In the event that something goes wrong with your heating or hot water, you really don’t want to be without these things for long. In this case, you’re going to need to call out a gas engineer, sometimes called a heating engineer.
There is something of a fear attached to calling out these kinds of tradespeople as they’re notoriously expensive to hire. However, it can help to better understand what charges to expect so there are no nasty surprises in the event of an emergency. So, what do gas engineers charge?
Most gas engineers in the UK will charge between £30 and £60 an hour. Some people will charge by the day for bigger jobs with the average price being around £480.
It’s also worth noting that many gas engineers will break down the cost of a job including things like parts, labour and call out fees to come up with a quote. If you need to call out a gas engineer and are worried about the cost, this guide will tell you exactly what to expect. However, do keep in mind that fees will differ around the country and according to the level of experience of the engineer.
What Is The Cost Of Hiring A Gas Engineer?
The cost of gas engineers will vary according to several different factors, and this is something we will look at in more detail later on.
On average, you can expect to pay around £30 to £60 an hour for a gas engineer. However, some gas engineers will charge a higher rate for the first hour which could exceed £100. Moreover, you should keep in mind that, if the job is bigger, you may be charged a day rate. At the time of writing, this is around £480, on average.
Why Are Gas Engineers More Expensive Than Plumbers?
You may have noticed that the cost of hiring a gas engineer is markedly higher than that of hiring a plumber. This can cause people to contact a plumber instead in the hope of saving some money. But this isn’t always the best option.
You see, gas engineers are highly skilled tradespeople who are trained to work on gas appliances. On the other hand, a plumber may not have these skills and if they aren’t Gas Safe Registered, they should not be working on these types of jobs.
That said, a lot of plumbers will extend their skills and complete further training to become a gas engineer as a natural progression in their field.
What Affects The Cost Of Hiring A Gas Engineer?
We all want to save money where we can so it can help to understand the factors that impact the cost of hiring a gas engineer. Below are some of the most common things that will determine the overall invoice cost.
Identifying The Issue
One of the things that you are paying for when hiring a gas engineer is their time. So, if it takes longer to identify and then fix the problem, you will naturally have to pay more. It’s also worth keeping in mind that many gas engineers will charge a minimum fee so watch out for this. Even if the job only takes half an hour, you may still be lumbered with a £200 minimum fee.
Parts
The price you pay for labour does not include any replacement parts that your engineer needs to put the fault right. What parts you need will determine the cost. For example, if you only need a valve for your boiler, this might cost no more than £10 but if the entire boiler needs to be replaced, you’re looking at hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
Is It An Emergency?
Something that you should think about when contacting a gas engineer is that they will charge more in an emergency. Normally this involves a higher hourly rate and a call out fee. Why is this? Imagine the gas engineer is at home enjoying a meal with their family and the phone rings with an emergency; they’re naturally going to charge more for the inconvenience.
Is There Any Way To Save Money On Hiring A Gas Engineer?
The cost of hiring a gas engineer can be pretty pricey but there are things you can do to get the best bang for your buck. Here are our top tips.
- Make sure to get at least three quotes from different engineers. This will allow you to compare costs and find the best deal. Some gas engineers may even try to compete with other quotes, offering you something better to secure the work.
- Always ensure that you cover yourself in the event of an emergency. Getting boiler cover will mean that you don’t have to fork out a shocking fee should things go wrong which gives you greater peace of mind.
- Some engineers won’t charge a call out fee so if you can find one that doesn’t, this is worth considering.
- Make sure that you have your boiler serviced annually. There are plans that can cover this or you might just pay the average £80 – £120 it costs each year. While this is an additional outgoing, it will reduce the risk of the boiler breaking down and you being left with costly repairs.
Conclusion
People can become very on edge when thinking about the cost of hiring a gas engineer. While it can be a pricey venture, it does help to get a better understand of what costs are involved. You can then put some money aside in case of an emergency.
On average, a gas engineer will charge between £30 and £60 an hour or around £480 for a day’s work. Be sure to get several quotes before settling as this will get you the best deal. But also keep in mind that replacement parts are not included and these will be added on to the bill.