All of your gas appliances, including your gas boiler, gas cooker and gas fire should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly according to manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not have your gas appliances regularly serviced and safety checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer you could be putting you and your family at risk and in possible danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

What is a gas safety check?

A gas safety check involves a Gas Safe registered engineer inspecting your gas appliances. They will check the appliance is working correctly and will check the following four areas:

• Gas appliances are on the right setting and burning correctly with the correct operating pressure
• Harmful gases are being removed from the appliance safely to the air outside
• That any ventilation routes are clear and working properly
• All the safety devices are working

The check will identify any defects which require remedial work. You should have a gas safety check every year. If you are a landlord this is the law. 

What is a service?

Whilst a gas safety check assesses the basic safety of a gas appliance a service will consist of a full check of a gas appliance and the engineer is likely to take the appliance apart to inspect it. The engineer will assess the physical condition of the appliance, installation pipework, air vents and any flues for deterioration. They will carry out performance tests and take any necessary remedial action.

Appliances should be serviced regularly in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Servicing your gas appliances regularly will make sure they are safe to use. It will also maintain your appliances efficiency and performance.

Signs that your appliances need servicing?

Gas appliances should be serviced regularly but if you notice any of the warning signs below you should arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to service your appliance as soon as possible:

• Your gas appliance is not working properly
• Your appliance is burning with a lazy yellow flame instead of a crisp blue flame
• You can see black marks or stains on or around  your gas appliances
• The pilot light keeps going out
• There is increased condensation in the room

Thanks to Glazzy Gas for alerting us to the dangers of unsafe gas appliances and always use fully registered engineer.