Fitting a boiler is often a big investment for many homeowners, so before you spend your hard-earned money on a new boiler and hiring a heating engineer to install it, there are a few questions you should have prepared. Also, understanding the ins and outs of a boiler is essential.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of cowboys in the industry, so finding someone who is both professional and knowledgeable is key. To help you, we have combined these lists of questions you can ask a heating engineer before you agree to the installation.

1.   How Many Years of Experience do you have Installing Boilers?

Finding someone who has been working as a heating engineer for several years should prove beneficial. Experienced heating engineers will have seen a lot throughout the years working in the industry, and they might be able to see problems that inexperienced engineers wouldn’t notice. They will have the proper tools for heating engineers.
Consider asking them for references before you employ them. A heating engineer with plenty of experience and a good reputation should have a long list of satisfied customers. These days, a lot of folks like to post reviews about different services online. Consider browsing the web to find an ideal candidate to take on the job.

2.   A Heating Engineer will ask you Questions too

An experienced engineer will also have a lot of questions they will want to ask you, so make sure you are prepared too. To help you save time and to avoid making mistakes, prepare answers to these questions before you speak with a heating engineer:

• Where do you want the boiler installed?: Determining where you want your boiler installed is very important. A lot of new boilers that are available on the market use a condensing system. When the steam is released, it can cause a plume of steam, and if you have installed it in a bad location outside, it can cause problems with the people living in your household, and your neighbors. An experienced heating engineer will be able to advise you on where to install your new boiler.
• What will the new boiler be used for? If your current boiler is struggling to keep up with your demands, such as running two showers at once, you’ll have to prepare the reasons why you are installing a new one so the same issue doesn’t happen again. An experienced engineer will have plenty of information about what type of boiler you should install and how a new boiler will be able to cope with your current demands.
• Are you planning on renovating your house in the future?: If you are thinking about renovating your house in the future, speak with the engineer about your plans. For example, if you are thinking about adding a new bathroom with a shower, find out if the new boiler will be able to handle it.

Before investing in a new boiler, it’s probably best to speak to an engineer about your options.

3.   How much will it cost to Install the New Boiler?

It seems like a lot of heating engineers like to avoid giving their clients quotations on their work until the job is complete. However, they should have a straightforward answer for you after they have examined your property. If they are installing a similar boiler to your previous one, the installation should not cost a lot. In the United States, boilers tend to cost anywhere from $2,500 to $12,000 to install, so finding out the exact figure before you agree to the service is vital. Plus, if there are issues with the boiler down the line, you can expect to pay around $400 to have it fixed.
According to a recent survey carried out in the United Kingdom, fifty-two percent of boilers that were manufactured by unreliable brands had no issues after running for six years, in comparison to eighty-three perfect boilers manufactured by reliable brands. So consider investing in a boiler manufactured by a leading brand, to avoid headaches down the line.

Conclusion

Hiring an engineer from a reputable heating company might cost you a little bit extra in comparison to hiring an inexperienced heating engineer, however, in the long run, it will probably turn out to be money well spent. When hiring a tradesman, consider asking family members and friends who they used to install their boilers. Consider asking multiple heating engineers for quotations, to help you narrow down your options. Most experienced engineers will have taken an insurance policy themselves so if anything goes wrong while working on your property, they will be fully covered.
Don’t forget to ask them how long the job will take to complete, and when they expect to start. During the installation process, you and people living in your household might be left in the cold. It might take a long time for an engineer who is busy with other installations to make time to get your work done.