It doesn’t matter if you own your own home or rent from someone else. When it comes to gas safety you need to be aware of the problems, in order to find of making your property safer. And the best way to do this is with a regular boiler service.
Not being stringent with this can cost lives. A faulty gas boiler can cause a number of serious issues including fires, explosions and even carbon monoxide leaks.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that’s both odourless and colourless. [tweetable]Hundreds of people are killed and hospitalised as a result of monoxide leaks because it can remain undetected[/tweetable] until it’s too late.
Take a look below to find out what you need to know about keeping your home Gas Safe.
For tenants and landlords
If you are renting, fortunately your tenant is responsible for the upkeep of your boiler. A service must be arranged every year of all your gas appliances, keeping you safe in your home. The service is kept on record and given to tenants.
Unfortunately you can’t force your landlord to invest in a new boiler for the property, so if you want to reduce bills it may be best to compare energy tariffs and switch to a cheaper supplier.
Lisa Greenfield, energy analyst at Confused.com said: “Tenants often wrongly think they can’t switch supplier but this isn’t the case.
“Check the small print of your tenancy agreement as this will usually outline whether you need to inform your landlord, but generally being a tenant doesn’t automatically mean you can’t switch supplier.”
For homeowners
It’s important to have an annual boiler service carried out to ensure your boiler is working efficiently and what’s crucial is using a Gas Safe registered engineer.
[tweetable]Before any engineer works on your boiler you must check for their Gas Safe identification[/tweetable]. This shows they’re qualified to work on gas appliances and know all the best safety practices.
By not being vigilant, you risk putting your home at serious risk. There are many horror stories, such as Anne Mitchell’s from South Wales. Her 14-year-old daughter sadly died of monoxide poisoning, after an engineer not qualified for gas fires worked at her home.
Anne says: “He took my daughter’s life, and he took my life away. My message to anyone who wants gas work done in their home is never use an illegal gas fitter and always check the fitter’s card to make sure they are Gas Safe registered and qualified to do all the work you need doing.
“And I would urge everyone to fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm. If something does go wrong it can save your life.”
Image from pinterest
Tell-tale signs your gas appliance isn’t working
There are several tell-tale signs that will highlight the fact your gas appliance isn’t correctly functioning. This would include:
- A yellow or orange flame, instead of blue
- Dark staining visible on the appliance
- Your pilot light extinguishing regularly
- You have seen a build-up of condensation on the windows
Should I replace my boiler?
[tweetable]Energy efficient boilers are crucial to every home and can reduce your annual bills by as much as £310[/tweetable].
If a boiler is over 15 years old it’s likely to be inefficient. These boilers will work at as little as 70%, wasting hundreds of pounds a year. Switching to an A-rated replacement boiler will save you £300 annually, keeping your home warmer and reducing the risk of a breakdown when you need your system the most.
Facts & Figures You’ll Love To Share
- [tweetable alt=””]Hundreds of people are hospitalised and killed every year because of deadly carbon monoxide leaks.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]Only a Gas Safe registered engineer is allowed to work on your boiler so always check for identification.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]An annual boiler service can reduce running costs and give your home greater protection from hidden boiler faults and issues[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]Replacing your old and inefficient boiler will save you as much as £310 a year on heating bills.[/tweetable]