Gas Safety can seem dull but it’s a responsibility that can’t be avoided for landlords, tenants and new home owners.  Make sure you know the basics of Gas Safety in your home.  The most important place to begin is with a Gas Safety Check and then by installing a Carbon Monoxide Alarm.

Affleck are supporting Gas Safety Week is from 10th – 16th September and aim to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of looking after the gas appliances in your home.

Useful Gas Safety Numbers

• Gas Safe Emergency Number (England, Scotland & Wales) – 0800 111 999
• Gas Safe Register – 0800 408 5500
• Affleck Property Services - 0800 316 9595

What is a Gas Safety Check?

Gas Safety Checks can only be carried out by a registered gas safety engineer.  Many people are most familiar with CORGI but the regulator for gas safety check is Gas Safe Register. Any certified Gas Safe Engineer will do the following safety checks:

• Check the ventilation supply around the appliances is safe
• Check whether the appliance is burning the gas safely
• Check all the gas safety features are in full working order
• Check your flue or chimney to ensure the gases produced from combustion are being safely removed
• Shutting off any malfunctioning appliances

Gas Safety Check Cost

Affleck's highly qualified gas engineers can carry out a Gas Safety check for £75 + VAT for a home and up to two items, additional items are charged at £30 + VAT each.  This is one of the best rates in for Gas Engineers in London.

Protecting your Home from Gas Leaks

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a highly dangerous gas, produced by an incomplete combustion in solid, liquid or gaseous fuels.  It is produced by devices that burn fuels.  On a domestic level Carbon Monoxide can potentially be produced by malfunctioning boilers, cookers and fireplaces.  Any malfunctioning working devices in poorly ventilated areas can create elevated risks of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Protect your home from potentially lethal gas leaks by installing Carbon Monoxide Alarms or indicators.

Carbon Monoxide Indicator

The black spot carbon monoxide indicator is low cost and easy to stick up.  This device will only change to a darker colour when it detects Carbon Monoxide, therefore you will have to check it regularly to stay safe.  Black Spot detectors cost around £5.  However given their limited life-span - typically 90 days - we recommend only using these as a backup option.

Audible Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Audible Carbon Monoxide alarms are more reliable than Black Spot alarms and provide a greater warning as it makes an audible sound when it has detected the toxic gas. This makes it a much more reliable detector and the battery life can last up to 5 years.  The prices for audible carbon monoxide alarms range from £15 - £35. When buying an alarm look for the British EN 50291 mark - also written as BSEN 50291 or with the CE mark, the alarm should also have a British or European Kitemark.

Where to position a Carbon Monoxide alarm

Do not place the alarm right next to a door or in a closed cupboard; position the alarm so it is in a central area in a hallway or living area in the same room as a gas appliance. Fix the alarm on a wall at head height or on a table or bookshelf being at least a metre away from a boiler, fireplace and cooker.

Qualified Gas Safety Engineers

When fitting a new appliance or having a yearly check in your home you are legally obliged to use a registered gas safe engineer. Always ask for their ID so they can prove that they are fully registered.

Getting a cheap Gas Safety Check

No-one wants to pay more than is necessary for their Gas Safety Check.  Ask at least three different companies with registered gas engineers for quotations on the job you need to be completed. This will help you to get the best price in your area.

The quotation should include:

• The description of the work and what materials will need to be used
• Make and model of the appliance to be installed
• Location of the appliance in your home

By using a fully registered Gas Safety Engineer you have reassurance that you are having an appliance installed or checked safely. This helps to prevent any leaks and breakages that may occur with an unregistered worker who can’t guarantee a gas safe home.

On the completion of your new appliance the building regulations for England and Wales require it to be notified to the Local Authority (LA) within 30 days. You will then receive a Gas Safety Certificate.

Gas Safety Check for Landlords

Being a landlord is stressful, looking after a number of properties each one requiring a certain amount of attention. The primary concern for your properties is to be Gas safe. It is your responsibility for the safety of your tenants.

You must maintain pipework, appliances and flues in a safe condition, with all appliances to be serviced within the manufacturer’s instructions.  An annual gas safety check must be made on each appliance, chimney or flue, to make sure that all gas fittings and appliances are safe.

Within 28 days of the new Gas Safety Check you will need to present the check record to the tenants or the new tenants when they move in. Your new Gas Safety Check record should be kept for 2 years.

Gas Safety Check for Tenants

When renting a property from a housing organization or a landlord you should request a copy of the gas safety record.

If you own a gas appliance in your rented property you are responsible for getting them safety checked not your landlord.

If you think that your landlord hasn’t used the correct standards to perform a gas safety check you should request a copy of the check. Though if your request is refused there is a helpline with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which can be found on their website www.hse.gov.uk.

Gas Safety Check when Buying a New Home

When moving house you will need to be certain that the Gas Safety Check has been carried out in your new home. You should ask the previous owner for the certificate of the Gas Safety Check by a registered engineer

If one cannot be supplied you should organise a gas safety check before you move into your new home to assess each gas appliance. If an appliance is not working properly it will be shut off and need replacing.