This Gas Safety Week (9-15 September), we’re shining a spotlight on the top concerns homeowners have about gas safety in their home.

Our Technical Manager, Darran Smith gives his expert knowledge on the topic:

What do I do if I smell gas?

If you smell gas or suspect a problem with any gas fired appliance, don’t wait. Call the National Gas Emergency helpline free on 0800 111 999.

What does a gas safety check involve?

There are two kinds of maintenance checks, you can have to check the gas safety of your home.

1. A safety inspection

During this inspection the engineer will check the connection to the gas supply, as well as the basic functioning of your boiler at the time. A safety check will visually inspect all gas appliances, check the gas rate, ventilation and air supply amongst other safety tests.

2. A service

A service is the more in-depth of the gas safety checks you can have. The more thorough check will carry out the same checks as an inspection, as well as checking the whole system including the pipework. As well as this all inspections and cleaning of components will be covered as per the boiler manufacturer’s instructions. It is more time efficient and cost effective to have a service carried out rather than separating the two.

How long does a gas safety check take?

You should have a gas safety check or service every year and the checks should take no more than an hour.

Do homeowners need a gas safety certificate and how much does it cost?

Gas safety certificates are not a legal requirement for homeowners, but they are useful to have during the sale of a home to prove your system’s efficacy, as well as for your own peace of mind.

As a landlord, a copy of your Landlord Gas Safety Record should be given to your current tenants within 28 days of the gas safety check, or at the start of the tenancy for new tenants.

How can I find a Gas Safe Registered engineer?

It is important that all any engineer working on your appliances is Gas Safe registered. Search for an installer in your local area here: www.alpha-innovation.co.uk/find-my-nearest.