The American economic crisis has been making headlines all over the world for a few months but the US is not alone when it comes to financial difficulties. Various countries around the world have suffered severe economic meltdowns (Iceland and Ukraine just to name a few). The UK has also been having serious economic troubles as well, especially in the housing industry. There has been a twelve percent drop in the price of homes in the UK in the last twelve months. We ask - has the heating and plumbing industry been affected by this?
Initial evidence shows that the economic downturn hasn't slowed down business for the plumbing and heating industry as much as it has for other industries. There are a few companies that have reported a drop in billable hours, but for the most part, business has remained steady. The real change has been in the kind of work that the heating and plumbing engineers are being hired to do.
Up to last year, when the housing market was on an upswing, many heating and plumbing engineers were hired to create completely new plumbing and heating or cooling systems. In many ways, a new house and would often lead to completely new plumbing and heating system to be designed and installed. Now that the housing market has slowed down, home owners are more concerned with making sure their current systems will last as long as possible, while keeping costs down.
Heating and plumbing engineers are now being hired to repair and renovate systems in homes. Heating and cooling systems are being retooled and cleaned instead of being replaced. Professionals are finding that their billable hours are going toward boiler replacement and hot water cylinder repairs and inspecting vents and drains to ensure that they are working correctly and cost efficiently.
Heating and plumbing professionals do appreciate the work they are winning in this difficult economic climate. They acknowledge that the work may not always be challenging or interesting. Installing a combination boiler is not quite as exciting as designing and fitting an entirely new piping and plumbing and heating system in a new home. It is, however, a reliable stream of work and enables them to pay their bills.
Some heating engineers have discovered that diversifying their business and learning how to practice "green" methods of plumbing and heating can remarkably improve their number of billable hours, as recently clients have shown interest in making sure their homes are environmentally friendly. Solar thermal panels, under floor heating systems and environmentally friendly sewer systems are becoming more popular.
It is clear that the UK economy is having a rough ride right now but the professional heating and plumbing industry should remain fairly stable thanks to repair and renovation requests. Plumbers and heating specialists will also do well if they are ready to take on clients who want "green" technologies to heat their houses and their domestic water. Flexibility and ability to adjust to the circumstances guarantee that professionals will be able to get through the current economic crisis.
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about boilers, central heating, Southampton plumbers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
