Your safety in your own home
If the gas appliances in your home are unsafe, you could be at risk of fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning.
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide gas is known as the 'silent killer' because it's invisible and has no smell. It's also very poisonous and can kill quickly.
Carbon monoxide can be produced if:
- gas appliances are not installed or maintained properly
- gas appliances are broken or not working properly
- flues or chimneys become blocked
- rooms are not adequately ventilated
Children, elderly people, pregnant women and people with respiratory problems are particularly at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning. The symptoms are similar to those of flu, and include tiredness, headaches, nausea, chest pains, sudden faintness, erratic behaviour, diarrhoea and stomach pains.
If you regularly suffer from any of these symptoms and have gas appliances in your home, ask your doctor for a blood or breath test for carbon monoxide. If you are tested positively for the effects of carbon monoxide, you should immediately turn off your gas appliances and arrange for them to be checked. Fill in our Enquiry form to have your appliances serviced by Gas Services Extra.
The Carbon Monoxide Kills and CORGI carbon monoxide information website has more information.
What does a gas safety check involve?
Gas safety checks must be carried out by CORGI gas installers. CORGI (the Council for Registered Gas Installers) is the national watchdog for gas safety in the UK. One of our engineers will check:
- the gas supply pipework
- that all gas appliances are working safely
- that all gas flues are working safely and are suitable
- that gas appliances have adequate ventilation
You should get a gas safety check carried out at least once a year. If you are a tenant in a rented property, it's your landlord's responsibility to arrange this.
