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If you’re tempted to save money on getting your gas fire fitted or repaired by someone without formal qualifications – don’t. It could be a fatal decision for you and your family. Gas boilers, fires and cookers that haven’t been properly fitted can leak, cause a fire or even explode. Perhaps the worst aspect is that a badly maintained or fitted gas appliance can give out carbon monoxide. You can’t smell, see or taste it, but it can kill you before you even realise that there’s a problem. So how can you be sure that the person or firm that you’re thinking of using will do the job safely? The answer lies in the words “Gas Safe Registered Engineers”.
What Are Gas Safe Registered Engineers?
It’s an official list of people who have been trained to work safely with gas fires, cookers and boiler installation. The register is kept by the Health and Safety Executive, who ensure that people who are on the list can work safely on gas in the home. So if someone has offered to fix your fire, and they’re not on the register, they’re acting illegally. You can imagine how much they’re likely to care about your safety.
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to check on Gas Safe registered engineers. There’s a Gas Safe website or you can ring and check before you engage anyone to work on gas in your house (0800 408 5500). You may have seen the yellow triangle with the words “Gas Safe” inside it – that’s the symbol that someone is on the register and qualified to work with gas.
Check the ID Card
All registered gas engineers carry a special ID card showing that they’re on the Gas Safe Register. This will show their number, the work they’re allowed to do, when they were registered and when it runs out. This matters, because it’s important that they keep up to date and re-register when required. There should be a hologram, for security, and the card will also show the engineer’s qualifications.
These qualifications are checked by the Gas Safe people, and boiler engineers, for example, are only allowed to work in those areas where they have passed the assessments and been given a certificate. To ensure that engineers are knowledgeable on modern systems, the qualifications have to be less than five years old. If the engineer doesn’t have up-to-date qualifications, they’re first suspended and then removed if they don’t retake.
Entry on the Gas Safe register has to be renewed each year, providing another level of checking for the householder. When you use a company like Aura Heating, you are getting the benefit of this checking and assurance. Their Gas Safe registered engineers are qualified, and their qualifications are updated regularly to maintain their competence. For peace of mind, go with a firm that will keep you, your family and your house Gas Safe.
