Get your appliances checked

 Get your appliances checked

All gas appliances in your property need to be checked and serviced annually by a gas safe engineer. Any appliance that is left unchecked could put you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also a good idea to have your pipework inspected at the same time, and remember you need to do this by law if you’re a landlord.

Servicing

If you notice any of the following warning signs, make sure you get your appliance serviced right away:

• The gas appliance is not working properly
• The appliance is burning with a lazy, yellow flame rather than a crisp blue one
• Black marks/stains are visible around the gas appliance
• The pilot light keeps going out
• There is increased condensation in the room

What’s the difference between a safety check and a service?

Prior to any work being carried out, it is important to discuss and agree with our registered engineer the scope of the work so that everyone is on the same page. For example, there are differences between an appliance service and a safety check, and equally between a safety check of appliances and a safety check of the whole installation, which includes all pipework and appliances.

What is an Appliance Safety Check?

An appliance safety check includes all of the necessary checks and tests to ensure the appliance is safe to operate, e.g.:

• It is correctly set and adjusted to ensure the gas is burning correctly
• It is suitable for the room in which it is located
• It is physically stable, securely fitted and properly connected to the gas pipework
• There is an adequate and permanent air supply suitable for the appliance type installed
• Any flues or chimneys are operating correctly
• All safety devices function correctly

What is an Appliance Service?

An appliance service includes all of the above check and tests and any other specific checks, for inspection and/or cleaning of the appliance as detailed in the manufacturer’s instructions. This may include:

• If appropriate, an analysis of the combustion exhaust gases to ensure the appliance is burning the gas safely
• A check of the condition of the appliance including (but not limited to) the effectiveness of any seals and gaskets, the cleanliness of heat exchangers etc. and checking for any signs of heat or other distress

This is not an exhaustive list and servicing requirements will vary across appliance types and models.

What is a Gas Installation Safety check?

If a gas installation safety check (all appliances and internal pipework) is required, each appliance will need to be checked as outlined above and additionally:

• All accessible gas pipework is visually inspected to ensure the installation is in good condition, and;
• The gas pipework is tested to ensure there are no gas leaks

During and after the engineer’s visit

When assessing an unsafe gas appliances, our engineers will follow the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP), which provides best practice on how to deal with specific gas safety concerns. After they have completed work on the appliance, our engineers will provide you with a verbal or written report detailing the checks they have carried out.

Flues, chimneys and air vents

These all play an important role in the safe operation of gas appliances, allowing products of combustion to escape and ensuring a high level of ventilation. As cold as it may get during the winter, never block these airways as this could result in a build up of carbon monoxide in your home.

Chimneys need to be checked every year for blockages (such as birds’ nests and debris), which can prevent dangerous fumes from escaping.