Oil Boiler/Burner Service Engineer - What do you cover ?

JamesM

I want to answer Agusta without going off topic on another thread. He asked if I did any plumbing work for customers. Apart from the very odd water pump, seals in rad valves etc, I did not do any real plumbing work. Never replaced a boiler, except my own. I choose to pass all plumbing work on to plumbers and heating companies I knew well and trusted. I did learn a lot about the different heating systems from experience over the years and was able to tell a plumber what was needed. Apart from not being qualified, I felt that if I was fitting boilers etc., I would not give a very good breakdown service.
I also had very good oil tank installers through the years.

In 1970, after 5 years in an office, with no heating or plumbing experience, I joined the company servicing for Texaco, learned by going out with experienced guys. I moved on to 2 more companies and in 1974 , after a row with a chancer of a boss, who once told me to put a plug in a safety valve to stop the drip :eek:, I went out on my own. By 1976, I stopped doing individual services and only worked by service agreement, starting 1st Sept every year. For most of the following years I had between 500 and 550 customers signed up every year. It worked well, by Christmas I knew how much money was coming in for the year, and the customer knew that he had someone who would cover service and breakdowns. The agreement did not cover pipework, plumbing etc.

I believe that very many of the service guys up to 10 or maybe 15 years ago did not do plumbing and plumbers stayed away from the workings of burners.

I retired in September, but am just wondering if there are many like me out there now, or are most of you now qualified plumbers.
Jim.

Wearb

JamesM wrote: »

...............
I retired in September, but am just wondering if there are many like me out there now, or are most of you now qualified plumbers.
Jim.

I will change a circulating pump or expansion vessel or rad or leaking PRV. I have installed and replaced boilers. I have also installed oil tanks. That is as far as I go with plumbing.

Billy Bunting

Never been a plumber but the Gas Service Engineering apprentaship i did covered plumbing and heating, used to install but been just service work for past 10yrs.
I did work for a Domestic Appliance Manufacturer, joined to do their dual fuel goods but they trained me up on all appliances, worked with a "Real Oil Engineer" back in the mid 90's, he trained me up on oil, my van currently states GAS, ELECTRIC OR OIL, but as semi retirment and bad health is at me, that will soon be OIL only.

JamesM

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Never been a plumber but the Gas Service Engineering apprentaship i did covered plumbing and heating, used to install but been just service work for past 10yrs.
I did work for a Domestic Appliance Manufacturer, joined to do their dual fuel goods but they trained me up on all appliances, worked with a "Real Oil Engineer" back in the mid 90's, he trained me up on oil, my van currently states GAS, ELECTRIC OR OIL, but as semi retirment and bad health is at me, that will soon be OIL only.

Hope the health improves Billy. I found that, with the state pension and a small private one, if you took off the VAT, insurance, travel and pension fund from my earnings, there is not much difference in my income. Get back on the water I'll be re-launching next weekend. If you get down to Derg (as scudo said recently re my trip to Cork), we'll meet for a coffee
Jim.

scudo2

I'm original a P&H, Self employed 24 years, gas and oil instulations, no gas servicing, oil servicing end took off due to the few good guys retiring.
I found that I could do better myself at servicing than having a couple of employees doing P&H.
TOTALY oil for the last 15 years. + I replace oil boilers between April and August. (no gas)
Nothing else, maybe the odd pump if its not a drain down situation. This way I can fairly well schedule my day in a 15 mile radius.
As far as I know I'm the only fulltime oily here.
Most others do it as a additional sideline with P&H.
I've never tried operating service contracts.



ps. Must get a boat again.