Why use a plumber?
Victoriaplumb recommends that you should always use a suitably qualified plumber to install or maintain your bathroom and heating products.
Plumbers can be qualified and experienced in a number of areas, so please check with them to ensure your requirements are clearly understood and that they can complete the work correctly and safely.
If the work you require involves any maintenance of gas supply they have to be Corgi registered (in the UK). Suitably qualified plumbers will have a Corgi registration number, and this can be checked on the Corgi website. Always ask and check the number, and do not always assume that the information detailed in the advert or relayed via a third person is always correct.. To achieve Corgi registration, a plumber needs to pass a Certificate of Competence through an Accredited Certification Scheme.
It is also worth checking if they are a member of the IPHE (The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering). This IPHE has been in existence for over 100 years and is still very well respected. Many qualified plumbers are members, but it is not a legal requirement.
Basic qualifications for a plumber can include an NVQ and technical certificate. This is normally achieved whilst working as an apprentice under the supervision of a suitably qualified plumber.
If you are in any doubt about the work involved, then approach someone professionally qualified or registered and check the details with the relevant professional body.
Plumbers can be used on a variety of projects
- Bathrooms - Installation of bathroom suites, baths, showers, taps, basins, heated towel rails, bathroom furniture and accessories making sure everything is watertight and correctly sealed.
- Toilets and basins- Advice on selecting the right type of products and their installation along with any associated pipe work.
- Central Heating - This can include installation of gas, electric or solid fuel boilers, all pipe work and or under floor heating. We always recommend that the plumber is CORGI registered for this type of work.
- Drainage - Connection of the domestic water system to the mains water supply and also removing effluent into mains sewage systems or a septic tank.
- Repairs – Repair work and maintenance on any or all of the above projects.
Where to find a good plumber
- The best option is always to ask friends and family to recommend someone they used and who did a good job at a reasonable price. Make sure that they did actually use them.
- Plumbing work is practical and logical, so have a think about what the job might entail before the plumber arrives. This will make you better prepared to understand what they say is reasonable.
- If you are in any doubt then use a professionally qualified plumber who is Corgi registered or perhaps a registered plumber from the IPHE. This does not always guarantee good work but its the best option after personal recommendation.
- If its a reasonable size job, then make sure you get at least three quotes and compare each of them. Check what each one says about the work required, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. The quotes must always be provided in writing, and not just verbal, and must not be estimates. Look out for any small print which relates to any potential added costs.
- If product parts are required have a look on bathroom websites and see how much they are charging for the part. Is the trade-price reasonable and competitive?