Is Your Heat Pump in Good Hands? It's Important to Choose Your Engineer Wisely...

Are you looking for a heat pump engineer this winter? If you live in the UK, you may not have an abundance of local engineers available. This can make choosing your engineer a little tricky, so we want to share our experience and tips, to make sure you put your heat pump in safe hands.

Firstly, lets just set the scene for what you're up against. There is a well documented skills shortage in the UK when it comes to heat pump engineering. The good news is things are moving forward, but whilst many traditional plumbers are adopting new technologies, many are still very new to heat pumps. The natural place to start is with installations. However, finding an installer with a few jobs under their belt, may not be what you need for heat pump servicing, emergency call outs or repairs.

Look after your heat pump, and it will look after you

A happy heat pump is one of those things that's easy to forget about. When you're hosting a cosy winter gathering, warming up after a day at work or jumping in the shower to start your day, it's unlikely you'll be thinking about your heat pump. However, like most appliances and technology, your heat pump needs a little love to keep it happy and working reliably in your home or business. Forget to look after your heat pump and at some point you will be reminded just how much it does for you. Life often has a funny way of throwing things like a heat pump break down, just at the moment you could do without it! Here lies the reason it's vital you service and maintain your heat pump at least once a year.

Choose a heat pump specialist

Let's use a metaphor for this one. Imagine you developed the weird and wonderful symptoms of an uncommon condition. You want to get checked out and reassured that you're in good health. Given the option, would you want to see the General Practitioner or a specialist in the condition, who has been working with patients just like you for 15 years? We can probably guess your answer. Heat pumps feel the same! Heat pump engineers learn far more through experience than they do from the class room, so a certificate in a training course may not be the rubber stamp you need (at least not on it's own).

Plumbing and heating engineers may have started the transition to heat pump engineering (which we think is great!), but you'll often find this means that whilst their experience of installing heat pumps is growing, they might not have much in the way of maintenance and service experience. That's not criticism, everyone has to start somewhere (we did, albeit 16 years ago), but given the choice you probably wouldn't choose to be the training model.

You need someone who's comfortable with the complex

Attention to detail, careful precision and experience of using the right diagnostics is really important. The last thing you want is a quick 'once over' and a peice of paper to prove it. When it comes to caring for your heat pump you need an engineer who will provide a thorough service, not just ticking the box on their form, but ensuring optimum efficiency and prolonging the life of your heat pump - and that can be complex.

An experienced heat pump engineer can use their in depth expertise to spot and take care of potential issues before they happen. Saving you time, money and a cold shower or two in the future.

Not just gas... you need an f-gas engineer

Whilst using a gas safe engineer is obviously a good thing when you're working with gas, what you're looking for when it comes to heat pumps, is an f-gas qualified heating engineer. This is because your heat pump actually uses refrigerant gas, not the natural gas that's typically burnt in a gas boiler. Refrigerant gases can be dangerous and if you want an engineer who is able to work on all components of the heat pump, then you need an experienced heating engineer who is also f-gas qualified.

Enjoy being a heat pump owner

Director of EnviroRight Renewables Ltd and engineer Chris Morris, has been a heating engineer for 22 years and working with heat pumps for over 16 years. He has deep experience with a range of heat pump brands and manufacturers. He knows that what matters the most in a heat pump owners moment of need, is that they have consistent heating, hot water or cooling at efficient running costs. Throughout his years of specialist experience in heat pumps he has learnt both in and out of the class room, and knows how to help you love your heat pump and the benefits it can offer both you and the lower carbon future you contribute to.

Conclusion

So, if you love your heat pump, by giving it the care it needs through annual services and routine maintenance...then it should look after you back.

If you want to protect your heat pumps lifespan, maintain it's efficiency and know that you can rely on it for heating, hot water and cooling when you need it, you need to pick the right engineer.

There are lots of ways you can look for a good engineer to service your heat pump, including asking an engineer about their experience and credentials. We think you should feel empowered to ask your heat pump engineer how much experience they have and for reassurance that they are an f-gas registered heating engineer. That way you know you're choosing the right specialist for your heat pump.

Who're EnviroRight Renewables Ltd?

If you live in Dorset, Hampshire or Wiltshire you can choose Enviroright Renewables for your expert heat pump engineering at competitive rates and know that;

• Your local heat pump engineer has over 22 years experience as a heating engineer

• Over 16 years experience working with heat pumps

• Is an f-gas qualified heating engineer and can work on all heat pump components

• Has 2 million in public liability insurance and also holds professional indemnity cover

• Can offer heat pump services, heat pump call outs in an emergency, heat pump repairs and maintenance