It's Gas Safety Week
Gas Safety Week is an annual initiative to raise awareness about gas safety and the necessity of regular maintenance. Coordinated by Gas Safe Register, the provider of the official list of legally qualified gas engineers, this week highlights the importance of safe gas appliance use and regular inspections to prevent accidents.
As a responsible landlord, we must ensure annual gas safety checks are conducted to reduce the risk of gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning, or fires in your home. Regular maintenance of your gas appliances ensures they operate safely and efficiently. For landlords like us, an annual gas safety check is not just a legal requirement but also a crucial step in safeguarding our residents in their homes. We will reach out to schedule your appointment ahead of the due date, and your cooperation is essential to allow us to access the property to carry out this service.
Annual safety checks typically include:
- Ensuring combustion fumes are safely vented through the flue or chimney.
- Verifying the appliance burns gas correctly with sufficient fresh air.
- Checking that all safety devices are functioning properly.
- Shutting down any appliance if a fault is detected.
Our engineers will service all gas appliances owned by Fairhive, including boilers, and will inspect gas supply pipes. They will also perform a visual inspection of any appliances you own, such as cookers. However, servicing your personal appliances is your responsibility. We strongly recommend having a qualified Gas Safe engineer inspect your personal appliances annually.
After your appointment, you will receive a copy of the Landlord Gas Safety Record within a month.
Regular Checks
We suggest testing your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms weekly. For more information on how to test your alarms, visit our gas safety webpage. This does not apply to residents in blocks where smoke detectors are connected to a central fire panel system. Any issues with these alarms are monitored through the main panel, which our team checks weekly. If you have any questions about whether or not this applies to your home, please contact your Neighbourhood Manager .
Signs of Gas Problems and Emergency Response
If you smell gas, suspect a leak, or hear your carbon monoxide alarm continuously sounding, immediately call the National Gas Emergency number at 0800 111 999.
Then:
- Open all doors and windows and get to fresh air right away.
- Turn off the gas at the meter if possible.
- Avoid smoking.
- Do not use any electrical switches to prevent igniting escaped gas and causing a fire or explosion.
After taking these steps, inform us by calling 01296 732600.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a highly dangerous gas that is odourless, colourless, and tasteless, and it can be fatal.
Check for warning signs such as:
- Smelling gas
- Carbon monoxide alarm sounding
- Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, or experiencing headaches
All our properties are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors near gas-burning appliances (gas cookers are exempt). Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can mimic common illnesses like colds or flu. If your symptoms improve when you are away from home, this could indicate a CO leak in the property.
For further information on symptoms and safety measures, visit the NHS website. If you experience symptoms while using an appliance, stop using it immediately and contact us at 01296 732600.
For more details on gas servicing and safety resources, please visit our gas and electric webpage.