When it comes to your gas appliances, you need to be sure that you are trusting a registered and qualified professional. This is because illegal gas fittings and poorly installed gas appliances can be unsafe, cause a range of problems, and be potentially dangerous to yourself or your home. However, choosing a professional gas fitting company is not always straight forward. Here at K and M Maintenance, we are Preston’s leading gas engineering company. As a result, we have produced this guide to help you choose a good gas fitter.
Illegal Gas fittings
Your gas appliances need to be installed, serviced and repaired by a qualified engineer. Having said that, there are around 250,000 illegal gas fitting jobs taken on every year in the UK. This can be for a range of reasons including:
- Price
- Often an unqualified gas engineer will be a “jack of all trades” handyman. The emphasis here is that they are master of none. Especially gas engineering. However, they are often a lot cheaper than hiring a professional company.
- Ignorance
- Many people do not realise that all gas appliances, from gas cookers to gas fires require a professional gas engineer to install. This is because incorrectly installed gas appliances can cause huge risks in terms of explosions, fires and fatalities
- Fraudulent activities
- People are duped by cowboy builders and con-men every day across the UK. As a result, homeowners and landlords that know the law and search for a qualified engineer can still end up with an illegal gas fitter.
Warning signs
Thankfully, for savvy homeowners there are some warning signs that can potentially indicate a risk. These warning signs include:
- Negative reviews on social media and online review sites
- The lack of discussion about the Gas Safe Register on the company website or social media page.
- A gas fitter that is also advertising a range of other services, i.e. a local handyman.
The Gas Safe Register
To keep your gas installations, services and repairs on the right side of the law, you should always hire a gas engineer company that is listed on the gas safe register. This will prove that the gas engineer is qualified and professional.
In summary
Choosing a professional gas fitting company is easy if you opt for a company listed on the gas safe register. However, dont be tempted to use a service that is not listed, or a local handyman. This could result in dangerous appliances that could be lethal to your home or family. If you need a professional company, why not contact us at K and M Maintenance today?