Gas Safety

Gas Safety is important for everyone and, by taking care of your gas appliances properly, you are taking care of you home and your loved ones.  No matter how big or small, every check counts.  Here is a guide to some simple checks that you can do at home:

• Check that you have had an annual gas safety check. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and service regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.  Tenants should ensure their landlord organises this.
• Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered.  Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer and ensure they’re qualified for the work that needs to be done via the Gas Safe Register website and the engineer’s ID card.
• Check for warning signs that could indicate your gas appliances are not working correctly.  Signs may include lazy yellow/orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out, too much condensation on the room, or error me3ssages on the appliance’s control panel.
• Check that vents or flues are not blocked.  Vents and flues are there to ensure you gas appliances work safely.  Blocking them could prevent this.
• Check your knowledge.  Remember the six mail symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.
• Check your Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm. Regular testing ensures that alarms are operational and capable of alerting you to the presence of deadly CO.  Also, check they are marked to standards EM50291 and still in date (if applicable).
• Check before doing DIY.  Before drilling or hammering, check that there is no risk to hitting a gas pipe.  Never undertake DIY on a gas appliance; if you suspect there is something wrong with your appliance or it is not working correctly, call a Gas Safe registered engineer.  Details of registered engineers are available on the Gas Safe Register or by telephoning 0800 408 5500.

Gas Safety Week, which takes place annually in September, reminds the public how to keep themselves gas safe and it is an opportunity for organisations across the nation to work together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.  More information and advice is available on the Gas Safety Week website.