The economy’s downward spiral has led to businesses cutting as many corners as they can with regards to costs. Companies are desperate to save as much money as they can get away with and that sometimes includes the hiring of engineers who have not yet been fully trained or gotten their professional certifications as they cost less to employ. Such approach may lead to dire results in the long run as well as the short and medium runs. There are a number of reasons that a heating and plumbing company should make sure that all of its engineers are professionally trained and certified. 1. Plumbing and Heating Engineers are required to have specific certifications in order to carry out their work. These certifications guarantee that the engineer understands all of the current codes and laws that they must work within. These certifications include the Part P electrical, the Unvented system training and assessment, CORGI certification (for gas work), BPEC and the prevailing Building Regulations.2. Plumbing and Heating Engineers that have obtained all of the training and proper certifications are able to charge more for their services either as individuals or as part of a company. Many companies base the starting wages upon the number and degree of qualifications an engineer has when they are hired. 3. Heating and Plumbing Engineers who take the time to ensure that all of their certifications and training are up to date have proven to be more reliable professionally than those who learn the work “in the field.” Their work is often of a better quality which reflects their understanding of the technical and legal requirements. These engineers provide a better investment to the company that hires them than someone who has not yet bothered to finish their training and certifications.Many companies choose to hire plumbing and heating engineers when they are just starting out because they prefer their engineers to be trained in certain ways. For companies who choose to do this, there are several governmental programs available to help fund the certification process. The CPS (Competent Person Scheme) is one such program, being used by several players in the plumbing and heating sector.It is important that plumbing and heating engineers stay informed about the up and coming “green” methods that are being developed. The world is turning towards environmentally friendly practices and, in order for a company to be competitive in a modern market, the engineers hired should be as well versed about the newer technologies as they are about the traditional ones. Such new technologies include solar thermal panels, underfloor heating and ground source heat pumps.With the economy as unpredictable as it is, plumbing and heating engineers need to make sure that they are fully certified. When customers are given the choice between hiring someone completely qualified and saving a few pounds on someone who hasn’t gotten all of their certifications, we believe customers will choose to spend more on a professional and certified engineer.

Choosing the right plumber is definitely important. Choose the wrong one, and you’ll quickly regret it. So, when you have a problem, who are you going to hire? Here are 10 things you need to know before you hire a plumbing contractor.
#1 – Do They Handle After Hours Calls – Before you hire someone to doing your plumbing, find out if they handle calls after hours. What if something happens when they are off? Who will take care of it then? This is an important consideration.
#2 – Do They Have a License – A license is imperative if a plumbing contractor is going to practice. If they don’t have one, you definitely don’t want to hire them.
#3 – Is the Business a Member of Any Associations – Usually a quality plumbing contractor will be a member of at least one business association. Find out if the contractor is a member of any. If so, find out which one.
#4 – Is the Business a Member of the BBB or the Chamber of Commerce – It’s definitely a good idea to choose someone that is either a member of the Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau. This way they are held more accountable for what they do.
#5 – Can You Talk to Previous Customers – If a plumbing contractor doesn’t want you to talk to their previous customers, you should wonder why. Don’t hire someone unless they have references of previous customers that you can talk to. This way you can find out what they though of the services they received.
#6 – Do They Have a Website – A website is definitely a great addition. This means they are trying to keep up with the times. It also gives you a place where you can go to quickly check up on the company and all they have to offer.
#7 – What Kind of Customer Service Do They Provide – You can find this out from other customers or you can find it out by checking into their record of customer service.
#8 – The Prices – You’ll definitely want to be aware of the prices a plumbing contractor charges before you decide to hire them. Make sure that they are reasonable and competitive.
#9 – Will They Do a Free Home Inspection – If the company really wants to keep customers and they work hard to make customers happy, more than likely they will be happy to do a free home inspection for you of the plumbing systems that you have in your home.
#10 – Are There Complaints Against Them – Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints made against the plumbing contractor. If there are complaints, then you probably will want to look elsewhere.

In the past your plumber’s van was something you would rather not see. An old and rusty van (normally a Ford Transit) with a dents and scratches that made it look worse than it really was. These days, plumbers’ vans are a far cry from that old picture, offering highly sophisticated kits, comfortable cabins and a wide variety of mechanical options. Competition in the commercial vehicle sector has pushed up standards and variety, offering the driver high levels of comfort and attention to detail.

Modern vans offer car-like comfort along with work-focused measures such as space, ruggedness and durability. They are available in various sizes, from 3 to 17 cubic meters of loading space, and can be customized to meet the plumber’s specific needs. Most vans now offer at least one sliding door (some offer a second sliding door as an option), offering excellent access to the loading space.

The back of the van can be customized either as a tailgate or a double rear door setting. Another useful customization offered is a reduced angle cab door opening clearance to allow the users to hold on the handle even if the door is fully opened thus minimizing the risk of hitting the wall or other objects.

Most traders’ vans sold in the UK at the moment are using a diesel engine. The main reason for their success is their fuel efficiency and high torque in the low rev range, helping in towing heavy loads. Developments in diesel engine design and assembly in recent years have made them smooth, quiet while keeping their advantage as longer lasting, cheaper to maintain and highly reliable powertrain systems. These developments apply to passenger cars as well as commercial vans.

Particulate filters, using mechanical filtering, remove carbon particles from the output gasses generated by the engine. The filter substantially reduces the amount of carbon emissions that is generated by the engine, making it less harmful to the environment.

Common rail systems have done wonders for the diesel engines in recent years. Similar in many ways to direct injection systems in internal combustion petrol engines, the common rail system has improved diesel engines’ smoothness, softened their noise and vastly improved the ride quality. Other important benefits of the common rail systems include better performance, improved fuel economy and increased torque output.

An alternative system is now being introduced which injects fuel at much greater pressure than conventional diesel engines. There are now several vans with engines adopting the new technology which offers improved efficiency and flexibility.

Modern light vans are now sold with gear boxes offering five or six gears. This improves the ride quality, offering a smooth ride. Some vans are now offered with automatic or semi automatic gear boxes, which are winning hearts on the highly congested UK roads and town centres.

Most modern vans now offer creature comforts that were not available even in luxury cars only a few years ago. Air conditioning, cruise control and satellite navigation are either standard or available as options. The quality and smoothness of the ride has also improved a great deal making long journeys feel less tiring.

Van manufacturers have also stepped up the level of safety features to bring vans in line with passenger cars. Most vans now offer a driver’s air bag, and many offer other air bags as options (side and curtain airbags). Other modern safety features include ABS (Antilock Braking System) and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme). Both of these electronic features are effectively active guardians that would correct the vehicle direction or breaking in case of skidding, or breaking in wet conditions.