Heating, plumbing and air conditioning firms to acquire in the UK

Name: Heating, plumbing and air conditioning firms to acquire in the UK
Creator: Firmbase
License: https://firmbase.co/terms

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a heating, plumbing or air conditioning firm in the UK? Firmbase ranks 4,196 heating, plumbing and air conditioning firms using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 8 staff and has been in business for 14 years; 9 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector.

Heating engineers, plumbers and air conditioning and refrigeration contractors share this list, including firms that also carry out electrical work. Installation projects and continuing maintenance involve different commitments, from fitting new boilers to servicing cooling equipment and checking for refrigerant leaks. For someone buying a heating and plumbing business, separate service agreements from individual repair jobs and identify the equipment each agreement covers.

Reach more heating customers without stretching engineers

Engineer time often limits how many more customers a heating firm can serve. Firmbase covers 4,196 UK limited-company and LLP businesses in these trades with five or more staff. Use the ranking to locate regional firms, then identify their equipment, work types and continuing service obligations. The first shortlist should reflect where your group can respond reliably to customer needs.

Company ownership can help distinguish independent operators from businesses owned by another company. The median firm in this list has been operating for 14 years. One person holds 75% or more in 31% of the firms. Public ownership and company age do not reveal an owner's plans. They give you a structured way to decide where direct research could begin.

Focus on the installed equipment your group knows and the geographic coverage required to maintain it. Assess whether out-of-hours cover depends on one or two engineers. Check parts access and subcontractor reliance across the equipment the firm supports. The Approach Score orders a search, but it does not test technical competence or the durability of customer relationships.

For heating and plumbing acquisitions, this is a sourcing tool, not a list of businesses for sale. Check gas businesses and engineers on the Gas Safe Register; F-gas refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump work needs a company certificate. Registers such as REFCOM's can confirm a claimed certificate, but other bodies also issue them. Review maintenance contracts, engineer coverage, parts obligations and the responsibility for work already completed before relying on recurring fees.

4,196

Firms

19%

Every director 55+

31%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£500k to £1m

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

Key facts

The Health and Safety Executive tells people to check that a gas engineer is Gas Safe registered. Health and Safety Executive

A business installing or servicing F-gas refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump equipment needs a company certificate. REFCOM

REFCOM provides a public search for registered companies and their certificates. REFCOM

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	TT Drainage ST Asaph, Denbighshire	Approach Score 92/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 13 staff · turnover est. £1.7m Net assets £1m (Oct 2025) Director resigned Jan 2026 Company no. 04836251 · Companies House ttdrainage.co.uk
2	Glowzone West Byfleet, Surrey	Approach Score 91/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £876k Net assets £87k (May 2025) Director resigned Oct 2025 Company no. 06899665 · Companies House glowzone.co.uk
3	GUY Crabb Plumbing & Heating Bridport, Dorset	Approach Score 90/100	In post since 1999 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 32 staff · turnover est. £1.8m Net assets £322k (Apr 2025) Charge satisfied Nov 2025 Company no. 03754720 · Companies House guycrabbplumbingandheating.co.uk
4	Drain Surgeon Services South Croydon, Surrey	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 1999 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £4.5m Net assets £2.7m (Feb 2025) Company no. 03710610 · Companies House
5	AIR Cool Engineering (N.I.) Aston, Hertfordshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 90/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 1997 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 28 staff · turnover est. £3.4m Net assets £746k (May 2025) Company no. 03435101 · Companies House aircoolengineering.co.uk
6	Gordon Dobbie Heating & Plumbing Kirriemuir	Approach Score 90/100	In post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £949k Net assets £144k (Sep 2024) Company no. SC307467 · Companies House
7	Essex Group Basildon, Essex A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £2.3m Net assets £1.3m (Mar 2025) Director resigned Sep 2026 · charge satisfied Sep 2026 · PSC register changed Apr 2026 Company no. 02910385 · Companies House teamessex.co.uk
8	Ekotherm Coulsdon, Surrey	Approach Score 89/100	2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £439k (Feb 2026) Company no. 07482518 · Companies House ekotherm.co.uk
9	Muneris Sutton, Surrey	Approach Score 89/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £1.4m Net assets £850k (Sep 2025) Company no. 07035570 · Companies House munerisltd.co.uk
10	Heating & Boiler Services Widnes A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 88/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2004 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 15 staff · turnover est. £1.7m Net assets £150k (Dec 2024) Director resigned Feb 2026 · PSC register changed Feb 2026 Company no. 05172140 · Companies House heatingboilerservices.com
11	Pipeworx Cornwall	Approach Score 87/100	2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2004 Held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £746k Net assets £448k (Mar 2025) Director resigned Sep 2026 · PSC register changed Sep 2026 Company no. 05224830 · Companies House pipeworx.co.uk
12	Midland Boilercare Leicester	Approach Score 87/100	2 directors aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2002 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £1m Net assets £342k (Sep 2025) Company no. 04534982 · Companies House midlandboilercare.co.uk
13	ICE Refrigeration Leominster	Approach Score 87/100	2 directors aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £460k (Mar 2025) Company no. 05763977 · Companies House ice-refrigeration.co.uk
14	Macclesfield Maintenance Macclesfield, Cheshire	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2016 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £639k Net assets £306k (Jan 2026) Company no. 09941804 · Companies House maccmaintenance.co.uk
15	MY Plumber MAN Canterbury, Kent	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2004 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £983k Net assets £161k (Dec 2025) Company no. 05013686 · Companies House myplumberman.co.uk
16	South Manchester Heating (chorlton) Manchester	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £918k Net assets £38k (Oct 2025) Director resigned May 2026 · PSC register changed May 2026 Company no. 09275708 · Companies House southmanchesterheatingltd.co.uk
17	Clibborn Air Conditioning Shifnal, Shropshire	Approach Score 87/100	In post since 2013 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £846k Net assets £183k (Jun 2025) Company no. 08573028 · Companies House clibbornairconditioning.co.uk
18	Mooney Mechanical Installations Ballymena	Approach Score 86/100	In post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 15 staff · turnover est. £1.3m Net assets £229k (Apr 2025) Company no. NI064233 · Companies House mooneymechanicalinstallations.com
19	Cullen Plumbing & Heating Edinburgh, Midlothian	Approach Score 86/100	In post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £587k Net assets £116k (Mar 2025) Company no. SC393940 · Companies House cullen-plumbing.co.uk
20	T T Hall Plumbing and Heating Wrexham	Approach Score 86/100	Longest in post since 2002 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £343k Net assets £27k (Mar 2026) Director resigned May 2025 · PSC register changed Sep 2026 Company no. 04472085 · Companies House
21	AC Logic Air Conditioning Services Woking, Surrey	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2010 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £841k Net assets £135k (Mar 2025) Company no. 07474927 · Companies House aclogic.co.uk/news-info
22	Elite Heating Services (wales) Swansea	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2002 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £527k Net assets £51k (Jun 2025) Company no. 04465468 · Companies House eliteheatingwales.co.uk
23	Powerflow Contracts Larkhall, Lanarkshire	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2008 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £807k Net assets £371k (Apr 2026) Company no. SC341245 · Companies House powerflowcontracts.co.uk
24	Messenger Mobile Services Folkestone, Kent	Approach Score 85/100	Longest in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 17 staff · turnover est. £1m Net assets £396k (Apr 2025) Company no. 05335961 · Companies House
25	Enviro-Heat NW Mawdesley, Lancashire	Approach Score 85/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 45-49 · longest in post since 2008 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £146k (Mar 2026) Company no. 06617202 · Companies House enviroheatnw.co.uk

4,171 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 4,196 for £3,995 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 4,196 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

The score and the firm

Approach Score

The facts behind the score

Points for each part of the score

Financials with dates

Website

Publicly available contact details, where identified

Directors and shareholders

Director names

Director birth month and year

Director appointment dates

Named shareholders with more than 25%, with ownership bands

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

Frequently asked questions

How should I approach a heating or plumbing firm owner?

At first contact, identify yourself and say which heating, plumbing or cooling services your group handles. State that their details came from the public Companies House register through Firmbase. Explain how to object to your use of their data and stop if they do. Before phoning, check the Telephone Preference Service and the Corporate Telephone Preference Service. Leave technical and customer details for a confidential discussion if the owner welcomes one.

Which gas and refrigerant credentials need checking?

Gas safety law requires a business doing gas work to be on the Gas Safe Register, and its engineers must be competent. For refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump work with F-gases, check the firm's company certificate, using REFCOM's public search where REFCOM issued it. Match each credential to the work actually done; a heating or plumbing label does not establish permission for every service.

legislation.gov.uk · Health and Safety Executive · REFCOM · REFCOM

Why look beyond a heating firm's Approach Score?

The score uses public company evidence and the methodology page explains its calculation. A heating contractor's service book also depends on engineer availability, equipment types and the terms promised to customers. Check those operational details against the company data. The ranking cannot show whether a gas or refrigerant credential matches the work, so verify credentials through the relevant register before deciding on fit.

How should maintenance agreements be assessed?

Read each agreement for the equipment covered, visit frequency, response promises, exclusions and cancellation rights. Compare contracted fees with the cost of engineers, travel and parts needed to deliver the work. Check whether specialist work is subcontracted and who holds the customer relationship. A contract count alone does not explain the commitments a buyer would inherit.

How this list is filtered

Active on Companies House. Companies in liquidation, administration, receivership or a voluntary arrangement, or with a proposal to strike off, are left out.
Dormant companies are left out.
Firms whose owners asked to be removed are left out.
Private limited companies, public limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies only. Sole traders and partnerships are not covered.
Firmbase industry tag: Plumbing & Heating or HVAC & Refrigeration.
SIC code 43220.
5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in the UK.

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

We cover limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not on Companies House, so they are not here. Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. For gas work, check businesses and engineers on the Gas Safe Register. For relevant refrigeration and air conditioning work, verify company F-gas certification with its issuing body, using registers such as REFCOM Active Certificates.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

Other areas

East Midlands East of England London North East North West Northern Ireland Scotland South East South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and The Humber

The standard Firmbase list

Plumbing & Heating Companies in the UK