Plumber in Sunderland (15)

In the UK, when hiring a plumber, look for WaterSafe approval (for training in water regulations) and Gas Safe registration (required for gas work).

Always ask to see your plumber’s ID card or check them on the official online registers.

When it comes to the wellbeing of your and your home, it’s important that you hire a plumber who will carry out their work safely and securely and to a professional standard. Being a licensed plumber and/or having the relevant plumber qualifications is a sign that they take their trade seriously and that they will work to certain standards, governed by their licensing body.

In the UK, there are a number of licenses that a plumber can have, depending on the nature of the work. Two of the most important plumber licenses for you to check for are WaterSafe and the Gas Safe Register.

WaterSafe approved plumbers

WaterSafe is an online directory for competent and qualified plumbers in the UK. All WaterSafe approved plumbers are certified by their national accreditation body, which specifically focuses on training plumbers in the UK’s Water Fittings Regulations and Byelaws.

By hiring a WaterSafe approved plumber you can be confident that they will work to a high standard and do their best to conserve water and improve water systems in the best way possible.

You can check if a plumber is WaterSafe approved by using the Watersafe approved plumber search tool.

Registered Gas Safe engineers

The Gas Safe Register is the official list of tradespeople and businesses that are legally permitted to carry out gas work in the UK. All registered Gas Safe engineers are issued with a Gas Safe ID card, which details the type of gas work that they are permitted to do.

Many plumbers are also registered Gas Safe engineers, but not all engineers are qualified to do all types of gas work. Therefore, it’s important that you check the plumber’s ID card before they carry out any gas work in your home.

If you need to find a plumber with the appropriate plumber qualifications to carry out gas work, you can use the Gas Safe find an engineer search tool online.

Find a plumber with plumbing qualifications

All Checkatrade members have been checked by our team to verify any qualifications they hold, so that you can be confident that any information on their profile is valid and accurate. Search for plumbers now!

The answer depends on the individual plumber, their skills and experience, and the type of boiler you have.

Some plumbers will be qualified to work on a boiler and many will be Gas Safe registered so they’ll be able to carry out work on gas boilers and other gas appliances.

That said, not all plumbers will have the necessary know-how and qualifications to work on your boiler.

For that reason, it’s always important to check each plumber’s skills and experience to ensure that the tradesperson you hire is the right person for the job.

Find out more in our handy guide: Does a plumber fix boilers?

Is the plumber Gas Safe registered?

If you have a gas boiler, check that they’re actively registered to work on gas boilers on the Gas Safe Register.

It’s a legal requirement that any tradespeople who work on gas appliances are Gas Safe registered.

Thankfully it’s quick and easy to search the Gas Safe Register online, either by using the tradesperson’s company name or registration number.

You should also ask to see their Gas Safe ID card when they arrive at your home, and check that it’s valid (as they need to update their registration every year).

A genuine Gas Safe ID card will show the following information:

• Photo of the Gas Safe plumber

• Their unique registration number

• Start and expiry dates of their registration

• A security hologram

• Any affiliated business name

If you have any doubts or concerns about whether a plumber is certified to carry out work on your gas boiler, do not hire them – and you can even report them to the Gas Safe register, if needed.

Benefits of hiring an experienced boiler plumber

There are a number of very good reasons why it’s a good idea to hire a qualified boiler plumber to work on your boiler:

• Experienced and certified tradespeople will offer you a professional level of service

• Boilers require specialist know-how to effectively install, maintain and repair them

• Skilled boiler plumbers engineers know what to look out for and how to avoid future issues with your boiler and heating system

Emergency plumbers have the flexibility to come quickly no matter the time, and if you have a serious plumbing issue, calling someone ASAP is essential. If you aren't sure what’s considered a plumbing emergency, below is a list of scenarios where you’ll need to hire an emergency plumber:

• Blocked toilet - If you have more than one blocked toilet, you may not be in a hurry to call a plumber. However, a blocked toilet can pose a risk to your health and is considered an emergency.

• Zero water - If you turn on your taps and no water comes out, this is classed as a plumbing emergency

• Burst pipes - Getting a plumber to fix burst pipes should be done immediately to minimise damage

• Floods - Big water leaks can cause serious damage to your home and should be dealt with as a priority

• Running taps - Taps that won’t switch off can lead to leaks and flooding so need to be repaired as soon as possible

• Dirty water - If the water coming out of your taps is dirty, this needs to be fixed as a priority

Knowing when to call a plumber for a blocked toilet will depend on several factors. The most common reasons to call a plumber for a blocked toilet are:

• A plunger hasn’t worked after five to ten minutes

• Corrosive chemicals haven’t worked

• The toilet is overflowing

• The toilet won’t stop running

• Your sewer drain is leaking

• The blockage has been caused by a foreign object (eg. A child’s toy, electronic device, a sanitary pad or nappy etc)

These problems will not be easily resolved without a plumber.

In simple terms, a plumber works with all water systems and connected ancillaries including pipes, taps, baths, boilers etc.

A bathroom fitter removes old bathroom suites and installs new bathroom suites.

There is a lot of crossover between plumbers and bathroom fitters. Many plumbers will offer full bathroom installation services. While many bathroom fitters will also undertake more general plumbing work.

That depends.

• Hourly rates work well for small, flexible jobs (think leaky taps or unblocking a sink).
• Fixed prices are often better for planned projects like bathroom installs or pipework replacements.
• Emergency plumbing may include higher hourly rates and a call-out charge.