Every Check Counts

We are proud once again to support Gas Safety Week 2024, led by the Gas Safe Register. The week runs from 9^th – 16^th September and will raise awareness about the importance of gas safety across the UK with a special theme of ‘Checking-Every Check Counts’.

The theme highlights the significance of checking all gas appliances and prioritising gas safety at home to prevent the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

No matter how big or small every check counts. Here is a guide to some simple checks that you can do at home and share with family and friends:

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 a Gas Safe registered engineer. You can find one at GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
Check you know where your gas meter is and how to turn off the gas supply in an emergency. In this situation you would be asked to turn off the gas at the emergency control valve by the meter, which could be located in various places inside or outside the home. Make sure you know where it is and how to open any meter housing!
Check you have the gas emergency number in your phone. In case of a gas escape of CO poisoning share this advice with family and friends so they have the number 0800 111 999 handy in their phone if they ever need to use it and can act quickly.

EVERY CHECK COUNTS and can help keep you gas safe. Make at least one check today!

Follow Cadent on social media and reshare our messages to help protect others you care about, tagging #GasSafetyWeek.