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What’s the difference between a plumber and heating engineer?

A question we get time and time again from customers is what’s the difference between a plumber and a heating engineer (or heating plumber)? So we thought it was about time we addressed it in a blog post. It’s pretty simple really but it’s always good to know whom you need to call in the event of a home mishap!

A bit about the plumber

In Roman times, plumbers used to work with lead piping, which is where the name for the workers came from. The Latin word for lead is actually ‘Plumbum’ so you can see why they’re now called plumbers!

Whilst modern plumbing devices are no longer made from lead (in fact plumbers spend a lot of time removing lead piping from homes), the name has remained the same. Today plumbers tend to work on wet and dry pipes. From dishwashers and drains to toilets and sinks, if you’ve got a leak, it’s a plumber you’ll need to call.

Although some plumbers are also capable and qualified to work on heating appliances, it is important to check before hiring one to fix your boiler!

So what do heating engineers / heating plumbers do?

The clue is in the name! Basically heating plumbers or engineers (whichever you’d like to call them) work solely on the heating appliances found in buildings. They carry out a wide range of jobs from maintaining and installing heating pipework to fixing appliances when they break down.

Heating plumbers tend to work on a wide range of properties including residential, commercial and industrial, ensuring that they are heated safely and efficiently. Whereas some plumbers work on both water and heating, heating plumbers are reserved for heating only and don’t venture into any other aspect of plumbing work.

Who do I call for boiler services and repairs?

If you are having trouble with your boiler or it needs a service, then your safest bet is to hire a heating plumber or heating engineer. Whilst some plumbers’ services also cover boilers, you will need to check that they are qualified to do so.

Gas Safe Heating Plumbers

Before hiring anyone to work on your boiler and heating system (whether they go by the name of a plumber or a heating plumber), you need to check that they are Gas Safe.

Gas safety legislation in the UK, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey sets out gas work as activities that involve:
• Maintaining, servicing, adjusting, disconnecting, altering or renewing the fitting or purging it of air or gas
• Changing the position of a fitting that is not readily movable
• Removing a fitting

A Gas Safe registered heating plumber or engineer must only ever carry out these activities. Any plumber that carries out this work without first obtaining a Gas Safe certificate will be breaking the law and could potentially endanger you and those living in your household.

Our heating plumbers

Here at Priory Gas Heating we specialise in domestic and commercial heating plumbing. All of our London heating engineers are Gas Safe registered and therefore competent in carrying out work on boilers and heating systems safely. From boiler installations to solar water heating, we provide a wide range of services that allow our customers to benefit from efficient and effective heating systems in their home and workplace.

So whilst we don’t fix leaky sinks and burst water pipes, we are your one-stop-shop for all heating plumbing services in London and the surrounding area.