We take it for granted that our gas boilers, cookers and gas fires are safe. We only act when there is a problem.
What risks are we taking with dangerous gas work?
Dangerous gas work can be extremely risky. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas boilers and appliances can cause gas safety risks including the following:
- dangerous gas leaks
- fires (often fatal)
- explosions of varying magnitude
- poisoning from carbon monoxide
You should only use a Gas Safe registered engineer to install, repair or service your gas boiler and appliances.
Everyone should understand how they can be gas safe in their homes.
Top tips for ensuring gas safety
1. Always ensure that you use a Gas Safe registered engineer to install, service and repair your gas appliances, including your:
- gas boiler
- gas fire, gas cooker and gas hob
- central heating system, radiators and hot water system, when they are connected to either Natural Gas or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).
2.Always ask the engineer for their Gas Safe ID card. It has a photograph to show you what they look like and also gas work that they are qualified to do. It also gives you a their unique licence number and you can check to see if they are still on the Gas Safe register.
Only allow an engineer to work on your gas appliances after you have checked their Gas Safe Register ID card. If you have any doubts call 0800 408 5500 and quote the unique licence number on your engineer’s ID card.
If you suspect that an engineer is not legally registered, you should report it immediately to Gas Safe Register by visiting the Gas Safe website and clicking the 'Report an illegal engineer' service.
3.Check that your gas engineer is qualified to work on your gas appliances.
Not all gas engineers are qualified to carry out every type of gas work. Always make sure that you check their qualifications on the back of their Gas Safe ID card to ensure they are competent to work on yourparticular appliance. You can also check them on the Gas Safe website by using the 'Check an engineer' service.
If you have a complaint about work carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, then Gase Safe know by using their complaints form.
4.Get all your gas appliances checked once a year, or in accordance with the gas appliance manufacturer's guidelines and always by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Your Gas Safe registered engineer will carry out extensive tests and checks to ensure your appliances are operating correctly and in a safe manner. Where a gas appliance or pipework has been installed in an unsafe manner, or it is operating unsafely and the Gas Safe engineer can not rectify the situation immediately, they will always follow the guidance which is outlined in the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP) to ensure the installation issafe. This is the industry standard accepted document for guiding Gas Safe engineers on dealing with unsafe situations.
5.Install a quality audible, carbon monoxide alarm. By fitting an alarm it will alert you to the presence of the deadly poisonous gas carbon monoxide, which is produced by unsafe gas appliances.
6.If you think there is a gas leak or notice any signs of carbon monoxide you must act fast and follow the advice for gas emergencies.
