It’s important to be in the know about gas safety, so you can keep you and your family safe.
As part of gas safety week, we have shared several ways to ensure your home is gas safe.
Always get an annual gas safety check
It’s recommended that you get an annual gas inspection on your home’s gas appliances, and this should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. As a Wandle resident, it is our responsibility to ensure these checks are arranged every 12 months. During the inspection, the engineer will look at your gas pipework and also complete a tightness check to confirm there are no leaks. These gas safety checks usually take around 20 to 30 minutes.
We ask that in order to carry this out you let us in your home, and rearrange an appointment if you are not in.
Obtain a gas safety certificate
It’s important to obtain Gas Safe certificates to provide you with the knowledge that the appliances in your home are safe to use. What is a gas safety certificate? Also called a Gas Safety Record, this is a document that should be given to you by a Gas Safe registered engineer after they have carried out any gas works or repairs at your home. This record shows that your appliances are safe to use and should be updated every 12 months — an annual Gas Safety Record is a legal requirement for Wandle and we will be in touch to arrange.
Book an annual boiler check
It’s highly recommended that you have your boiler serviced once a year. This will keep it running safely and efficiently, as well as ensuring that your boiler warranty remains valid. The good news is that many boiler manufacturers, including Ideal Heating, will contact you when your boiler service is due. It’s even super easy to book a service online.
Get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted
Do you have a carbon monoxide detector? If your appliances have not been installed or ventilated properly, they run the risk of leaking this dangerous, odourless gas. To keep your home safe, buy an audible CO alarm, follow the manufacturer’s install instructions, and place it roughly 15cm from the ceiling. Also make sure that you regularly test the batteries. By taking these steps, you and your family will be alerted if a carbon monoxide leak occurs.
Only use gas appliances for their intended purpose
Tampering with gas appliances can be fatal; it’s important that you only use gas appliances for their intended purpose. This will ensure that the appliances are used safely and avoid any unwanted emergencies. Gas appliances should have adequate ventilation: making sure no air vents are blocked allows gas appliances to burn properly, reducing the risk of fire or explosion.
Know what to do in an emergency
Act fast! It’s crucial that you act fast in a gas emergency by carrying out the following steps. If you smell gas at your property, you must open all doors and windows to help ventilation, turn off the gas emergency valve control, leave the property and immediately call National Emergency Gas on 0800 111 999.
Make sure you follow all the advice given to you by the emergency adviser and wait outside for the engineer to arrive. You must not use any electrical switches, smoke or naked flames near your home.