Gas Safety Week 2024
Published: 2/9/2024
We have pledged our support for Gas Safety Week (9-15 Sep 2024) and want to remind our customers how to keep themselves gas safe, and organisations across the nation are working together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
This year for Gas Safety Week, the theme is ‘Checking—Every Check Counts’, emphasising the importance of, amongst other things, regular gas safety checks. By showing how important every check is, Gas Safety Week aims to raise awareness and promote measures to ensure the safety and well-being of households.
By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home and your loved ones. No matter how big or small every check counts. Here is a guide to some simple checks that you can do at home:
Check that you’ve had an annual gas safety check. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants, make sure your landlord arranges this.
Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered. Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer and ensure they’re qualified for the work that needs doing via the Gas Safe Register website and the engineer’s ID card.
Check for warning signs that could indicate your gas appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include lazy yellow/orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out, too much condensation in the room, or error messages on the appliance’s control panel.
Check that vents or flues are not blocked. Vents and flues are there to ensure your gas appliances work safely. Blocking them could prevent this.
Check your knowledge. Remember the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse, and loss of consciousness.
Check your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. Regular testing ensures that alarms are operational and capable of alerting you to the presence of deadly CO. Also, check they are marked to standards EN50291 and still in date (if applicable).
Check before doing DIY. Before drilling or hammering, check that there is no risk of hitting a gas pipe. Never DIY on a gas appliance; if you suspect there is something wrong with your appliance or it is not working correctly, call us and have it checked by one of our Gas Safe registered engineers.
For more information on gas safety, your responsibilities as a One Vision Housing customer, and more support please visit our Gas Safety support page.