Is Your Home Gas Safe?

The temperatures have soared outside the last few days – Finally some weather that feels more like summer! Now it’s starting to look as though the heating will finally be switched off until the Autumn, it could be a great time to take a look at your heating system and carry out any maintenance that needs doing.

Did you know doing a yearly boiler service helps to protect your home and your family from carbon monoxide incidents? Don’t let any heating faults lay dormant in your system over the Summer – Get them repaired now whilst you’re not relying on your boiler and heating so much.

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

Why is gas safety important?

It’s essential to get any gas appliances serviced every year. Gas boilers, heaters and cookers could cause a fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning without the essential maintenance that keeps them in good, safe working order.

What is carbon monoxide?

Every year in the UK, 50 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless gas with no smell or taste – Making it nearly impossible to detect yourself. When a gas appliance isn’t burning fuel correctly, it produces carbon monoxide gas. Without an appropriate detector, it can kill quickly. It is therefore strongly suggested that you have a carbon monoxide detector close to any gas appliances.

How can I tell if I have a gas leak?

There are a few tell-tale signs to look out for that could be indicative of a boiler with a gas leak.

• 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?

There are some simple steps you can put in place to keep your home gas safe.

• Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector to detect any leaks. Keep it close to your gas appliances, and make sure it has batteries in that work. Show everyone in your house what the alarm looks and sounds like so you are all aware if it does go off.
• 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!
• 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 any flammable items such as paper, boxes etc away from your gas boiler.
• 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 Heating, you can rest assured that each and every one of our heating engineers is Gas Safe registered. This means that any Aura Heating 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.