Plumber or gas engineer: who do I call?
Call a plumber for water: leaks, taps, toilets, drains, cylinders, radiators and heating pipework. Any work on a gas appliance or gas pipework, including inside a gas boiler, must by law be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Many heating faults involve both, so use a firm that has Gas Safe registered engineers and check the registration before work begins.
Key facts
- Water, waste and heating pipework
- Plumber
- Gas boiler, hob, fire or gas pipe
- Gas Safe registered engineer (legal requirement)
- Unvented hot water cylinder
- Engineer qualified for unvented systems
- Check registration
- Gas Safe ID card: photo, licence number, work categories
- Smell gas
- Leave and call 0800 111 999
Jobs for a plumber
These involve water, waste or heating pipework but not gas:
- • Leaks, burst pipes and stop taps.
- • Taps, toilets, showers and basins.
- • Blocked sinks, baths and toilets.
- • Radiators, radiator valves and heating pipework.
- • Hot water cylinders and immersion heaters (unvented cylinders need a specifically qualified engineer).
Jobs that need a Gas Safe registered engineer
In Great Britain it is a legal requirement that anyone working on gas appliances, fittings or pipework is on the Gas Safe Register. That includes:
- • Repairing, servicing or replacing a gas boiler, including parts inside it.
- • Gas hobs, cookers and fires.
- • Gas pipework and meters on the customer side.
- • Landlord gas safety checks.
How to check an engineer
Every Gas Safe registered engineer carries an ID card with their photo and licence number. The back of the card lists the types of gas work they are qualified for, so check it covers the appliance in question. You can confirm the details on the Gas Safe Register website or by phone before work starts.
If you smell gas
Do not call a plumber first. Leave the property, do not use switches or flames, turn off the gas at the meter if it is safe to do so, and call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999.
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