Gas Safety Week 2021

Gas Safety Week is coordinated by the Gas Safe Register – An organisation that makes sure only gas safe registered engineers work on people’s gas boilers and other gas appliances.

Gas safety is of course extremely important all year round – But with all the other household admin that there is to do week in week out, it can be something inadvertently overlooked. So Gas Safety Week is here to remind you how to take steps to ensure you keep your home gas safe – Not just this week, but all year round.

Gas Safety week is a great opportunity to talk with your family (where age appropriate) about keeping your home gas safe. To introduce your family to this important topic why not present them with the Gas Safety Squad – You can meet them here.

Gas Safety week is running from the 13^th to the 19^th September 2021.

What is gas safety and why is it important?

Carbon monoxide poses a serious risk to homeowners – It can cause gas fires, explosions and potentially fatal poisoning if left unchecked.

This is why it is essential that homeowners and landlords get any gas appliances in their properties serviced every year. This essential maintenance can help prevent gas boilers, heaters and cookers causing a fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning by ensuring they are kept in good, safe working order.

Did you know you can help protect your home and family from carbon monoxide incidents simply by carrying out a yearly boiler service? If you’ve perhaps let some heating faults lay dormant in your system over the Summer months then now is the perfect time to get them repaired = Before the colder weather arrives and you start to rely on your boiler and heating.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless gas. It has no smell or taste which is why it can be so dangerous – It’s nearly impossible for you to detect it yourself.

Every year in the UK, 50 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide gas is created when a gas appliance isn’t burning fuel correctly. An appropriate detector in your home can identify when there is a leak and warn you in time – Carbon Monoxide can kill quickly. It is strongly recommended that every home has a carbon monoxide detector located close to any gas appliances.

How can I tell if I have a gas leak?

A boiler with a gas leak will likely exhibit a few tell-tales signs to look out for.

• You may be able to smell gas (or a rotten egg smell). If you suspect a gas leak due to a strange odour in your home, turn off your gas supply, open all of your windows and doors, get you and your family out of the property and call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Don’t do anything that could cause a spark like turning switches on and off, no naked flames, no smoking and no using mobile phones. These could all cause an explosion if there is a leak. (Remember – Carbon monoxide is odourless).
• Check the flame in your boiler – It should always be blue, not yellow or orange. If it is not blue, then it isn’t burning the fuel properly which could cause it to produce carbon monoxide.
• If you notice black stains on or around your boiler, this could signal a gas leak. Any black stains or damaged, rusty or corroded pipework should always be inspected by a Gas Safe registered heating engineer as soon as possible to make sure there is no leak.
• You may notice potential symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in yourself and others.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

If there is an undetected carbon monoxide leak in your home, you or a family member (or pet) may start to feel unwell with flu-like symptoms. If you suspect a gas leak and have any of the following symptoms, get yourself and family out of the property straight away and call 999:

• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling dizzy and confused
• Blurred vision
• Feeling very tired

How can I stay gas safe in my home?

This can all sound quite scary, but there are some simple steps you can put in place to keep your home gas safe and protect your family.

• Get a detector – Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector to detect any leaks. Install it following the manufacturer’s instructions and keep it close to your gas appliances. Make sure it has batteries in it that work. Show everyone in your house what the alarm looks and sounds like so you are all aware if it does go off.
• Service your boiler – Remember to book an annual boiler service with a Gas Safe registered engineer to keep your boiler in good working order. If you’re a member of our Care Plans you get your boiler service included in the price!
• Keep gas meter clear – Try not to have clutter around or block the gas meter so that in the event of an emergency, it can be easily cut off.
• Keep boiler clear of flammable objects – Keep any flammable items such as paper, boxes etc away from your gas boiler.
• Always use a gas safe registered engineer to complete works – Never try to move or repair any gas pipes yourself. Try not to knock them, lean on them or cause them any damage as this could cause a leak. Always make sure that anyone working on your boiler is Gas Safe registered. You can check this on GasSafeRegister.co.uk and you can also ask them for ID when they arrive.

We take Gas Safety very seriously

Here at Aura Gas, you can rest assured that each and every one of our heating engineers is Gas Safe registered. This means that any Aura Gas engineer that comes to your home has the necessary qualifications and training to carry out any work on your boiler in line with Gas Safety standards and regulations. It is extremely important that you make sure anyone working on your gas boiler is Gas Safe registered.

If you are due a boiler service or you suspect your heating system is in need of a repair or two before Winter, get in touch with our friendly team today and we can get you booked in.