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Heating engineers: boilers, central heating and heat pumps, and what to check
A heating engineer handles boilers, central heating and, where MCS-certified, heat pumps. Gas work requires Gas Safe registration; the heat pump grant requires MCS certification. We read your enquiry and reply by email; we do not pass your enquiry to a trade. Free for homeowners.
Need this done? Tell us the job and your postcode and you can send us an enquiry and we will reply by email. Check the accreditation of any trade before work starts. Free for homeowners.
On this page
What heating engineers cover
- Boiler repair, service and replacement (Gas Safe registered).
- Full central heating installs and upgrades.
- Landlord gas safety checks (CP12).
- Heat pump installs (MCS-certified, for the 7,500 pound grant).
Which accreditation each job needs
Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A heat pump install for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant must be done by an MCS-certified installer. Check their accreditation on the public register before work starts.
How to choose a trade
- For gas work, the engineer must be Gas Safe registered; for a heat pump grant, the installer must be MCS-certified.
- Verify the registration or certification number before booking.
- Get itemised quotes and, for a new boiler, confirm the filter, flush, inhibitor and benchmark are included.
Frequently asked questions
What does a heating engineer do?
Boiler repair, service and replacement, full central heating installs, landlord gas safety checks, and (where MCS-certified) heat pump installs. Gas work requires Gas Safe registration, and a heat pump install for the grant requires MCS certification. Check the accreditation on the public register before work starts.
Do I need a Gas Safe or an MCS engineer?
It depends on the job. Anything involving gas, including a boiler repair, service or install, needs a Gas Safe registered engineer. A heat pump install for the 7,500 pound Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant needs an MCS-certified installer. Some firms hold both.
Is it free to find a heating engineer here?
Yes, it is free for homeowners. We read your enquiry and reply by email; we do not pass your enquiry to a trade. We are not an installer or a lender.
Sources
Editor, VettedHome
Adam leads VettedHome's editorial coverage of UK home services. He is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose, the commercial strategy and modern systems business behind a portfolio of UK information sites, and he researches and writes the plain-English guides that help homeowners choose between installers and trades, drawing on the standards set by the relevant bodies for each job, such as Gas Safe Register, NICEIC, MCS, TrustMark and the Property Care Association. He is clear about what to check before any work starts.
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