According to a recent poll by the Association of Heating & Plumbing Contractors (APHC) 1,000 homeowners are putting themselves at risk by not asking plumbing professionals for any proof of industry qualifications.
Interestingly, 83% of those surveyed did say that professional qualifications are an important factor when choosing a plumbing professional but nearly half did not actually request information regarding their qualifications or experience. A further 30% of those surveyed didn’t check any form of identification prior to work commencing.
Checking a professionals qualifications and experience should be the first step in finding the right professional for the job. Not only does this ensure the right person is doing the job but it also removes the risk of a rogue trader carrying out work. By checking qualifications you can speak to the relevant trade body or association before any work commences to be sure that the professional has the correct skills for the job.
John Thompson, Chief Executive of APHC, commented: “This research clearly demonstrates the trust the public puts in unknown tradesmen. When we invite anyone into our homes we are putting ourselves in a potentially vulnerable situation and despite high profile campaigns to raise awareness the message isn’t being taken on-board. Thankfully cases of unscrupulous traders are relatively rare however, we want to stamp out all unsatisfactory and dangerous traders from the plumbing and heating sector.
“Taking the time to make a few initial checks could save homeowners money and safeguard their security. Often consumers call upon plumbing and heating engineers when something has gone wrong and the pressure is on to fix a boiler or a burst pipe; however these are times when checks are particularly important to ensure that consumers are paying a fair price and not rushed into major decisions.”
Consumers can easily find a qualified and accredited local plumbing and heating engineer using the APHC’s search facility at www.FindAQualityPlumber.co.uk. The online database allows consumers to search via a number of criteria including postcode, town, residential or commercial sector or by specific business name if already known. The results are displayed to clearly show the suppliers full contact and website details, location and areas of specialism, such as heating systems; renewables; hot water; plumbing and electrical. The search also provides additional information broken down into maximum contract value, membership type plus types of property and jobs worked on.
APHC has also released a series of free, impartial consumer guides to educate the general public and provide background information on a host of plumbing and heating topics, with the aim of arming homeowners with the understanding of works required and being discussed. The guides range from advice on how to select and employ the right installer, preparing for cold weather, dealing with emergencies and guides to conventional heating systems. In addition new technologies are also demystified with information on solar thermal hot water and biomass boilers.
More advice and consumer focused plumbing and heating news from APHC can found on their Facebook page www.Facebook.com/FindAQualityPlumber.
For more information please visit www.aphc.co.uk
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