What to do in the event of no hot water

Finding your hot water has stopped working can be a stressful time – especially if you are unsure of the exact steps to take to have it repaired or are unaware of how to get in contact with a reliable and qualified plumber local to you.

Unfortunately, the market has both trusted, qualified, professionals to repair your hot water system but also its fair share of rogue traders, who may do more harm than good to your hot water system, and even overcharge you in addition!

Where To Find A Plumber

As soon as you realise you have no hot water, it is time to call a plumber. There is a variety of ways you can contact a plumber in your local area – either via the internet such as this site Boiler Guide, by calling a plumber found in the Thomson Directories, ads in local shops or via trusted word of mouth.

What To Look For in a Plumber

If your hot water is provided via gas either natural or LPG, it is essential that you ensure that your plumber is Gas Safe registered . This is the new governing body to that is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive in the UK to keep and maintain a trusted register of competent gas installers (it replaced CORGI in 2009). Always ask your plumber if they are registered with Gas Safe before they begin any work on your gas boiler.

If your hot water is powered by any other method, such as electricity, is it still essential that you hire a qualified and trusted plumber to carry out any work at all in your home. Be sure to quiz all plumbers you contact thoroughly, and, if possible, research your plumber or the plumbing servicing company that sends out the plumber via the internet at home or via your local library.

Although there is no specific body such as Gas Safe that regulates plumbers working on non-gas powered systems, there are ways of assessing if a plumber is reliable, such as checking if the plumber is a member of The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, otherwise known as the IPHE, an organisation in which all members must prove they are fully qualified and well-experienced to be eligible to join, as well a strict Code of Professional Standards that must be adhered to by all their members. The IPHE website has a search engine where you can find their members local to you by postcode, or the IPHE head office can be contacted via phone or post for any enquiries you may have.

Another good way of ensuring you find a plumber that can be trusted is by asking friends local to you if they have recommendations on a plumber they have used themselves, or even any horror stories of a plumber that should be avoided at all costs!

Getting A Quote

Once you have had a plumber look over the problem with your hot water system in your household, it is vital that you get a full quote from them for all the work needed, including any part costs. In doing so, you can guarantee to a degree that the price of your boiler repair will not fluctuate without the plumber giving you a good reason, as well as allowing you to break down the costs and working out if you have a good deal. If the quote seems a little high, or the numbers seem off, or you are unsure for any reason then don’t be afraid to ring around for quotes from other plumbers for your hot water repair especially if it’s a boiler replacement that is need as prices can fluctuate wildly between suppliers.