We do not tend to break down our quotes or invoices. We will give you a description of what we will do/have done for the overall price.
Many customers will look to potentially removing or separately sourcing or self-sourcing certain elements or materials – cherry picking. But if you carry out certain works yourself or buy some of the materials, you then ask us to guarantee it all? How is this fair?
The price we give our customers is for the whole job and not part of the job. Things like set-up costs including office time, site preliminaries including the time spent during the survey, and our overheads including vans, tools, training, insurance, registrations, etc are spread across the whole list of work items for any one job. It’s also a price for us to take on the risk.
The quote or invoice takes account of our whole time not just the time we set foot inside your property.
When you buy a car, you don’t ask how much the bumpers cost, or how much time was spent making the spark plugs, and you don’t think about the time the design spent on the aerodynamics or the production team building the line.
Once you have a customer who begrudges the labour charge, they don’t think you should make a profit, but if we do not make a profit, then we will need to close the company and customers will find it increasingly difficult to find a good plumber.
We might be the only company that can do that work for you. Few have the experience expertise and quality workmanship to do the job you are requesting. Not all companies have equal levels of quality, service, flexibility, and price.
We provide quotes which means if we take longer on a job than we expected then we take the hit, and the client expects us to wear it. However, if we take less time than we expected, the client still expects a discount. How can that be a fair relationship?
Why do we offer 4-hour arrival timeframes? And why that’s not as inconvenient as you may think
The appointments that we offer are four-hour timeframe appointments between 8 am-12 noon, 12 noon – 4 pm, and 4-8 pm. We appreciate that this may seem inconvenient to people so we wanted to clarify what this means, explain why we do it, and show you that this is really not as inconvenient as it may seem.
Why our appointments are four-hour timeframes and not time
As a company, a large proportion of our work is responding to emergency plumbing and heating jobs and repairs. This means that priorities are constantly shifting all day as different jobs come in. Factors such as how urgent or potentially dangerous the issue is, whether there are vulnerable people in the property and the location in relation to the position of our engineers all have to be taken into consideration when scheduling the day. A job that may have started as 2nd or 3rd in the schedule may have to be moved to later as other jobs come in. Likewise, they may become more urgent as situations develop and need to be moved up.
Another influencing factor is the nature of the work we do. If we were simply out conducting services all day, where we have a good idea of how long each job will take because they’re all pretty much the same, it would be easier to stick to a fixed timetable. However, the nature of emergency jobs is that we simply don’t know what we might find when we get there; it could be a simple fix or a much more complex repair. We are therefore not in a position to estimate how long each job will take so while we may know the order of jobs during the day (which of course could change anyway) we wouldn’t know how quickly we can progress through those jobs. Compounded by the ‘columbo’ approach many of our customers have, of ‘while you are here there is one more thing…’ we just never know how long we will be with the customer before you.
You can see then that it’s impossible for us to give customers an accurate time frame for their engineer visit. We have to manage people’s expectations and we think it’s better to be completely transparent and say that it is a window rather than give an estimated time and not be able to deliver on that promise.
We understand that people would prefer to have timed appointments but hopefully, this does clarify why we’re not able to provide them and why we work the way we do. We are committed to providing a high level of service to our customers: our standard operating hours for both engineers and office are 8 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday and we also offer a 24-hour emergency call-out service.
A plumbing emergency can be a distressing experience but we truly are here to get to you as soon as we can and resolve your issue as efficiently as we can. If you have any further queries about appointments or any other aspect of our services please call us on 01234325620 or send us a message at info@christyplumbing.co.uk .
A landlord’s gas safety check involves an approved, qualified engineer visiting the property and completing an assessment on the safety of the appliances and system. The Landlord will receive a record showing whether the appliance is safe or not. A full assessment of your property’s appliances involves checking:
● The appliance is operating at the correct operating pressure.
● There is an adequate air supply to the appliance and it is burning gas correctly.
● That flues and chimneys are clear and enable the appliance to emit gases and fumes safely to the outside.
● That all safety devices on the appliance such as cut-out devices are working correctly.
Gas Safety Checks are a legal requirement for all rental properties and you must provide evidence of this to your tenants. This is in the form of a Gas Safety Certificate which is provided by the landlord at the end of the inspection. It is important to note that Landlords are only responsible for the appliances they supply, therefore, if a tenant buys their own gas appliance, the responsibility of a safety check is on the tenant.
Are Gas Safety Checks only for landlords?
No, it is recommended that any homeowner should have yearly gas safety checks to ensure all appliances are running as safely and efficiently as possible.
The Gas Safe Register provides a huge portfolio of advice for all landlords and those interested in having a gas safety check. You can find out more here:
When buying their most recent home, only one in five buyers took the boiler’s condition and service history into consideration.
This could explain why nearly a quarter had boiler issues in the first 12 months after moving in, with 17% having to unexpectedly fork out for a replacement.
In order to avoid undisclosed problems when purchasing a house, there are many checks you can do to minimise the risk of issues further down the line.
● Check for water stains
Check out the shower or tap fittings and look out for any signs of water pooling or running. A sign for leaky pipes is the presence of stains on walls and ceilings.
● Don’t dismiss strange smells
A huge giveaway for drain issues is a bad smell whether that’s in the kitchen or bathroom areas. This could indicate a blocked pipe which isn’t allowing water to flow away and then creating a nasty smell.
● Don’t dismiss strange noises
Likewise with strange smells, unusual noises can also be an indicator that something is not working efficiently especially if it is coming from the boiler. If the noise is left, the problem is likely to worsen over time, and lead to the new homeowner having to splurge out on a new boiler.
● Book in a pre-purchase plumbing inspection
Lastly, the best way to completely check the house’s plumbing and heating system is to have a survey completed. A plumber will be able to check the drainage systems and ensure it is in good working condition before you fully commit to the house. If you are interested in having a survey completed, call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk to request a quote.
The lifespan of a boiler is on average 10-15 years. This is massively dependent on the make and model of the boiler and whether it has been well maintained throughout its life. If your boiler is exceeding its lifespan, it may be time for a replacement. There are now more efficient, eco-friendly boilers which may be a better option.
There are many signs that you may need to replace your boiler, many that are visible and are likely to cause further issues if they are left.
● Low efficiency rating
A less efficient boiler will cost you more than an efficient one. It takes longer to heat your water, causing an inefficiency in the system. It will also not be doing your energy bills a favour which is why investing in an A-rated boiler will not only be good for the environment but cheaper to run.
● Visible leaks
There can be several reasons why your boiler may be leaking, some more minor than others, however, if your boiler is having continuous leaks, it is likely to be more cost efficient to buy a replacement.
● Strange smells and noises
If your boiler is making strange noises or emitting odd smells, it is likely to be a sign that there are internal problems with your boiler and it either needs to be repaired or replaced.
● Bills too high
By replacing your old boiler with a more modern and efficient one, you can make savings on your energy bills. High energy bills could be a sign that your boiler needs to be replaced. We have a team of highly skilled engineers who are immensely dedicated to their work. Our specialty is boiler service, repair and installation, being Ideal Boiler & Worcester Bosch-approved installers. If your boiler needs some repairs or a full replacement, please contact us on 01234 325620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
We offer our services within a 30-mile radius of Bedford, covering areas including Biggleswade, St Neots, Rushden, Milton Keynes and Toddington.
Do you do emergency plumbing callouts?
Yes, we do cover emergency call-outs. We class out of hours as Monday – Friday 8 pm to 8 am all day Saturday, Sunday, and Bank Holidays. We have more information on the ‘Emergencies’ page on our website. Here:
If you have an emergency, please call us on 01234 325 620.
Can you fit bathrooms?
Yes, Christy Plumbing has over 35 years of experience renovating bathrooms in Bedfordian homes and will design, create and install your dream bathroom! No project is too big or toosmall so whether you’re looking to replace your basin or your shower, we can do it!
What’s the difference between an estimate and a quote?
In short, estimates are a rough idea of price and are only used as guide price only. Quotes are legally binding and should only be used when you are certain of the costs involved. We have made an in-depth blog post about estimates and quotes here:
Yes! No job is too big or too small so if you have a leaky tap needing some repairs, call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
How often should I service my boiler?
We recommend yearly service to help ensure that your boiler, cylinder or fire are running as efficiently and as safely as possible. And your appliance manufacturer requires a service to keep your boiler/cylinder/fire in good, safe working order, maintain its warranty/guarantee and reduce the risk of costly breakdowns.
Why is my radiator not heating up?
The most common reason why your radiator is not heating up is due to trapped air. If your radiator is hot at the bottom but cold on the top, this is likely to be the case. To fix this, you’ll have to bleed your radiators. Simply, use a radiator key to unscrew the bleed screw, where you should begin to hear a hissing noise. Once the noise has stopped, all the air has escaped and you can now screw it back in place. If your radiator is still cold to touch, we would be happy to come out and investigate further. Please call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk
Why is my boiler making a strange noise?
If your boiler is making any kind of noise, especially one that is unusual and new, this is likely a sign that something is not right. You should get it investigated as soon as possible as if it is a sign of a serious problem, leaving it could cause more damage and reduce the lifespan of your boiler. Please call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk
Are you currently recruiting?
Our team is homegrown and includes Lawrence’s wife Sarah who manages the office team and our apprentice programme. All our staff are immensely dedicated to their work. We believe we set an incredibly high standard in the plumbing and heating industry locally. If we are recruiting, the best place to check is our Facebook Page: Christy Plumbing & Heating where any hiring roles will be posted there. You are welcome to email your CV to info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
Do you fit Air Conditioning?
Yes! We do fit Air Conditioning for domestic and commercial use. If you would like to request a quote, please call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk.
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