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Friday, 1 October 2010

Plumber In Inverness: How To Choose The Right Plumbing Service For You

By Lewis Turner

Nothing inspires that dreadful sinking feeling more than a stopped-up toilet or shower. The water damage can be expensive, and the mess is indescribable. When this happens, your local plumber in Inverness can help you stop the overflow, and repair the problems that caused it. But, if you have never had the need for this type of repair before, what should you look for in a plumber's service before you actually call someone?

Ever since bathrooms moved from an outbuilding into the home, people have needed the pipes fixed. Even the ancient Romans had a need for this upkeep. The very name "plumber" comes from a Latin word meaning "lead", because the pipes in ancient Rome were made of that toxic material. The material may have been poisonous, but the household piping problems were strikingly similar to our own.

People automatically think of calling a plumber's service when the toilet overflows, or the pipes have burst. This is the bread and butter of the business, but these experts are by no means limited to fixing problems with your water supply. Today's pipe technicians are expert in the repair of heating and cooling systems, and laying the pipes that carry natural gas to a home. They also fix radiators, can power-flush a central heating system, or maintain pumps and valves.

Because of this specialized knowledge, people can't become registered plumbers overnight. Most begin with trade school, and progress to an apprenticeship with a Master Plumber. This takes 2-3 years, not months. Schooling and on-the-job training are essential, because pipes today carry electrical wiring and natural gas as well as water. Bad workmanship can lead to the high cost of replacement, and even tragedy.

Codes for piping installation in UK are rigorous. Most regions insist that workers in this field must be certified or licensed. Part of their qualifications include the ability to read and correctly interpret building plumbing blueprints. They must know all facets of local safety and installation regulations, and be well-versed in the operation of power tools that shape pipe for installation. They need to be competent in all areas of repair and installation for commercial and industrial locations, as well as homes.

A lack of training or certification can result in a natural gas tragedy. Untrained or experienced technicians can unknowingly endanger an entire household. A history of natural gas disasters inspired the creation of CORGI, or Council of Registered Gas Installers. When a homeowner needs service, it is absolutely essential to select a registered plumber's service to perform any work on natural gas piping. It is actually illegal for an non-certified tech to do this kind of work. The householder is able to see that certification on the CORGI website, just by plugging the plumber's identification numbers into the provided database.

Unlicensed heating engineers, sometimes called "cowboys" because they are working illegally, may charge lower rates, but could end up costing you money either because the job was not completed correctly, or because it resulted in your own injury or home damage. These individuals may not back their work, and you are not getting the benefit of the latest training. Serious mishaps are possible through carbon monoxide poisoning, and work that is not up code may void appliance warranties. If electrical repairs are also required, non-CORGI technicians may inadvertently leave your appliances unsafe to use.

CORGI ran the mandatory gas scheme in UK for years. It also provides gas installers with peripheral materials and learning such as books, technical manuals, tools, warning labels and insurance. The people listed with this group are the leaders in technical expertise, and are constantly updating their knowledge pool. To find a plumber in Inverness that is CORGI registered simply go to their website and verify that the expert you have chosen is in their database. Then, you can rest assured that the work you need will be performed up to the best and safest standards.

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