LPG Gas Engineer in Suffolk

 

What is an LPG Gas Engineer in Suffolk?

A gas engineer who works in the Suffolk area of the united kingdom working on both LPG and natural gas domestic appliances.

Firstly, to work on LPG appliances, the engineer must be registered to work on natural gas appliances.

They cannot be gas safe registered for just LPG appliances alone.

 All gas engineers must have the natural gas qualifications first.

We get asked many times, can someone who is gas safe registered able to work on all gas appliances, No is the answer.

I’ll explain all gas engineers take exams every five years for the appliances they want to work on, IE, Cookers, fires and boilers etc.

Most kitchen installers, for instance, will have Gas Safe registration for hobs and cookers for Natural Gas only and not LPG.

If they want to fit LPG hobs and cookers, they will need to sit another set of exams. They will need the Cooker and hob LPG qualification.

Because they have the natural gas cookers and hobs certificate registration, they cannot work on anything else.

If they want to work on, let’s say, gas boilers, they have to sit the boiler exam first.

What people do not realise is to be LPG gas safe registered is expensive and time-consuming.

Each year the gas engineer has to re-register with the Gas Safe register.

Registration also comes at a cost.

They also may have a site inspection from a Gas safe inspector.

Gas safe inspections are at random you can never tell when you may have a Gas Safe Inspection visit.

All registered Gas engineers have to go through a site visit with a Gas Safe Inspector at some time.

The inspection takes around half a day to complete but will depend on the inspector in question.

Every five years, the gas engineer will have to resit all the gas exams for all of the appliances they work with, no ifs, no buts. 

These exams are mandatory and taken over five days for the natural gas registration and another five days for LPG.

If the gas engineer fails to resit these gas exams or fails an exam, they can no longer work on any gas appliance, LPG and Natural Gas appliances until they take the exams.

Each set of exams is expensive that the engineer has to pay for personally.

That’s around ten days in total loss of work, loss of earnings, cost of all the exams.

So you see, to be an LPG Gas Engineer in Suffolk comes at a cost.

It’s not easy to find an LPG gas engineer in Suffolk as you would with a natural gas engineer.

Your best place to find an LPG engineer is the Gas Safe Register, which has all the details of every gas engineer registered in the united kingdom.

The Gas Safe Register has a contact number (0800 408 5500) for you to use if you cannot find an LPG Engineer in your area.

Be aware of anyone claiming to be Gas Safe registered.

All gas engineers have an identity card issued from the Gas Safe Register.

Ask if you can see the engineers gas safe card when they arrive at your property.

If the engineer cannot show you their card, you should ask them to leave.

On the front of the card, you will see a long number like a credit card.

This number is the engineer’s unique Gas licence number.

Another check is to check the expiry date of the engineer’s card. All cards get renewed every year.

The expiry date is the 31st of March every year. All gas engineers cards will expire on this date unless they need to resit their five-year gas exams.

Always ensure you check the expiry date of their card.

While looking at the card, you will see the engineers gas safe registration number.

You can check these numbers on the Gas Safe website.

It’s always best to check this to ensure the gas engineer is who they say they are.

Another reason to check the register is to ensure they are still registered to work.

Some claim to be Gas Safe Registered when they are not. They may have been removed from the register but still have their gas safe card.

You can see how important it is to check the Gas Engineers Gas Safety card.

You will see when searching for an LPG Gas Engineer in Suffolk, not many LPG engineers are available.

One of the main reasons is the cost and time involved to become LPG registered, also the expense just for natural gas registration.

So what’s the difference between LPG and Natural Gas?

LPG appliances work on a higher pressure (37MB), Natural gas appliances work on 20MB pressure.

Let’s say you buy a new gas hob for your mobile home. Most mobile homes gas supply is propane (LPG).

You cannot remove the old hob and replace it with the new one unless it is an LPG supplied one.

Before swapping over, it needs the gas jets changed from Natural Gas to LPG.

Your gas engineer will be able to carry out the conversion for you.

I have had customers in the past say, what’s the difference it is a gas appliance?

Yes, it is a gas appliance, but it needs to be for the correct type of gas IE LPG.

Fitting a Natural Gas Appliance on an LPG supply without converting will result in very high and dangerous flames.

LPG gas jets are half the size of Natural Gas jets.

If we came across an appliance like this on a Gas Safety Inspection, it would be deemed immediately dangerous.

The appliances would be disconnected from the gas supply and made safe.

Then, we issue a gas safe warning notice certificate, required by law. 

Issuing this certificate, the engineer is covering themselves as well as details of the faults found.

Every LPG Gas Engineer in Suffolk will do the same safety must always come first.

I hope you can see from above that an LPG Gas Engineer in Suffolk is not just a plumber but a Gas Safe Registered Gas Engineer.

Who is Registered to work on both LPG and natural gas domestic appliances?

I wrote this article to give you a small insight into what an LPG Gas engineer LPG goes through to work legally.

Last but not least, Gas in the wrong hands is dangerous.

Always use a registered gas engineer for whatever your gas work may be.

Never use a friend or neighbour unless they are gas safe registered.

Stay Gas Safe, Till the next time.

• LPG Boiler Engineer
• LPG Cooker Conversion
• Gas Safe
• LPG GAS SAFE ENGINEER
• Landlords Gas Safety Inspections

Boiler Installation Mistakes to Avoid

 

When the time comes to replace your current boiler, you should seek the advice of a professional gas safe registered boiler engineer.

 

They will be able to explain everything you need for the new boiler installation.

 

In the United Kingdom, the law states that any gas appliances serviced, repaired or installed, should only be done by a registered engineer.

 

You should not try to replace your boiler yourself, as this breaks gas and building regulations.

 

You could also find you leave yourself open for prosecution with a high penalty.

 

I hear what you say it’s my property I can do what I want within my property, yes but not with gas.

 

If you undertake the installation yourself, your property insurance becomes void, so ensure you use a registered boiler engineer to carry out the installation.

 

When purchasing a new boiler, ensure you get the right one for your property.

 

Boilers all look the same these days you need to get the correct heat output required for your property.

 

When looking at a particular brand, don’t buy the cheapest model, it may look the same as the others, but it could be the wrong model for your property.

 

All boiler installations must now comply with boiler plus regulations, which is about saving energy when using the boiler.

 

An example would be, a new combination boiler installation must now have a minimum of a load compensation thermostat fitted.

 

There are other options to choose from, such as a weather compensator, but it then starts to become somewhat expensive.

 

A common boiler mistake is an undersized gas pipe most boilers now require a minimum of a 22m pipe size within one meter of the boiler.

 

The boiler will still work with an undersize supply but, not to its full potential.

 

It could also be dangerous if undersized, due to the incorrect volume of gas to the boiler.  

 

All gas appliances need to have the correct volume of gas to work correctly.

 

The gas engineer will carry out a gas rating check for each of the gas appliances.

 

Gas rating an appliance proves the correct volume of gas as well as the safety side.

 

When buying any gas appliance always check it is suitable for your gas supply.

 

The main gas supply in the United Kingdom is natural gas if you live in a rural area you may have LPG (liquid petroleum gas) installed.

 

Don’t try to install an LPG boiler on natural gas supply or vice versa.

 

Every new gas boiler installation installed by a registered engineer needs to be registered.

 

Registration is normally with the gas safe register, who in turn notify the local authority.

 

Once the boiler has been registered, you will receive a certificate confirming registration.

 

You need to keep the certificate safe as you will need it when selling your property.

No certificate will cost you in the long term.

 

Failure to register the new boiler will result in the boiler warranty becoming void.

 

There is a misconception that by trying to install your new boiler yourself will save you on the installation costs.

 

The real truth is it will cost you more in the long term as well as the possibility of getting a criminal record.

 

These are just a few of the common boiler installation mistakes we come across every day.

 

We hope this gives you an insight into what a boiler installation now involves.

 

If we can be of help when it comes to replacing your boiler, please let us know.

Is Your Gas Engineer Legal?

Check Yor Gas Engineer

When you are in need of having gas work carried out, would you check your gas engineer is legal to work on gas?

Many claim to be gas safe registered, but how do you know?

Around 40% of people in the united kingdom do not check their gas engineer is legal to work on gas.

This has implications, any gas work carried out by someone who is not gas safe registered could void your home insurance, not many people know this.

The UK law states

All gas work has to be carried out by a gas safe registered company or person.

Failure to use a registered engineer for your gas work could lead to very high penalties.

The law states, as a gas user, it is your responsibility to ensure any gas engineer you engage is registered.

Anyone claiming to be gas safe registered, that are found not to be are committing a criminal offence and could face a term in prison.

Every gas engineer carries a card with them.

On this card will be details of the appliances that they are allowed to work on.

Before you have any form of gas work carried out, you should ask to see the card. 

If they cannot produce the card, you should ask them to leave until they can produce it.

Even when an engineer produces their card.

It’s always a good idea to double check on the gas safe register to ensure they have not been suspended or removed.

When checking the register, you will see a picture of the registered engineer.

As well as details of all the appliances that they are registered to work on. 

If your gas is LPG and not natural gas, there is also details of the type of gas they are allowed to work on.

Just because they are registered it does not mean they are registered for LPG, so double check if your gas is LPG

All registered gas engineers can be traced, whereas someone who is not registered cannot.

In the last three years, gas safe has attended over 2000 illegal gas work investigations.

nly to find that over 69 per cent were found to be unsafe, even life-threatening. 

That’s frightening when you think about it.

When some of the people were asked did you not check the gas engineer was registered, the answer was.

I saw a gas safe sticker on their van and assumed they were registered.

To be a registered gas engineer involves a lot of work and expense for the engineer.

Every year they have to renew with gas safe, if they don’t renew, they are not allowed to work on  gas.

Every five years, they have to attend college to re-sit all their gas exams.

This involves, an exam for each appliance they want to work on.

Just because someone is registered, it does not mean they can work on all gas appliances.

To be LPG registered, they have to take all the natural gas exams, then takes the same again for LPG. That’s two sets of exams.

As you can see this involves a lot of the gas engineers time as well as money to pay for all of these exams, as well as the loss of work.

Just because someone tells you they could carry out your gas work.

At a cheaper price than a registered engineer, it does not always mean it’s cheaper.

Always protect your family and only use a registered gas engineer for all your gas works.  Always use a registered gas engineer.

Why You Should Only Use Gas Safe Registered Engineers

• Only Gas Safe Registered Engineers

  If you need work carried out on a gas appliance within your property then to be safe,

  You should only use a gas safe registered engineer or company,

  But why only Gas Safe?

  

  Cowboys and Gas Don’t mix mn

  Just recently we were called out to a property in central London,

  the call was that they believed they have a gas leak.

  The customer was told to switch off the gas at the meter.

  Open any windows and not to use any electrical appliances even light switches.

  Once we arrived at the property, we carried out a couple of checks to make sure all was safe.

  Next, we asked the client what had changed within the property.

  Had they had any work carried out, the answer was yes.

  We recently had a new kitchen fitted by a company who said that they used gas safe registered engineers.

  Just by first impressions, I could see that the client had spent a lot of money on this kitchen.

  The first thing was to carry out a tightness test at the gas meter; this proved that a gas leak did exist;

  The pressure was dropping very quickly.

  Now we need to find it.

  From looking around the kitchen we noticed that a new hob had been fitted along with a flueless gas fire.

  The only other gas appliance in the property was the central heating boiler fitted the other side of the kitchen.

  On checking around the gas fire with a leak detector, two small leaks were found.

  These leaks were on compression fittings, that should not have been fitted.

  Already, I am starting to think that the engineer that had installed this kitchen was not gas safe registered.

  Another tightness test was carried out, still dropping like a sieve.

  The fire was now isolated; the supply pipe was cut and capped off, another test, still dropping.

  Ok now onto the hob.

  

  Nice new fancy hob

  The gas hob was a real nice fancy smeg model,

  I had to remove the draws underneath the hob to get to the gas pipe,

  again I saw three compression fittings within the pipework, no isolation valve installed.

  This did not look very good to me at all.

  I checked around the connection on the hob with my gas leak detector, as

  this is normally the area where a lot of gas leaks seems to be, yes it was leaking.

  The connection was removed,

  only to find that the fitting had been cross-threaded on the fitting.

  The supply was now cut and capped.

  Another tightness test proved that the leak had eased a little but a leak still existed.

  Next, we move onto the boiler,

  Again, I could see a compression fitting had been used on the gas supply.

  This was from the incoming 15m supply to convert to the boiler 22m inlet.

  Further checks proved that we still had a gas leak.

  Now all appliances had been isolated, this means the leak could be anywhere;

  All the gas pipes were under this new fancy expensive floor, which now would have to be lifted up.

  The client was not very happy with what we had found,

  I explained that the next course of action was to

  start lifting the floor to find the gas leak.

  The client agreed that whatever it took to cured this leak it had to be done.

  Now out comes the floor cutter to start lifting this expensive floor,

  A few boards are lifted then we are onto the original floor.

  Again lift a couple of boards, now I can see the gas supply.

  It’s a 15m supply, which is feeding a boiler a hob and a gas fire.

  These people were no way Gas Safe Registered Engineers.

  The gas supply pipe should have been a minimum of 22m for these three appliances.

  I started to cut up more flooring to find where the supply entered the property.

  After removing a lot more of flooring I found an half-inch barrel gas supply pipe.

  I told the client that the supply to the property

  was undersized and that it needed to be rerun.

  

  Only use registered gas company or engineers.

  The gas meter was located outside in the front garden.

  A new supply had to be run from the meter to the kitchen on the first floor.

  Once this new gas supply pipe had been installed, and all appliances reconnected,

  a tightness test was carried out, no leak, job done.

  The work took nearly two days to complete,

  and a very expensive invoice for the client.

  This was all because the person or persons who carried out the work basically, did not know what they were doing.

  Even the cabinet they fitted around the boiler had to be removed because, you could not remove the boiler front case.

  Never forget that you only get what you pay for, if you want a cheap,

  cheap price then you will only get local cowboys.

  They don’t care about you or anyone other than to take your money and run?

  If you use a Gas safe registered engineer or company,

  You have the backing of Gas Safe and the Health & Safety behind you.

  A Gas Safe registered engineer can be traced, a cowboy cannot.

  Gas Safe Registered Engineers