
- Thermostats
Heating engineers often work closely with Gas Safe engineers. A heating engineer, for example, will install a heating system and the gas engineer will take over at the point where the boiler needs to be installed.
Heating engineers can have gas safety training and register as Gas Safety installers.
Plumber
A plumber deals with installations that include water. They repair and maintain:
- Drains and sewerage
- Bathroom installations with dripping taps or toilets that aren’t flushing
- Dishwashers/washing machine installation
- Blockages
- Leaks
A Gas Engineer
A gas engineer, as the name, implies deals with gas appliances, including boilers.
A gas engineer will fix your:
- Gas central heating
- Gas hob and oven or gas cooker
- Gas fire
- Boiler
A gas engineer must be registered on the Gas Safe Register which is updated each year.
How Much Do Plumbers Charge?
For example, if you need a radiator installed the cost may be between £145 and £190.
If you want to know more about plumber’s charges, read our guide.
How Much Does a Boiler Service Cost?
You can read more about boiler service costs here in our complete guide.
If I Smell Gas in My Home, What Should I Do?
- Open windows and doors
- Don’t smoke or light matches
- Don’t touch light switches
- Turn the gas off at the metre if you can
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
It is part of Building Regulations and informs your local authority that a new appliance has been fitted.
I Am a Landlord; Do I Need a Gas Safety Check on the Property I Rent Out?
The results must be recorded in your Gas Safety Record. Your tenants should have a copy of the annual check.