CORGI Gas Workers

[Nile]

By law gas workers must be registered with CORGI, the Council for Registered Gas Installers.

They must produce their CORGI ID card before work commences. Take the card and examine both sides. On the reverse side of the card, it will state what work they are competent/qualified to undertake.

Be aware that the guys who fit kitchens will have a CORGI card for the gas hobs they fit but they won't necessarily be competent or qualified to work on your gas fire and central heating boiler!

Another tip to look out for when selecting the firm/individual to do your work, the CORGI registration number is a series of digits. Those with the fewer digits have been registered longest.

The gas installer who repaired our central heating system recently has a four digit CORGI registration number. He was registered with CORGI when it was only voluntary (it is now mandatory) and has many years of experience. The info might help you to choose your gas worker/installer/firm. ;)

[MSE Martin]

Nile - why not do a safety article - money saving safety tips for the home - and put it in the articles section?

[Nile]

I don't see that these 'articles' I've posted are money saving.

All I'm trying to do is to share my experiences with everyone and hopefully it will provoke some people into action (installing detectors) and keep safety in homes as a priority.

I'm not claiming to be an expert, I'm just sharing information.

[vanoonoo]

most of the info on this site is from lay people sharing what they know or have found out - very few people are experts - your tips will be seen as money saving by most people. I had no idea that smaller numbers meant longer registration - it's like the Jersey number plate system! This site is really about consumer power as much as money saving. Go on Nile ..... *grin*

[icecoolbabe]

My cousin has been a Corgi registered plumber for many years. As of next year, all Corgi registered plumbers need to become electrically qualified as well - or lose their Corgi status! So he tells me....

[Edinburghlass]

Although living just on the outskirts of Edinburgh I am in an area without "town" gas and have to rely on LPG. As I just purchased a new gas hob along with an electric built-in oven. I now find that to be able to fit an LPG hob the Corgi registered fitter also has to sit an exam and have a licence for LPG. Very few companies seem to have this licence so I now have a new oven installed and a new hob still sitting in its box :'(

About six years ago we applied for a gas supply and were told it would cost £2,000 per house with a minimum of 13 houses uptake, last year we applied again to be told it would be £6,000 per house with a minimum of 9 houses! So "town" gas for us is obviously not a necessity but considered a luxury item.

So I would take any registered LPG Corgi fitter no matter what size his number is, lol

[Mrs Thrift]

Nile, I agree with Noonoo that safety tips are money saving. One of the most expensive things that can happen is you injure yourself and can't work or you damage something expensive, like burning your house down. No matter how good your insurance, it can't really make up for it. And no amount of money could make up for injuries, or worse, to a loved one.

So, even if safety tips seem to be expensive in the short-term they could be saving immeasurable amounts in the long-run.

And Cynthia, why on earth would you think you should have mains gas? It's not as if you'd want central heating because it's cold or anything in Scotland...

I know how quickly it changes from urban to countryside in Scotland, but I was surprised to see you're close to the capital but still can't have "town" gas. Poor show.

[Nile]

I've read the posts in I WANNA about boilers, central heating and whether it's worth signing up for a contract.

Thought resurrecting this post to page 1 might help.

[debeast]

It definatly does help thank you m8 :-)

[Nile]

I've resurrected this post to help Sarahsaver (New Boiler Post) in the 'I wanna' thread.

If you read my first post on this thread, you'll see that it is wise to carefully read your CORGI worker's registration card. The lower the CORGI number (fewer digits) means that your CORGI worker has been registered longer/has greater experience/possibly registered well before it became mandatory.

One thing I've not mentioned before, my CORGI worker told me that there are new regulations coming into force shortly (2005?). Boilers bought and installed in 2005? will have to conform to new standards on efficiency etc.

Is it possible that you can hold on until next year, to take advantage of buying a superior boiler model?

Ask your CORGI worker for advice and be sure to check his/her qualifications (listed on the reverse of the card) carefully.

[Fran]

Does anyone know how to pick your electric person?

[Nile]

Let's all be safe in our homes.

[chalky_bertie]

Make sure you check that their Corgi Number is bona fide as I did this and it wasn't so beware. While on the ohone to Corgi they also suggested the names and numbers of people that are registered in your area. Worth a go anyway then at least you know they are registered


;D

[budgetflyer]

The fact that an engineer has been CORGI registered longer doesn't make him/her any more competent.Some older "Gas Fitters" really aren't clued up on the dignostic side of modern gas boilers where most faults are electrical.
Old, out dated and in some cases, bad habits often die hard whereas younger engineers are IMO more likely to "follow the book" and are more ready to accept and adopt new technology.
The qualiifications to carry out gas work must be renewed every 5th year and on the whole the industry has a very good safety record and is very well policed by CORGI.

You dont really need to wait untill next year for the new energy standards. These "Condensing boilers" can be bought now but from next year, with a few special exceptions, only boilers with a SEBUK rating of A or B will be allowed to be installed.These boilers extract the heat from flue gases to raise efficiency up to 90%. This can save between 10 and 25% on fuel bills as well as being enviromentally more friendly. At present they cost at least £250 more to buy so savings wont be immediate.
Cash back grants are available.

In the meantime I believe all other boiler types will be a poor investment .Manufacturing will stop soon so spares may only be available for 5 years or so .

[Nile]

As you all start turning on your central heating and gas fires........have you had them serviced by a CORGI registered gas worker this year?

[plumb1]

By law gas workers must be registered with CORGI, the Council for Registered Gas Installers.

They must produce their CORGI ID card before work commences. !Take the card and examine both sides. !On the reverse side of the card, it will state what work they are competent/qualified to undertake. !

Be aware that the guys who fit kitchens will have a CORGI card for the gas hobs they fit but they won't necessarily be competent or qualified to work on your gas fire and central heating boiler!

Another tip to look out for when selecting the firm/individual to do your work, the CORGI registration number is a series of digits. !Those with the fewer digits have been registered longest. !

The gas installer who repaired our central heating system recently has a four digit CORGI registration number. !He was registered with CORGI when it was only voluntary (it is now mandatory) and has many years of experience. !The info might help you to choose your gas worker/installer/firm. ;)

It is Not illegal for a householder to work on his own/or neighbours gas appliance,s,if it not for Profit,the Rules are Mad >:(

[jamesy]

It is Not illegal for a householder to work on his own/or neighbours gas appliance,s,if it not for Profit,the Rules are Mad true nile but any insurance company would not pay out if there was a fire and you have fitted the boiler yourself, nor can you fit any gas hobs etc in a council house you have to use corgi reg.

[trafalgar]

It is Not illegal for a householder to work on his own/or neighbours gas appliance,s,if it not for Profit,the Rules are Mad ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! true !nile !but any insurance company would not pay out if there was a fire and you have fitted the boiler yourself, nor can you fit any gas hobs etc in a council house you have to use corgi reg.
It was Plumb1 that said it not nile :)

But your quite right it could leave people in a right mess with their insurers :-/

[plumb1]

I do not advocate that people should do there own gas work,mearly stating a fact.
Do get a corgi reg fitter to do you work