Emergency plumber or boiler engineer: who do you need?

When something goes wrong with water or heating, the right trade fixes it faster.

When water is leaking or the heating has failed, it is not always obvious who to call. As a rule of thumb, plumbers deal with water and pipes, while Gas Safe boiler engineers deal with your boiler, gas supply and central heating. Here is how to tell them apart.

Call a plumber for water and drainage problems

A plumber handles anything to do with water flowing in or out of your home:

Burst, leaking or frozen pipes
Dripping taps, overflowing or blocked toilets
Blocked sinks, baths and drains
No cold water, or a leak under the sink
Leaks from bathroom or kitchen fittings

Call a boiler engineer for heating and gas problems

A Gas Safe registered boiler engineer handles your boiler, gas supply and central heating:

No heating or no hot water
A leaking, banging or repeatedly cutting-out boiler
A boiler losing pressure or showing a fault code
A suspected gas leak or a smell of gas
Radiators not heating up properly

What about jobs that overlap?

Some problems sit between the two. Radiators and heating pipework can be handled by either, but anything connected to the boiler or gas supply must go to a Gas Safe engineer. If you are not sure, describe the problem when you call — a good tradesperson will tell you honestly whether it is their job.

If you smell gas, act first

A smell of gas is an emergency. Do not turn switches on or off, open the windows, turn off the gas at the meter if you can, leave the property, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Then arrange a Gas Safe engineer.

Tip: For a genuine emergency — a major leak or a gas smell — turn off the water at the stopcock or the gas at the meter first, then call. It limits the damage while help is on the way.

When it is urgent

A burst pipe or major leak — turn off the stopcock and call a plumber
No heating or hot water in cold weather, especially with children or vulnerable people at home
A smell of gas — call 0800 111 999 immediately
A boiler leaking water or making loud banging noises
Water coming through a ceiling

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber fix my boiler?

Only if they are also Gas Safe registered. General plumbing and gas boiler work are different qualifications — any work on a gas boiler must be done by a Gas Safe engineer.

Who do I call for no hot water?

If you have no hot water and no heating, it is usually the boiler — call a Gas Safe boiler engineer. If the heating works but a single tap runs cold, it may be a plumbing issue.

Is a smell of gas an emergency?

Yes. Leave the property, avoid using switches or naked flames, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 straight away.

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