All You Need To Know About Gas Safe

When you hire an engineer to service your home gas appliances, such as your oven or boiler, it is very important to make sure they are Gas Safe Registered. Poorly serviced or incorrectly installed appliances can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, and it is thought that low standards of workmanship account for almost all deaths caused by gas leakage. You can easily check whether your gas engineer is Gas Safe Registered by visiting www.gassaferegister.co.uk or calling 0800 408 5500.

The Gas Safe Register replaced the old CORGI system (Council of Registered Gas Installers) in 2009. It is now the only official register of gas engineers for the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and Guernsey.

The Register works by only accepting engineers who have recognised qualifications and adhere to strict safety standards. All of the work completed by the engineer is then logged for potential customers to check online or by calling the freephone number. The registered engineers also carry an ID card with their name, photograph and details of their qualifications. It is a good idea to check this before allowing an engineer to service your appliances, as an engineer who is qualified to repair a gas oven may not be able to service a boiler, for example.

No matter how plausible an engineer may seem, it is always a good idea to make sure they are registered with Gas Safe. It only takes a couple of minutes to check and it could be a valuable decision. The Gas Safe Register was created not only to promote high standards of safety but also to investigate unlicensed traders who could potentially put your home at risk.

Do You Need A New Boiler?

If your boiler is around ten years old, it could be time to replace it. Older boilers are less efficient, use more fuel and produce less heat than newer, condensing boilers. Despite the initial cost, by buying a new boiler, you could be saving yourself a significant amount on your heating bills. According to Boilers.org.uk, an old boiler costs the average household around £634 a year compared to a new energy-efficient boiler which costs a household only £401. There are also plenty of grants and special offers available if you feel you can’t afford the full cost of a new boiler so it’s worth checking out if you qualify.

All boilers fitted in the UK have to be classed as energy-efficient. This means they provide the maximum amount of power on minimum fuel. By purchasing an energy-efficient boiler, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also helping to save the environment, too.

A combination (or combi) boiler is a popular choice for many households, as they can provide the hot water for your whole house without needing a separate tank. However, if you have a large house and often need to run more than one shower or bath at the same time, a system boiler is a better option. These come with storage cylinders that can hold a large amount of water at any one time. The system boilers have largely replaced the old open vent or heating only boilers as they take up far less space.

Boiler insurance is a good idea, even with the purchase of a new boiler. Central heating repairs can be expensive and, without insurance, you could be left with no hot water or heating until your boiler can be fixed.

The best thing you can do is speak to a trusted, Gas Safe registered London plumber to find out the best type of boiler for your property.

The Benefits of Electric Central Heating

Not all homes have gas and there are many that can’t have gas installed at all. Some new property developments in London for instance can’t have gas as the space that the buildings are in is too enclosed or the flue system is not adequate. So what is the best way to heat a home and have a constant supply of hot water if you can’t have gas central heating fitted?

Powered by Electricity

Electric central heating is the answer. Electric heating runs from the mains electricity with electric radiators that can be controlled individually throughout the house and hot water that is powered from an efficient and economic electric boiler. There are a number of choices of good energy efficient electric boilers available. The Electromax boiler and Thermaflow boiler are compact, quiet boilers with a high efficiency rates of 99% plus. Another good option is a wall mounted electric combination boiler. Qualified electricians here at Bates Plumbing and Heating will advise you on the best electric boiler for your home and will fit it too. All the electricians who work for me wiring and fitting electric boilers are fully NICEIC registered.

Electric central heating is not just for homes without access to gas either. Many people are opting for electric central heating as it’s a safer way of heating your home with no risk from gas leaks or carbon monoxide. You can choose to have either heating, hot water or both. It’s easy to fit and maintain and you can even make use of cheap electricity tariffs.

If you’re thinking of making the switch to electric central heating call Bates today on 020 8924 3558.

What Separates an Average Plumbing and Heating Company from a Leading One?

This is the question that I always go back to when changes are afoot in my business; whether that’s when we’ve expanded or when new services have been offered. It’s the question that keeps me, and my whole team, on our toes.

The differences can be the obvious ones such as all your work being carried out by an experienced tradesman who is fully qualified and registered as Gas Safe. With this in mind you know that your job will be professionally undertaken and you’ll have a high first time fix rate, saving you time and getting you back on track.

Sometimes though, it’s not the obvious things that make a service a leader. When you call our free number at Bates Heating and Plumbing you will talk to a knowledgeable engineer and not an automated machine. We have no call out charge and all our quotes are clearly written so that there are no hidden extras or nasty surprises. Our engineers are reliable and punctual and all our work is guaranteed. We have a quick response time and we always provide long-term solutions over quick fixes.

Having a fleet of reliable tradespeople all under one roof helps keep us one step ahead of the competition too. I’ve spent a lot of time listening to feed-back from my customers and know that having all the tradespeople you need to keep your home running smoothly in one place, and all with the same high standards as me really makes us stand out.

So what does separate the average company from the leading one? Call Bates today on 020 8924 3558 and see the difference for yourself.

All in One Home Cover

If your toilet is blocked, you call a plumber. If your boiler is on the blink, you call a Gas Safe heating engineer. If your plug sockets are sparking, you call an electrician. Finding one tradesman is hard enough though, let alone finding a different one for each thing that goes wrong. Wouldn’t it be good if there was a company that was made up of a complete team of tradesmen, who can fix everything and anything around the home?

Well actually there is, and guess what? It’s us here at Bates! Yes, we are called Bates Heating and Plumbing, but we are so much more than that. I know how hard it is for homeowners and landlords to identify the best tradesmen, which is why I decided to get plumbers, heating engineers, electricians, tilers and many others under one umbrella and offer a complete service. This way, whatever service you need, you have one number to call.

As all tradesmen I employ work for Bates, I can guarantee they are fully trained and highly experienced at what they do. I personally promise that every tradesman will perform to a level that I expect and set – and believe me, I set the bar high! Many people hire us once they have just bought a property and want to move in or let it out as quickly as possible. By using the same company, things get done a lot sooner and there is significantly less chance of things going wrong, deadlines being missed and costs escalating.

Need a team to take care of every aspect of your home so you don’t have to worry about it? Want it fully project managed? Then contact Bates today on 020 8924 3558 for a FREE no obligation written estimate.

Summer Heating and Plumbing Advice

The good thing about summer is that it gives your poor old heating system a bit of rest. The past few years have seen some of the harshest winters the country has ever had, so the chances are your boiler, radiators and pipes will have had quite a load placed on them.

Now that the weather is nice and sunny though, I suggest you give a 24 hour London plumber here at Bates a call so we can give your whole system the once over and leave it in tip top condition for the coming winter. You may be thinking that your heating system and pipes have been fine for years. But wouldn’t you rather know NOW if there is a fault and get it fixed instead of waiting for it to pack up just as things turn a bit chilly? Surely it would be better to have no heating for a day in August than it would be for two hours in December?

Pipes cause absolute nightmares if they burst or crack. With all the harsh weather of the last year, your pipes may have significantly weakened. Another frost could tip them over the edge and before you know it you could be facing a hefty bill for their replacement. This is a big and often complex job that will eat into your Christmas savings. I’d recommend you call a Bates heating engineer now to be on the safe side.

My team are skilled in spotting problems before they actually start causing you trouble. It could be that everything is fine – but at least you’ll know one way or the other. What is there to lose?

Be Gas Safe with a Qualified Heating Engineer

Believe me when I say that you shouldn’t feel like you are the only one confused if you cannot get your head around what you should look for in a gas engineer. The powers that be haven’t exactly made it easy for the general public to know who to trust and what you should be looking for.

From my own personal experience, the name CORGI was widely known – people would know that a reliable gas engineer had to be CORGI registered. But far fewer consumers know that CORGI has been replaced by Gas Safe.

Gas Safe is what you now must look for when hiring a London heating engineer. At Bates, all my team members are Gas Safe registered – meaning they can do all manner of works on your boiler, radiators, pipe work – you name it – legitimately and more importantly, safely and with a guarantee.

It is easy to check what anyone claiming to be a heating engineer can and cannot do. All you need to do is ask to see their Gas Safe card. On the back should be a list of all the work they are qualified to perform. If they are there to fix your boiler but you cannot see boilers listed on their card, turn them away and call someone else. Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of carbon monoxide poisoning and lead to many deaths in the UK each year. Never take the risk and assume that the person working in your home is qualified.

Only ever use a Bates Gas Safe registered engineer for total peace of mind. If you suspect that someone who has worked on your gas appliances was not Gas Safe registered, give Bates a call and we’ll check everything out for you and make sure your home is 100% safe where gas is concerned.