Homeowners across the UK have been issued an important warning ahead of winter, as a series of errors could affect their insurance. During BBC Morning Live on Friday, journalist Holly Hamilton stressed that people should switch their heating on now to make sure it’s working properly.
She pointed out that many will have left their heating off over the summer, only to turn it on in autumn and winter and discover there’s a problem. So don't wait until December 23 to test it, she says, otherwise you could end up needing an emergency engineer. But how can you tell who to trust? Here is what you need to know.
Look at the Gas Safe Register
Holly said if you think there’s a problem with your boiler - or it’s due for its annual service - you should check the Gas Safe Register before booking anyone to inspect or repair it. She stressed that "gas is very, very dangerous".
Holly added: "You do not want a situation where you’re saying 'my mate knows a guy'. You want to make sure that this person is certified. You need somebody that is qualified, somebody that is registered for the work that they are actually doing."
What is the Gas Safe Register?
She explained that a key sign to look out for is the Gas Safe Register logo and ID - this should mean that they are a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you're looking for a CORGI-registered gas engineer, it is worth noting that CORGI has been replaced by Gas Safe.
According to Checkatrade.com: "CORGI (the Council for Registered Gas Installers) was the UK's official gas registration body until 2009, when it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register. Gas Safe is now the only official body for gas registration in the UK, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey."
So if you're looking for a "CORGI engineer" today, what you actually need is a Gas Safe registered engineer. Every legitimate gas engineer working in the UK must be on this register - it's a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations for working with gas.
Holly warns: "If you have had work done by someone who is not on the [Gas Safe] register, it can affect your house insurance. I don’t want to scare people, but this is about making sure you do a very simple check that can save a lot of hassle."
How can I check if an engineer is Gas Safe registered?
Go to the Gas Safe Register website. You can look up any individual and check to see if they have the right qualifications for the job that they are doing. If you don’t want to go online, you can phone the number 0800 408 5500.
Holly recommends: "If you want to check that they have their Gas Safe Registration, they have a Gas Safe ID. Every engineer will have a physical or digital ID card with a special seven-digit ID number. Every engineer that’s on the Gas Safe Register has to renew their license every year and their qualifications every five years."
Because of this, when checking their ID, you should look out for the following: check their card is valid - if it's out of date, it could mean that they are no longer registered; check that the company name matches who you have booked; check that they match their photo; their ID should have a Gas Safe hologram; they should also have a QR code - check their digital version too to make sure it matches; check the back of their ID too - this should tell you what work they're qualified to carry out as "being Gas Safe Registered doesn’t mean that you can automatically do every job you’re asking them to do", Holly says. For example, one engineer may only be able to work on Water Heaters, while another may only be able to do Gas Boiler jobs.
If they have an issue, it's a red flag
Holly stresses that if they are reluctant to show you ID and make a fuss, it's a red flag. She explains: "If an engineer is registered, they shouldn’t have a problem. If you’re asking for ID and they're making a faff about it, that is a red flag."
She concluded: "They’ve done the work, they have registered themselves. They will be very happy to show that off."
