After you’ve chosen the combi boiler model that’s right for your home, it’s time to hire a professional engineer to install it as safely and quickly as possible. It seems like a pretty simple task and you might be tempted to just go for the first combi boiler installation company you come across, or to hire someone from the same company you purchased your combi boiler from.

However, it’s worth taking time to consider who you hire; contractors might not always be as competent or as efficient as advertised and time spent fixing a problem they have caused or going out to get spare parts costs you precious time and money. That’s not to mention the worries that come with hiring ‘cowboy’ contractors – people who don’t have a registered licence and who might make a number of mistakes – some of which could be fatal.

8 Tips for Hiring a Quality Installer or Engineer

Here are some quick tips to help you make the best and most informed decision possible when hiring an engineer to install your combi boiler:

1. If you’re installing a new gas combi boiler, make sure you hire an engineer who is registered with Gas Safe – this is a legal requirement in the UK.
2. Before hiring anyone to install your combi boiler, talk to friends and family and see if they can recommend anybody in particular who did a good job in the past for them. Word-of-mouth often builds a pretty loyal and trustworthy client base, and if you mention who gave you their number you might even be able to negotiate a discount from the recommended boiler engineer.
3. Hire someone registered with OFTEC if you’re installing an oil combi boiler; they specialise in installing and maintaining oil-fired boilers.
4. Make sure you hire a qualified electrician who can comply with BS7671:2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations to safely fit an electric combi boiler.
5. For cheaper installation costs, you should always look at hiring locally to save money. It may not sound appealing going with lesser known companies, but more often than not they deal with plenty of homes in the area and aren’t likely to ‘disappear’ like cowboy contractors any time soon – just in case you do have a complaint or any follow-up repairs to deal with.
6. You can also cut back on costs by requesting a blanket deal when you make your original combi boiler purchase from your chosen retailer or manufacturer. As long as you check that they have had experience working on your type of boiler before and won’t leave too long a waiting time between purchase and installation (anything more than three working days is pushing it), then it could be a great way to get the whole task done in one go and save a bit of money.
7. Finally, if you don’t want to make a rash decision or simply hire somebody over the phone, you can always arrange to hold preliminary interviews with potential contractors. This is especially useful with local contractors who are eager for the work but don’t have the corporate finance to back-up any mistakes. By simply asking for a little, informal chat before you sign on the dotted line, you can build a rapport with the prospective installer, making sure they understand exactly what you want done – and that you won’t stand for it being dragged out any longer than necessary.
8. Whoever you choose to hire, always ask for proof of that they have valid public liability insurance – this will cover you if anything goes wrong with the installation.

Follow these easy steps and you are more than likely to have your combination boiler installed by a proficient and qualified expert within a matter of days.