Too many gas men?

[Mike2007]

10-15 years ago people were desparate for gas fitters. Today there seems to be a glut, do you think this is true?

 

[Madrab]

Well I'm busier than I used to be with Gas, if there was a glut then I wouldn't think I would be. Not sure if that's a reflection of the trade where I am or not though.

 

[CBW]

I’m employed directly, so unsure. Although I see more plumbing/heating/gas businesses lately.

 

[DP]

I’m employed directly, so unsure. Although I see more plumbing/heating/gas businesses lately.

Lot more vans on the road promising the world going by the signage yet the quality of work leave lot to be desired. Use to be the ventilation often was not upto scratch, now the gas line is often under sized. Then there is boiler fitters who have no idea what a boiler interlock is

 

[Notch7]

now the gas line is often under sized

it always seems ironic that modern boilers are more efficient yet need a bigger gas pipe to feed them.

to a non plumber like me that seems counter intuitive.

 

[DP]

it always seems ironic that modern boilers are more efficient yet need a bigger gas pipe to feed them.

to a non plumber like me that seems counter intuitive.

It is more a case of combination boilers getting nailed to the wall and bigger boilers are fitted not to heat the house but to improve hot water delivery. Eg a 35kw boiler may be fitted that needs around 3.5 cubic meters of gas while the heating requirement may be around 13kw for a 2 bedroom box room semi. Have seen instances where the gas hob is fine until a hot tap is run- now the flames on gas hob diminish

 

[ScottishGasMan]

it always seems ironic that modern boilers are more efficient yet need a bigger gas pipe to feed them.

to a non plumber like me that seems counter intuitive.

Quite simple. People are fitting bigger boilers. Years back it was usualy 12-15kw boilers, with the odd 24kw combi. Now every stuffs a 30kw system boiler in because they cant work out what is actually needed and 40-50kw combis presumably mostly for the same reason.

 

[jj4091]

Could it be there were too many Brit Gas guys made redundant & set up themselves. Perhaps only in Cumbria.

 

[ianmcd]

There is a shortage of decent knowledgable engineers, but the country is flooded with newly qualified short course chancers, some which are very good, and lots who only know what a FGA is, not what it does

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Have noticed a trend in my area, not sure how commonplace it is. When I was apprenticed 30 odd years ago, there were a handful of Plumbers working in the town, most were middle aged Guys, who worked by themselves or employed few people. None advertised as there was plenty of work to go around, and most people either had a regular Plumber or, found one by word of mouth. A few jobs were picked up by people coming into the Merchants and either looking at the bathroom displays and asking about someone to fit it or came in to ask if they could recommend someone.

Now, with most if those Guys retired, it seems everyone who gets qualified now promptly sets up as a sole trader, and is clamouring on Social Media for work. The same names come up every time someone asks for recommendations, (most obviously recommend themselves or friends/family tag them in the post.) Notable are the select few that seem to be busy without having to either tout for the work or advertise, most of which I notice, have been around slightly longer.

One notable absence lately in my area was a frequent Poster offering his services, however a prosecution for illegal gas work seems to have (thankfully) stopped him advertising at least.

One thing we do have here though is an absolutely Brilliant Chap who specialises in Lead work. Having seen examples of his craft, it is so nice to see the skills being kept alive. He is currently working on some of the University Buildings in Cambridge, it is a pleasure to look at his work.