Choosing the right trade
Plumber, Heating Engineer or Gas Safe Engineer: Who Should You Call?
A clear London guide to choosing the right professional for leaks, radiators, boilers, gas appliances and urgent property faults.
Call a plumber for water pipes, taps, toilets, drains and non-gas leaks. Call a heating engineer for radiators, heating controls and central-heating faults. Any work on a gas boiler, gas appliance, flue or gas pipework must be handled by an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. If you smell gas, follow emergency gas-safety instructions rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
When you need a plumber
A plumber is normally the right first call for leaking water pipes, dripping taps, toilets that will not flush, blocked internal waste pipes, faulty showers and water-supply problems. For an active leak or flooding, explain whether you can isolate the water and whether the problem is affecting electrics or another property.
- Burst or leaking water pipes
- Taps, toilets, showers and water tanks
- Blocked sinks, baths and internal waste pipes
- Water-pressure and general pipework problems
When you need a heating engineer
A heating engineer deals with the wider central-heating system, including radiators, circulation, heating controls and system balancing. Some heating engineers are also Gas Safe registered, but registration and qualifications must cover the specific gas work being carried out.
- Cold or uneven radiators
- Heating controls and thermostats
- Central-heating circulation faults
- System flushing, balancing and upgrades
When Gas Safe registration is required
In the UK, work on gas appliances and gas pipework must be completed by an appropriately Gas Safe registered engineer. This includes opening a gas boiler casing for repair, servicing a boiler, installing or replacing a gas appliance, and carrying out landlord gas-safety checks. You can check an engineer's identity card and the categories of work they are qualified to perform.
- Gas boiler repair, service or installation
- Gas appliance and flue work
- Gas pipework
- Landlord Gas Safety Record (often called CP12)
What to tell the booking team
Send the postcode, property type, clear symptoms, photographs or a short video where safe, and the make and model of any boiler or appliance. Say whether water can be isolated, whether heating or hot water still works, and whether the fault affects a flat, communal system or neighbouring property. This helps the right professional arrive with better information.
Frequently asked questions
Can a plumber repair my boiler?
Only if that person is appropriately Gas Safe registered and qualified for the specific boiler and work involved. General plumbing experience alone is not sufficient for gas work.
Who should I call if my radiators are cold but the boiler is running?
A heating engineer is usually the right starting point. The cause may involve circulation, air, valves, controls or system balance; gas-related diagnosis must still be handled by an appropriately registered engineer.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Treat it as a gas emergency. Avoid flames and electrical switches, ventilate where safe, leave the property if necessary and follow the current instructions from the National Gas Emergency Service.