Beware of Cowboy installers!

Let`s face it... HETAS installers of Wood burning stoves don`t come cheaply.  There are many, many cowboy installers trying to capitalise on this and doing a terrible and  frankly life-threatening at times job of it.

Every HETAS engineer you talk to  will recount numerous fires that they have visited, fitted by one of these cowboys and will have the same glazed and horrified look in their eyes as they tell you tales of mind-bafflingly dangerous situations.  Our personal worst experience was seeing a log burner millimetres away from a live gas feed.  That and the flue pipe running through a combustible wardrobe! (the mind boggles!)

After we saw this BBC programme the other night, I had to share it.   The link will only work for 28 days so apologies if you are reading this after that.  There is a whole section on the life-threateningly dangerous  installations made by cowboy installers .  Please share this with anyone you know wanting a wood burning stove and impress on them the importance of having it done by a registered HETAS engineer.

BBC one - Fake Britain. Series 6 episode 9.

Whilst we are on the subject...

The amount of times we have talked to people who would like a wood burning stove and have been asked the fateful question:
"Can`t I just do it myself"  its usually followed with "I`m/ my husband`s/ my second cousins uncle`s next-door-but-one neighbour is  really handy with building work!"

Whilst I brush off the shudders at the thought of that question... based on personal experiences of coming across disastrous and plain dangerous cowboy installations I will answer it for you.

Yes you can.  But we don`t recommend it. 
Not because we need your business as we are snowed under with installations, but for your own personal safety.
You can legally install yourself, however, you must follow the guidelines and building regulations document along with the manufacturers instructions. If you install a stove yourself then you must inform the building control officer at your local council which can cost £300 plus with no guarantee it will be passed. The council will arrange for a HETAS registered inspector to visit and carry out a survey of the work that has taken place. If the work is satisfactory then the stove will be signed off and you will be issued with a HETAS Certificate by the inspector. There is a charge for this service and is usually in the region of £300 in addition to the afore mentioned fee from your district council.
When you add all that up, it was probably not worth the hassle as it would equate to a HETAS expert fitting it for you in the first place!

If you need a qualified HETAS registered installer in your area then check their website.  You can put in your postcode and see where your nearest registered installer is.  You will even find us on there under Morleys of Nottingham LTD.

Best of luck with any installations ... stay safe and cosy!