How to find a local Corgi registered gas engineer

All work on gas appliances should be completed by a tradesperson that’s on The Gas Safe Register. The Gas Safe Register is the official gas registration body for the UK. It replaced CORGI registration in 2009.

It’s important due to the safety concerns of gas that you make sure a tradesperson is registered before employing them. We’re here to help to make things a bit clearer.

How to choose the right local gas fitter

You’ll want to make sure you get the right tradesperson for your project. Here are a few tips and tricks for finding a Gas Safe fitter who’s local to you.

1. Hire a registered gas fitter with experience

You will need a secure gas supply to keep your home safe. You must make sure that the gas engineer you hire is working legally and has the qualifications necessary for your and your home’s safety.

How to check if a gas engineer is registered

Every qualified gas engineer will be registered on the Gas Safe Register.

• To prove that they are qualified, they are given an engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. This is a pocket-sized ID card
• On the front of the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card, you’ll see the engineer’s photograph and expiry date. On the back of the card, you’ll see a list of the jobs the engineer is qualified to carry out. These jobs will include things like a gas boiler service or water heater repair
• Before allowing a gas engineer to work on any appliances in your home, ask to see their Gas Safe ID card
• One thing to be aware of is that unqualified engineers may use the Gas Safe Register logo. The only way you can be sure the engineer is qualified to work in your home safely is to ask to see their Gas Safe ID card

2. Always check reviews and ratings

When hiring any tradesperson, one of the best things you can do is to check reviews and ratings.

A company or sole trader will likely have social media pages where you can see up to date reviews. Or, even better, take a look at their Checkatrade reviews.

We check the reviews on Checkatrade are from real people, and that trades meet our high standards.

3. Get quotes to compare

Most tradespeople will happily offer a free quote for potential clients.

When getting quotes, make sure you ask for a breakdown of the costs so you can see exactly what you’re paying for. Having a clear breakdown of prices for what’s included and what will cost extra also makes it easier to compare quotes.

4. Ask for a timeframe

You’ll want to know how long the job is going to take. Fitting, repairing or replacing boilers can be complicated, but it’s important to be aware of how long a gas engineer will be in your property. A qualified and experienced tradesperson should be able to outline this for you.

What does a gas engineer and fitter do?

A gas engineer will fit, repair or replace boilers. Different gas engineers may specialise in fitting or repairing but on the whole these are the jobs they would carry out:

• Installing and repairing gas appliances such as boilers, ovens and stoves
• Repairing heating systems
• Carrying out tests to make sure gas appliances are safe

How much do registered gas engineers cost?

It totally depends on the job that you want them to carry out and what the issue is.

• A scheduled service for a gas boiler is on average between £80 - £120 depending on the type of boiler it is
• If you’re a landlord who needs a safety inspection for a property, the average cost is £75 - £100
• If you’re budgeting for a new boiler, the average cost is between £3,000 - £15,000

How to hire a gas engineer

In addition to reading reviews, there are a few other checks you should do to make sure you’re hiring the right gas engineer for you:

• Qualifications: A gas engineer will have the appropriate qualifications which will be provided by an accredited training provider or through an apprenticeship. All engineers must complete an accredited certification scheme to become a member of the Gas Safe Register, which involves exams to test practical ability and theory knowledge
• Insurance: It’s highly recommended you find a gas engineer with public liability insurance to make sure you won’t be out of pocket should the worst happen. If they have more than one employee we also recommend they have employers liability insurance
• Part of the Gas Safe Register: Finding a Gas Safe engineer is essential to your safety, not only to do a good job! You can check the Gas Safe Register to find a trusted tradesperson or search a directory to find reliable qualified tradespeople near you, like Checkatrade

Questions to ask a gas engineer

• Are they Gas Safe Registered?
• When will you be able to start and what is the timeline for completion?
• How and when do you take payment?
• Are you fully insured?
• How long have you been trading?