Know how to be gas safe: It’s Gas Safety Week 2021

We are proud to be supporting this year’s Gas Safety Week, 13 – 19 September 2021, to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances.

Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly with no warning, as you cannot see it, taste it or smell it.

To reduce the chances of a gas leak in your home, professional installation and maintenance is vital.

Landlords must make sure maintenance and annual safety checks on gas appliances are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

As the go-to people for property services, Liberty’s team of expert engineers are committed to delivering the highest quality of service. We ensure gas appliances are correctly installed and routinely serviced.

To maintain our rigorous standards, we use our in-house training and apprenticeships centre, Liberate Academy. It provides essential accredited courses to ensure gas engineers have the necessary professional qualifications and to train the next generation in how to keep home safe.

We know it can be worrying to let people into your home at the moment. That’s why we’ve adapted our working practices to keep everyone as safe as possible.

· When they arrive, the Liberty operative will check with you that there is no-one self-isolating in your house

· Please maintain social distancing whilst the operative is in your home

· Please open any internal doors so that the operative doesn’t have to touch door handles

· All operatives will wear appropriate protective equipment when required.

There are simple checks you can follow that will mean you are taking care of your gas appliances properly, taking care of your home, your loved ones and even looking out for your local community.

Having your annual gas safety check completed is important. Not only will it help to keep you safe, but it’ll help your appliances to stay running at their best. Never attempt to work on a gas appliance yourself.

Check the engineer is Gas Safe registered. Always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card when an operative arrives to make sure they are qualified for the job. Official Gas Safe ID cards also have a hologram with the Gas Safe logo and each registered operative has their own unique license number.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill, so it is important that you’re aware of any leaks your gas appliances might have. Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm and test it regularly. Look out for your community by making sure your friends, relatives and neighbours have one too. Check they are marked EN50291 and display the British Standards’ Kitemark.

Check for warning signs that could indicate appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include lazy yellow /orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out and too much condensation in the room.

Know the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.

If you’re suffering from any of the symptoms and feel better when you leave the house, it could be CO poisoning. If you’re concerned you or someone in your household may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure you do the following:

o Get fresh air immediately

o Open all doors and windows, switch off gas appliances and leave the house

o Contact your GP, who can check and advise if you need treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning

o If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak, call the free 24-hour national gas emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999.

Now that you know the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, pass it on and share this important information with your family, friends and neighbours, to help them all stay Gas Safe!

For more information about gas safety, please visit https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gassafetyweek/stay-safe/.