Plumbers & heating engineers: what's the difference?

There’s a common misconception that plumbers and heating engineers are one and the same. While there are areas of overlap, it’s important for homeowners to understand the key differences that set them apart…

Plumbers

A professional plumber is someone who is trained to work on wet and dry pipes, with the knowledge to keep your homes water system working the way they should.

If you have an issue with your kitchen sink or bathroom appliances then it’s a plumber that you need to get in contact with. If you have any leaks or patches of damp, or plan to extend your home then it’s important to get in touch with a plumber.

There is no qualification requirement to undertake plumbing work but that does not mean they are not experts at what they do. While some plumbers are also qualified to work on heating appliances such as your boiler, it is important to understand that only a Gas Safe registered trade undertakes any work on your home.

Heating Engineers

Heating engineers are different in that they MUST be Gas Safe registered as it is a requirement to handle the wide array of jobs that they undertake such as installing new heating pipework as well as maintaining and installing new boilers.

Making sure that your home is safe and that your boiler is running as efficiently as it can be based on your needs is all part of a heating engineers job. This level of specialisation allows an engineer to work with you to understand what is best for you and your family.

For example, combi boilers are the most common type of boilers in the UK and are able to supply water as and when you need it. If you live in a larger house or with a larger family, then taking that into account could mean that a combi boiler may not be the best solution for you as you may see a dip in water pressure if you use two taps simultaneously.

We highly recommend that you ensure that you take the time to check that your engineer is Gas Safe before you hire them to handle any kind of work on your home.

Looking for heating engineers or plumbers in the Solihull area?

Here at Afterglow, we have experience at domestic plumbing AND are fully Gas Safe registered meaning we’re here for any kind of issue you may have with your home. If you have any questions or would like to talk about what’s best to keep your home warm, get in touch here!