Digital tools now ‘frontline kit’ for heating engineers in winter surge

New research from City Plumbing shows that digital tools have become essential for heating engineers tackling the annual surge in boiler and heating breakdowns. 

More than 60% of installers now use online platforms to identify and source boiler spares, with a further third open to doing so. Over half (57%) are also using digital tools to diagnose problems with boilers and other heating faults systems. 

The Taking the Temperature report, based on responses from 500 heating and plumbing installers, also dispels the idea that digital tools are mainly used by larger firms. Sole traders are close behind their bigger counterparts, with 56% already using digital platforms for spares as well as online diagnostic tools. Among businesses with 10–49 staff, usage climbs to 59% for spares tools and 65% for boiler diagnostics. 

Fast access to parts is a growing priority too, with 84% of engineers saying it matters more now than in previous years. 

Roz Kane, Managing Director for Spares at City Plumbing, said digital tools are helping the trade “work smarter when things get busy,” and urged those yet to adopt them to give them a try. 

City Plumbing’s support includes SparesFinder – a searchable database of 20,000+ parts from 160 manufacturers – with same-day click-and-collect or next-day delivery. Its Fault Finder tool, currently available for a free 30-day trial, covers over 13,000 gas, electric and oil boilers and integrates with the Help me Fix digital triage platform to boost first-time fixes. 

Branches and spares specialists remain on hand for advice, with the SparesFinder team available seven days a week. Kane added: “As winter settles in, we will keep backing plumbers and heating engineers with access to stock, technical advice and digital services that help them stay in control during their busiest time of the year.”