A Guide To Gas Safety Check By Landlord Property Certificates
Gas is a dangerous substance, and although we could not do without gas equipment such as boilers, gas fires and stoves in our homes, all gas appliances must be carefully maintained to prevent them from becoming dangerous.
According to the Gas Safe Register, 1 in 6 houses inspected by engineers contains unsafe gas appliances. Keeping informed of the maintenance of your gas appliances is essential for the safety of your home and everyone who lives there.
According to the Gas Safe Register, 1 in 6 houses inspected by engineers contains unsafe gas appliances. Keeping informed of the maintenance of your gas appliances is essential for the safety of your home and everyone who lives there.
If something goes wrong, gas can leak from equipment and cause fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning. To prevent dangerous gas leaks, all gas appliances must only be installed, maintained and Gas Safety Certificate London by qualified and Gas Safe registered professionals.
Top tips for a gas-safe home
Although it is important to have a professional trader install and maintain your gas appliances, there are a number of checks that you can perform yourself and precautions you can take to make your home gas safe.
Know the warning signs of a problem
You and everyone else in your house must be aware of the warning signs that there may be a problem with a gas appliance. The early identification of a problem can help prevent a disaster and can even be life-saving.
The pilot flame looks yellow rather than blue.
Black soot spots on the device.
Vapors or smoke come out of the device.
Increased condensation levels in the same room as the gas device.
A control lamp often goes out.
The device makes an unusual noise.
Keep ventilation free and not blocked
Ventilation for gas appliances can include chimney channels and ventilation openings and bricks. Black soot spots on a device can be a sign that the ventilation is blocked.
Mount a carbon monoxide detector correctly
Carbon monoxide is a very dangerous colorless and odorless gas, making it difficult to detect until it is too late without a carbon monoxide detector. All homes with gas appliances must have a detector, which can be purchased in most DIY stores and is immediately available for purchase online. When choosing an alarm, ensure that it complies with European safety standards.
Where can you safely place your alarm?
Your carbon monoxide detector must be in the same room as the gas appliance and at least one meter away from it. The alarm must be placed at head height and must not stand in the way of or close to a ventilation or condensation source (eg a kettle).
Maintain and test the alarm
Your carbon monoxide alarm must have a “test” button. Make sure you test your alarm regularly to make sure it is still working and that the batteries do not need to be replaced.
Do not use gas appliances if you are not sure if they work properly
If in doubt whether a gas appliance is working properly or not, you should use it until it has been checked by a professional for a gas safety check.
Have your gas appliances serviced annually by a registered professional
Every 12 months you must have the safety of your gas appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that they work efficiently and safely.
What to do if you smell gas
Smelling gas in your home can be alarming and needs to be addressed immediately, so it is important that everyone in your household is aware of the steps that should be taken in the chance of a possible gas leak. Taking immediate action can help prevent a potentially devastating situation.
Evacuate the property immediately.
Turn your gas supply close to the gas meter.
Make sure you and other householders are familiar with where your gas meter is and how you can switch off the supply (if you can).
Open all windows and doors
Spread any gas that has collected in your home so that fresh air can flow through the property.
Do not use electrical devices
While transmitting your house, avoid using light switches or electrical devices in your house, as sparks can ignite the gas and cause a fire or explosion.
Call the National Gas Emergency number
The telephone number you should call if you suspect there is a gas leak in your home is 0800 111 999 for a Gas safety check. Make sure the number is stored in your phone or locked somewhere that is easy to find in your home. If you call a cell phone, make sure you go to a neighbor’s house or walk a safe distance from your house before using your phone. Never use a mobile phone while you are still in the house if you suspect a gas leak.
Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
If carbon monoxide leaks into your home, it may be harder to detect because it is colorless and odorless. If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector or if your alarm is not working properly and carbon monoxide begins to leak into your home, you may experience physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms include:
Headache
Light feeling in the head
Dizziness
Nausea
Visual problems
Sleepiness
Warning signs that carbon monoxide may leak into the home are the same as the signs that there may be a problem with a gas appliance.
If you suspect that you or someone else is suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, it is important to act quickly to remove them from the premises and get them out into the fresh air before getting medical attention.
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