Advice - Plumber or Heating Engineer

Lulu58

We would like to get some new TRVs fitted, a new radiator along with some minor plumbing jobs to a couple of sinks.
Should we ask our normal plumber or get in a heating engineer? 
The plumber we use seems knowledgeable about heating systems and talks about draining the system down, putting in an inhibitor etc but we have been stung by a couple of tradesmen recently and are wary of falling into the same trap.
Any advice or guidance would be very much appreciated.

dogshome

You don't need a 'Gasafe' qualified plumber for these jobs - If you have been happy with the plumber previously used go with him, but get a quote first

twopenny

The TVR's are an easy quick job. You could do it but a plumber certainly.

However the draining of the system etc you should only need if the radiators aren't heating correctly. In my new place they haven't been used for 15yrs (20yrs old) and are mostly only heating at the top and the one at the end of the line hardly at all. That does need flushing out.

If they are working fine I'd leave it.

However I've asked for my 8 rads not working right to be drained, flushed, inhibitor, some new TVR's etc and balanced and told 1 day work £250 and given a date if that helps.

Lulu58

twopenny said:

However the draining of the system etc you should only need if the radiators aren't heating correctly. In my new place they haven't been used for 15yrs (20yrs old) and are mostly only heating at the top and the one at the end of the line hardly at all. That does need flushing out.

If they are working fine I'd leave it.

However I've asked for my 8 rads not working right to be drained, flushed, inhibitor, some new TVR's etc and balanced and told 1 day work £250 and given a date if that helps.

The radiators appear to be working ok, apart from the one which is being replaced.
I think he said he would have to drain down the system to fit the new TRVs and new radiator. The way I read your message, he doesn't need to drain it down to do the work, is that correct?  I'm a bit perplexed if that's the case.
I'm not sure whether the system is balanced correctly, but will ask him about that.

Mickey666

This question seems to be asking about the difference between ‘plumber’ and ‘heating engineer’.  I doubt there is a dictionary definition but in my mind a plumber would be someone who can put together all the necessary pipe work and other items required to build a system that has been designed by a heating engineer.  In practice there would be an overlap of course, but I’d expect an ‘engineer’ to major on the design and operational aspects of a system rather than a ‘plumber’ who can put together what the ‘engineer’ has designed.

AskAsk

plumber will be fine but a lot of gas safe engineers also do plumbing work, so may be better to employ them if their costs are comparable to a plumber.

Lulu58

Mickey666 said:

This question seems to be asking about the difference between ‘plumber’ and ‘heating engineer’.  I doubt there is a dictionary definition but in my mind a plumber would be someone who can put together all the necessary pipe work and other items required to build a system that has been designed by a heating engineer.  In practice there would be an overlap of course, but I’d expect an ‘engineer’ to major on the design and operational aspects of a system rather than a ‘plumber’ who can put together what the ‘engineer’ has designed.

Thanks, that's very helpful.
It sounds like we can use a plumber, but does the system need to be drained etc for the work I've outlined above?  Twopenny above seems to suggest that it doesn't need to be drained but I may have misunderstood what he's written.

EssexExile

It needs to be drained to at least below the radiators you are working on. In practice, all the way.

Mickey666

Agreed.  

Unless there is some way to prevent the radiator spilling its contents when the new TRV is fitted then it will have to be drained.  

AskAsk

Lulu58 said:

Mickey666 said:

This question seems to be asking about the difference between ‘plumber’ and ‘heating engineer’.  I doubt there is a dictionary definition but in my mind a plumber would be someone who can put together all the necessary pipe work and other items required to build a system that has been designed by a heating engineer.  In practice there would be an overlap of course, but I’d expect an ‘engineer’ to major on the design and operational aspects of a system rather than a ‘plumber’ who can put together what the ‘engineer’ has designed.

Thanks, that's very helpful.
It sounds like we can use a plumber, but does the system need to be drained etc for the work I've outlined above?  Twopenny above seems to suggest that it doesn't need to be drained but I may have misunderstood what he's written.

it needs to be drained and the system refilled after the work has been completed.  this is why it may be better to get a gas safe engineer to do the work as he should also rebalance the system after the work is done.

fred246

The only time gas would be involved in rebalancing would be if the plumber farts. No need for gas Safe for rebalancing. Only DIY enthusiasts ever balance their systems properly. Plumbers can't be bothered. Not their house.