If you have not planned in advance and taken out a home maintenance plan from a reputable, established company you will need to find plumbers, drains engineers and electricians who cover your area and deliver good quality work. This may be a challenging task if you need someone in an emergency as you may not have the time to conduct a thorough selection process and the best tradesmen may not be available at a moments notice.

Engaging a new Tradesman

To ensure a good job is completed to your satisfaction, and that of the contractor you engage you should take a few precautions before you authorise the workman to commence the job.

• Ensure that you give the tradesman a written description of the work to be carried out and get quotes in writing from different Tradesman before you make your final choice. The work description should also include details of the service standards you require.
• Make sure that the price quotes incorporate a breakdown of labour and materials, start time of job and an estimated completion date with an indication of hours of working and how complaints are handled.
• Request references from each of your short list and check these out. Check to ensure that the references are true, from real, independent, people and go and visit the work for the preferred tradesman.
• Also ask for evidence of insurance to cover accidents and liability.
• For significant jobs get a written contract. If you are not familiar with these get a solicitors help. Large projects should have staged payments against quality assessments and performance.

If you have purchased a British Gas Homecare plan you will have the comfort of knowing that their 6000 trained engineers are available to help you when you have a home maintenance emergency. Having said this, what are the service standards that they adhere to?

British Gas Homecare plans Service Standards

Initial Safety Inspections

The initial safety inspection checks that your central heating appliance is working as safely and efficiently as possible and makes sure that British Gas are able to carry out necessary repairs by finding available and approved parts.

When you sign up, British Gas will undertake an Initial Safety Inspection and aim to complete this within 28 days. They will normally also complete your first Safety and Maintenance Inspection at the same time*

If you move to a new property and the previous owner had a Safety and Maintenance Inspection in the last 12 months, British Gas will not carry out an initial inspection unless you have had a new system or boiler fitted. If they don’t need to carry out the initial inspection on your boiler, they will carry out your Safety and Maintenance Inspection when it is due.

This applies to central heating within: HomeCare 100, 200, 300, 400 and PropertyCare.

What will the Engineer do at the Initial Safety Inspection?

1. A visual examination of the appliance and system to detect any obvious hazards and existing design faults
2. Check that they can get access to the appliance for service and repair
3. Carry out safety checks on ventilation, appliance flues and electrical circuits
4. Check the condition and operation of the appliance
5. Check the condition of the system, including pipework, radiators and air grilles, where appropriate
6. Check the central heating controls and carry out a system water test and an important emissions test
7. Talk you through a detailed checklist of the work they have done and leave you with a copy

If the engineer finds that your appliance or system is unsuitable, they will always leave you with a recommended solution. This may mean that some work is needed to solve the problem, or that another British Gas HomeCare service may be more appropriate.

Safety and Maintenance Inspections

The Safety and Maintenance Inspections are important to ensure that your appliance and/or system continues to work as safely and efficiently as possible. British Gas are constantly improving the way in which they maintain your system and appliances by working closely with manufacturers and industry bodies.

Gas Appliance Inspection

Applies to: HomeCare 100, 200, 300, 400 and Gas Appliance Check, Gas Appliance Care and PropertyCare

For these services, the inspection of your gas appliance, which takes place once in every year of your agreement(s), is similar to the Initial Safety Inspection and also includes an important emissions test. This enables British Gas to measure the combustion efficiency of your gas appliance and to check that carbon monoxide emissions are within acceptable limits.
The time it takes to inspect your appliance may vary depending on the condition of your system. British Gas aim to complete your Safety and Maintenance Inspection around the same time each year If this isn’t possible, due to their workload, your agreement will still continue.

Plumbing Inspection

Applies to: HomeCare 300,400, Plumbing Care and Plumbing and Drains Care

For these services, a plumbing inspection also takes place once in every continuous two-year period of your agreement(s). It includes a maintenance inspection of your cold water storage tanks (if applicable), stop valves and toilets.

Electrical Inspection

Applies to : HomeCare 400, Home Electrical Care and Kitchen Appliance Care

For these services, an electrical inspection also takes place once in every continuous two-year period of your agreement(s). It includes important maintenance checks on your electrical fixtures and fittings and major kitchen appliances you have under care respectively

Appointment times

British Gas lets you choose the time that suits you,

• AM (8am 1 pm),
• PM (1 2noon-6pm),
• or daytime (10am-2pm), Monday to Friday

The drains experts, Dyno-Rod, offer

• all day
• PM (12noon - 6pm) appointments