When your boiler breaks down or the radiators aren’t heating up, who do you call — a plumber or a heating engineer?

It’s a question we hear often from homeowners in Exeter, Exmouth, and throughout the South Hams. And while there’s overlap between the two, there are important differences that could save you time, money, and a second visit.

Here’s how to tell who you need — and why it matters.

What Does a Plumber Do?

Plumbers work on the water supply and drainage systems in your home. That includes:

• Fixing leaks and burst pipes

• Installing taps, toilets, and showers

• Fitting kitchens and bathrooms

• Unblocking drains or replacing waste pipework

• Some general heating pipework (but not boiler internals)

If it involves water (and not gas), a plumber is usually your first port of call.

What Does a Heating Engineer Do?

Heating engineers specialise in:

• Boiler repairs and servicing

• Gas fire and appliance servicing

• Central heating system diagnostics

• Radiator and thermostat faults

• Power flushing and balancing

They’re trained and registered to work safely on gas appliances — and in the UK, this means they must be Gas Safe registered.

Gas Work? Always Check for Gas Safe

If the job involves:

• A boiler

• A gas hob or fire

• A heating system connected to gas

…then the person doing the work needs to be Gas Safe registered by law.

You can check their registration online or ask to see their ID — and if you book with EPM, we’ll always send the right person for the job.

What About EPM?

We’ve got qualified plumbers and Gas Safe heating engineers — so whether it’s a dripping tap, full boiler replacement or something in between, we’ve got it covered.

And because we’re a reactive team based here in Devon, we can often respond faster than national companies or big call centres.

Final Word from EPM

Don’t worry if you’re not sure who you need — just give us a call and tell us what’s happening.

We’ll ask a few quick questions and make sure the right tradesperson turns up with the right tools to get it sorted.