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Is it Time to Turn to Lpg Installers?

Lee Gannon, sales and marketing director at Flogas UK Ltd, explains why the role of lpg gas installers and specifiers is growing within the lpg industry and how this will impact on the market.

The structure of the lpg industry has always been a unique one when compared to that of other heating services, with lp gas suppliers choosing to manage their own supply chain from specification and installation to providing the fuel itself. However, with new technologies entering the heating arena, we are seeing the lpg gas industry begin to call upon installers and other heating professionals to help secure business and identify opportunities for growth.

Whilst the role of the lpg installer or specifier has always been central to the heating industry when it comes to boilers and other mains related heating systems, the non-mains market has remained an isolated field. With the majority of off grid fuel suppliers, whether coal, oil or lp gas, traditionally choosing to manage their own supply chain, there has been little need for any contribution from installers on a large scale.

However, as new renewable technologies are introduced to the market and growing numbers of homeowners both on and off the mains become increasingly cost and eco-aware, consumers are looking at their heating system in a new light. In a similar way to the surge we have seen in grid users reviewing their boilers and switching to high efficiency products, off grid homeowners have also been considering their heating options.

Confusion over the many different energy sources available to them is leading homeowners to turn to installers for guidance. More consumers than ever are enquiring about alternative technologies and fuels, and heating professionals need to be able to recommend the right specification and products to suit an individual’s needs. However, it can be argued that many installers may struggle to address enquiries about non-mains fuel options due to their limited experience and knowledge of the off mains industry.

In order to take advantage of the opportunities that the eco-conscious homeowner presents, it is vital that we begin to recognise the central role installers have to play in securing these prospects. For example, an installer who possesses an in depth knowledge of lpg is more likely to recommend or discuss the fuel’s benefits with a homeowner than one who is not as familiar with the fuel. Knowledgeable installers are also more likely to be able to recognise where homeowners could perhaps make long-term savings on their energy bills by switching to lpg gas, particularly in the case of an oil user.

If we are to help the lp gas industry to grow and secure market share from other fuels, such as oil, then we must work with heating installers to ensure that they are fully educated in the merits of lpg and able to confidently identify a specification for which lpg gas is suitable when it is presented to them.

However, this partnership is not a one-way street. Lp gas suppliers must also look to meet the needs of the lpg installers themselves, and help them to grow their own businesses. For example, at Flogas, we understand how important the role of the lpg gas installer is to our industry, which is why we have launched our new Cash Flo rewards scheme. The innovative programme sees lpg qualified installers financially rewarded for supplying domestic and commercial bulk leads, as they respond to consumers becoming more conscious of their energy usage and choice of fuel.

If we are to fulfil the potential for growth that the lpg gas sector offers, we must work together as an industry to share best practice. By ensuring that our teams, from supplier to installer, are fully equipped with the correct knowledge and kept abreast of market changes, we can create new windows of opportunity that will allow lp gas installers, and the lpg market as a whole, to enjoy business growth.

Contact Flogas UK Ltd on 0116 264 9089 www.flogas.co.uk

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