Things to remember when hiring a plumber!

Here's a couple of things to remember when hiring a plumber:

Here at Able Skills, we have been teaching the trade of plumbing for over 10+ years we know what it takes to become a fully qualified professional. We also know what you should be looking for when you are in need of a plumber - here are some things to keep in mind when your pipe bursts: 

Make sure they are certified:

This is probably the most important tip when looking online for asking around make sure to enquire about their legitimacy, level of qualification and so on. It's better to be safe than sorry, hiring somebody who does odd jobs and isn't specifically a plumber could cause more problems than its worth...There are lots of cowboy traders out there - don't be afraid to ask the plumber himself, if he's qualified he will be happy to tell you his level of certification!

Think about what you need: 

What we mean by this one is that not all plumbers can carry out a variety of different work, for example, if you have a problem with your boiler or any gas type appliance, make sure that the plumber is also qualified to carry out gas work and is Gas Safe Registered - this is a legal requirement for all those carrying out gas installations and general maintenance. A Registered Engineer will not be afraid to present you with his ID so just ask!

You can check the legitimacy of a Gas Safe Engineer ID card on www.gassaferegister.co.uk - Simply type in the 7-digit card number in and it will tell you if they are registered or not - if their card has expired and so on!

Check them out online: 

It's 2019 if your plumber isn't online is someway he's missing out! So check them out online, especially a self-employed plumber will have reviews online exampled of completed work, social media and even YouTube videos. It always pays off to do your research!

Looking for Plumbing training?

Looking for some training of your own? Look no further, we run a large variety of plumbing courses, taught by professional instructors with a joint lifetime of experience both teaching and working out in the industry. They are experts on the subject and know how to take students from a novice level to professional. If you have no experience at all, then we first recommend that you enrol in our 5-day Introduction to Plumbing course to get a feel for the trade and to judge if it's something you are confident you could start a  career in.

If you have completed the introductory course or you do have some previous experience then the next step would be to take on our City & Guilds Level 2 Plumbing Course - If you want to become a qualified Plumber then this industry-recognised entry-level 2 will be your starting point!

We also run some more advanced plumbing courses if you are already qualified seeking some advanced training such as our Water Regulations Course (WRAS) or Energy Efficiency Course so check our full range of plumbing courses here! 

Alternative training methods?

We know that not everybody can find the time to train here at our centre in the week, so we have devised some alternative training methods, for example, our City & Guilds Level 2 Plumbing Course can be taken over a series of weekends - hopefully this gives some people with an existing job or prior engagements the opportunity to come in and get some quality training...you will receive the exact same City & Guilds qualification upon completion, the only difference between the full-time and part-time option is the length of time it will take you to complete the entire course!

Another flexible method of training is our home-study option...Yes, that's right! Our Home Study Level 2 Plumbing Course is perfect if your lifestyle doesn’t allow you to commit to structured patterns of learning then maybe this Home Study option is the answer. Learn all of the theory from our very comprehensive Plumbing manual and then when you are ready and at your leisure, arrange to come to Able Skills for required On-line exams and practical training and assessments.

Want some more information?

If you would like some more details or advice on how to enrol onto any of the plumbing courses that we offer, then get in contact with us! Spaces are taken up fast so make sure to call us on 01322 280 202 when you are ready to take the leap into a new career or start one! Alternivlty, we have an open policy meaning that we allow candidates to come straight into our office unannounced to ask questions, look around and generally gain advice on the best options in terms of available plumbing courses. Find us at: 

K5, Riverside Industrial Estate, Riverside Way, Dartford DA1 5BS