LPG: An installer’s view

According to Calor, the UK’s leading LPG supplier, LPG is fast becoming the preferred non-mains-gas fuel thanks to its versatility and the real, controllable flame it provides for cookers and fires. However, it’s not just Calor that’s committed to promoting the benefits and growth of LPG – an increasing number of installers are too, and are opting for LPG over oil. LPG is the preferred choice for installer Andrew Davies of Hi-Tech Heating Services, based in Erdington, Birmingham. Here he explains why:

“At Hi-Tech Heating Services we specialise in natural gas and LPG boilers. We touch oil very occasionally, but only if a customer is really insistent that it’s what they want, and can’t be persuaded otherwise. To be honest I’ve never been a fan of oil – in my opinion it’s not a clean fuel, and it doesn’t give the same control, versatility or efficiency that LPG does.”

According to Andrew Davies, LPG’s benefits far outweigh any that oil can offer, and he will therefore steer his customers in that direction. He continued: “We find we can easily convince our customers to opt for LPG. Once the benefits have been explained to homeowners, LPG is an easy sell. Offering a real and controllable flame for boilers, cookers and fires, underground storage, automatic fuel top-ups, convenience and hassle free tank maintenance, LPG is becoming the ideal choice for many people living in non-mains-gas areas.

“We carry out around six to eight LPG installations each month, and with us being based in the West Midlands many of our customers live in semi-rural areas, such as Rugeley or Cannock for example, or rural areas that are located close to towns. We have found that this type of rural homeowner is actually used to mains gas – as they’ve usually lived in towns and cities before, rather than having been brought up in the countryside – and therefore want the closest alternative, which is of course LPG.

“In many instances we receive calls from customers who have just moved to the countryside. They’ve usually moved there to get away from city life, but don’t want a complete overhaul. They still want the same utilities they had in their urban life – including gas.”

LPG is the ideal solution for people who want gas in their rural home. The Think Tank^® from Calor, storage system, available for above or underground storage options, ensures homeowners are automatically topped-up with Calor LPG when required without any action on their part – so they should always have gas. A contents gauge, fitted to the tank, regularly monitors a customer’s gas level. A wireless transmitter sends a signal to a dialler unit connected to the household’s phone, which automatically dials up Calor’s central computer – completely free of charge – keeping it informed of the current gas level. When a top-up is required the local Calor depot is alerted and a tanker will deliver a supply of LPG in good time.

Rachel Hodge, Calor’s market development manager, said: “With The Think Tank^® the customer really won’t be able to see a difference between mains gas and LPG, especially if they opt for unobtrusive underground storage. All that is visible with this type of installation is a compact round green cover, which gives access to the valve assembly.”

For installers, LPG offers a modulating boiler flame, adaptable siting, ease of servicing and a wide range of versatile flueing options. There is also a wide variety of LPG boilers on the market, including high efficiency models, from leading manufacturers such as Valliant, Ferroli, Baxi Potterton, Worcester Bosch, Glow-worm and Keston to name just a few. LPG conversion kits are widely available – and offer an easy and relatively low cost way to convert a natural gas boiler to LPG.

Since LPG offers a real, controllable flame for cookers and fires, heating installers can also cross-sell these appliances. Again, LPG cookers and fires are available from top manufacturers, including Aga, Rangemaster and Valor.

Rachel Hodge added: “The other good news is that Calor makes things really easy for installers, as tank installation and insurance is taken care of. Once LPG has been chosen as the preferred fuel, a Calor representative visits the customer, evaluates the proposed site and recommends a suitable location for the tank.

“A Calor approved contractor delivers and installs the tank, connects the gas pipeline to the property and fills the tank with Calor LPG. The storage tank remains the property and responsibility of Calor, so the homeowner does not have to worry about tank costs, insurance or maintenance. Every time Calor LPG is delivered to a customer the tank is checked and maintained by a trained engineer.”

Andrew Davies said: “If you are a proactive installer, Calor is extremely good at supporting your business, not only through marketing but financially as well. We are currently running a joint promotion with the company – we are offering customers a £400 saving on a Valliant boiler, and Calor is offering £250 worth of free gas (based on a five year contract*). A total saving of £650 is a great incentive for a customer, and we’ve already received 50 leads!

“Calor LPG is definitely Hi-Tech Heating Services’ fuel of choice where non-mains-gas installations are concerned – and it is fast becoming the preferred option for other installers and rural homeowners too.”

Calor supports proactive installers with a ‘Calor recommended’ scheme. Whenever Calor receives an enquiry for an LPG domestic central heating installation the company refers them to a local Calor recommended installer. Any installers that would like to join the registration scheme, and become ‘recommended’ by Calor, should call the company on 0800 121 4461, to talk through a simple registration process.

* £50 a year, for five years.

Issued on behalf of Calor by The Bright Consultancy, 1 Henley Court, High Street, Henley-in-Arden, West Midlands B95 5BA. For further information please contact Ruth Barrows/Cara Hastings/Annette Massam at Bright on Tel: +44 (0) 1564 795535 Fax: +44 (0) 1564 795560 or Email: ruth@bright-consultancy.co.uk.

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Ref: CALG0053AV
Released: 7th June 2005