As landlords, we take the safety of all our tenants and their homes very seriously and are are proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week 2019, September 16-22.
Our property services officer Jeff said: “We are legally and ethically responsible for the safety of the whole Warrington Housing Association family.
“All our gas appliances are serviced by our approved Gas Safe registered Contractors on an annual basis and we are 100% gas compliant.
“In rental properties the landlord is legally responsible for the maintenance of the pipework, flues and the gas appliances that they provide. We arrange a gas safety check by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer every year and provide our tenants with a copy of the Landlord’s Gas Safety Record as proof.”
And this is why it is so important…
What are the dangers
In the right hands gas is safe, but poorly fitted and badly maintained gas appliances or equipment can put you at risk of gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide has no taste, colour or smell. It can make you feel seriously ill and can kill quickly.
Signs such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, collapse, loss of consciousness, symptoms subsiding when out of the house could indicate carbon monoxide is present. It is important to get them checked out by a doctor.
How to spot a problem
The smell of gas is the obvious clue but how about the flame on a gas hob being yellow and lazy rather than crisp and blue? Dark staining around an appliance such as a gas fire? A build-up of condensation in a room where there is a gas appliance or a pilot light that keeps going out?
Any of these could indicate a gas leak or carbon monoxide and should be investigated.
We supply and install an audible carbon monoxide alarm when we are carrying out our annual gas safety checks and these ensure you are alerted to the danger more quickly. If you are installing one yourself, please check they are marked EN50291 and display the British Standards’ Kitemark.
What to do?
If you smell gas, turn off gas appliances and supply immediately, open the windows and ring National Grid on 0800 111 999 or visit the website.
Do not switch on the lights or any electrical appliances and put out any naked flames.
We are not responsible for gas appliances that you own, so you should arrange for these to be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Set a reminder so you don’t forget at StayGasSafe.co.uk.
Don’t forget to check your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card when they arrive at your home.
For more information on gas safety you can contact Jeff at jeffl@wha.org.uk
