This week is Gas Safety Week so Mark Siviter, Warrington Housing Association’s Asset Compliance Officer, spoke to us about gas safety in your home.
Mark says ”We have a duty as a landlord to make sure that all gas appliances, fittings and flues owned by Warrington Housing Association are safe. It is also a requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, to carry out a gas service every 12 months.
“The gas servicing is carried out by our Gas Safe registered contractors. Any gas appliance in your home can produce carbon monoxide (CO), a highly poisonous gas which occurs when natural gas or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) doesn’t burn as it should. This is the result of a gas appliance being improperly fitted, repaired or maintained, or when vents, flues or chimneys have become blocked – which is why it’s so important to have all of our gas appliances checked once a year by a Gas Safe registered engineer.”
Here Mark lists the three main risks that can arise from having an unsafe gas appliance in your home:
- Gas leaks – A gas leak can cause fires or even an explosion.
Anyone who thinks they can smell gas needs to call their emergency service provider immediately. During a gas safety check, a Gas Safe registered engineer will do a visual inspection of pipework and a tightness test to confirm there are no gas leaks.
- Fires and explosions
Safe appliances burn gas in a controlled way, but a faulty appliance or pipework may leak gas which can then be ignited, causing a fire or explosion.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas that can be especially deadly because you can’t see, taste or smell it.
So, what happens during a gas safety check?
A gas safety check should only be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, who will test your gas appliances to make sure they’re safe to continue operating in your home.
A gas appliance safety check ensures that:
- an appliance is properly set and adjusted so the gas burns correctly.
- it is suitable for the room it’s located in.
- it is physically stable, securely fitted and properly connected to the gas pipework.
- that there’s an adequate and permanent air supply that’s suitable for the appliance installed.
- that all safety devices are functioning properly.
- Any flues, chimneys and air vents are operating correctly.
- that the installation is in good condition by visually inspecting the pipework as far as reasonably practicable.
- that there are no leaks in the gas pipework.
Warning signs which mean you should get your gas appliance serviced straight away:
- When your appliance isn’t working properly.
- If it produces a floppy yellow flame rather than a crisp blue one.
- Black/brown marks on or around the appliance.
- A boiler pilot light which keeps going out.
- Increased condensation inside the windows.
If you smell gas, or if you have concerns about the safety of your appliances, you should call the gas emergency service provider on 0800 111 999 – then switch off appliances, put out any flames, including lit cigarettes, and open the windows until the gas emergency supplier, or a registered gas engineer, has attended and advised that the appliances are safe to use.
If you want to find out more please contact us on 01925 247810 or email us at admin@wha.org.uk.
