Moving into a new home is exciting but in the same way you’d get the brakes checked on a new car to ensure it’s roadworthy, you need to be certain that the house you’re about to move into is ‘home-worthy’. You can’t always be sure when the appliances and pipework in your new property were last serviced and checked.
Ideally the vendor will provide you with a Gas Safety Record showing that a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer has checked the gas installation pipework and appliances. If they’re unable to do this, before you move in, you’ll need to contact a registered engineer to carry out checks. The engineer should be able to complete a record and provide it to the vendor so they can pass it onto you when you move into the property.
If your new home has gas appliances, it‘s essential you make sure your house is gas safe before you move in. Any malfunction on a gas appliances,can be catastrophic and potentially deadly. If you’re in any doubt about the appliances in your home, you should immediately call an engineer on the Gas Safe Register to come and double check. The good news is that in the UK, all gas engineers and heating engineers are required by law to be registered and should have their Gas Safety Register ID with them to confirm they are qualified to do the job. If they can’t provide ID, don’t allow them to do the job, it’s just too risky.
A yearly check-up including getting the gas pipes checked, is the best way to make sure everything is functioning as it should to avoid any potential dangers. It’s great to rely on your yearly ‘check-up’ however awareness could also be life saving so always keep an eye out for the following:
- If a gas appliance stops working that tends to be a give-away that there is an error. If the appliance has a gas flame you want to make sure that this is a strong blue flame. If the flame resembles a yellow flame, this can be an indicator that the gas supply is compromised.
- A pilot light on your boiler that keeps going out is also a sign of a fault and should be checked immediately. Also, be aware of rooms that have higher levels of condensation than normal, this too can be a sign of a gas malfunction.
- Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be a killer. If you experience headaches, nausea, breathlessness and the feelings of being dizzy, you should contact a professional and vacate the premises immediately. If you don’t already have one in the house, make purchasing a loud carbon monoxide alarm a priority. These are relatively inexpensive and can literally be lifesavers.
If you want to ensure your new home is ‘gas safe’, call us today on 07796 695551.