Gas Boiler Breakdown: What To Do
A gas boiler breakdown can be unnerving. Most of us have zero knowledge of how a gas boiler works, and although most breakdowns can be attributed to something very simple, some can prove dangerous.
It is important that you do not attempt to try to fix your gas boiler by yourself – unless you happen to be a registered RGI engineer, of course. However, if that were the case, you probably wouldn’t be reading this article.
The first thing you should do in the event of a gas boiler breakdown is turn off the gas supply to the boiler. This will prevent the risk of a continued gas leak whist you are waiting for your gas boiler to be repaired.
The next steps you take will depend on your personal situation.
Homeowner With Gas Boiler Insurance
If you have taken out insurance on your gas boiler, your first port of call should be with your insurance company. Gas boiler insurance companies will almost always have a 24-hour emergency contact number for situations such as this – you should find this number and call it immediately.
Depending on your insurance company, they may send one of their own engineers to fix the problem (or an engineer from a trusted company they work with), or they may require you to contact an engineer yourself. If the latter is the case, the insurance company will probably provide you with a list of companies to choose from – then the quote will be passed back to the insurance company. If not, please refer to the next point about seeking an independent gas boiler engineer.
Homeowner Without Gas Boiler Insurance
If you don’t have insurance on your gas boiler (or if your insurance requires you to find an engineer), you will need to find a gas boiler engineer independently.
Legally, gas boiler engineers need to be RGI registered in order to work on gas installations in Ireland. RGI registration ensures that the engineer is fully trained and competent enough to safely work on your gas boiler.
When choosing a gas boiler engineer, it is worth taking the time to do the legwork. Choosing a well-known, reputable company may turn out to be more expensive but you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that there were plenty of satisfied customers before you. Having said that, there are many very good independent gas boiler engineers out there. Utilise the internet in order to obtain quotes, read independent reviews and compare the companies as well as you can before choosing one. It is also wise to speak to your friends and family – word of mouth recommendations are one of the most reliable forms of review there is!
Private or Local Authority/Housing Association Tenant
If you are renting, dealing with your gas boiler breakdown should be as simple as calling your landlord as soon as possible to let them know what has happened. They will arrange an engineer and keep you updated on the situation as it progresses.