Gas safety is often overlooked by homeowners, leaving them unaware of the potential dangers it poses. Shockingly, gas accidents are a widespread occurrence worldwide, solely due to a lack of proper education on the matter.
Make your home gas-safe. Once you shift to a new construction home, you need to get a gas safety certificate. Even if you aren’t, never forget to ask your landlord for a gas safety certificate. The certificate makes sure that you are in a safe place.
Slow leakage of gas from the faulty gas appliance and the corroded pipes can result in a blast that can be life-threatening. Read this content till the end for the top ten gas safety tips.
1. Get a gas safety certificate
As discussed above, your dwelling is not safe for you without a gas safety certificate. It is a legal requirement in most states, and it is the legal right of a tenant to ask the tenant before moving into a house. A gas safety certificate means that there is no faulty gas appliance in the house, and all of them are in proper working condition. It expires after one year, and the homeowner has to renew it.
The cost of this certificate is different and varies on the size, location, and the total; the number of gas appliances in a house.
If you are a homeowner, you can get the gas safety certificate by following these steps:
- Contact a gas safety company.
- On request, the company sends a certified gas safety engineer.
- The engineer visits and checks all the gas appliances.
- Get the repairing or decoration, or replacement is done as soon as possible.
- Pay charges and get the certificate.
2. Get all the gas appliances checked yearly
It is dangerous to ignore the working of the gas appliances. According to the gas safe appliances, the homeowners, and tenants shall arrange an inspection of all of the installed gas appliances at least once a year to stay safe. This check would be carried out by an authorized gas safety engineer. The inspection lasts around half an hour and the engineer would make sure that everything is fine.
These gas safety checks usually take around 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Where is the shut-off valve?
One of the major reasons behind gas accidents is that most homeowners do not know where the gas shut-off valve is. Usually, this is considered to be the duty of the head of the family. This is wrong. Every member of the family shall know the exact location of the shut-off valve so that in case of an emergency they can quickly reach there and stop the supply of the gas.
4. Learn about Carbon Monoxide
Being the homeowner, you have to make your family safe from Carbon Monoxide. CO has no noticeable characteristics like smell and color. So it’s better to learn about the symptoms that it can bring to you or your loved one. The six common symptoms of this poisonous gas are dizziness, headaches, nausea shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, and collapse.
If these symptoms regularly prevail among all the family members, it is wise to make sure the working condition of the installed gas appliances. Arrange the check of a gas safety engineer possible at the earliest.
5. Install a Carbon monoxide detector
Carbon Monoxide is known to be a slow poison that takes you toward death. It is because it is odorless and colorless. No one can be detected if there is any leakage of the CO from a faulty gas appliance. The Carbon Monoxide detector is available in the market, and install where there are gas appliances. When the detector rings, immediately cut off the gas supply.
6. Arrange a boiler check yearly
Make sure to service the boiler once a year. This check would not only increase the efficiency of the boiler but also make it run safely. It also sustains the warranty of the boiler. The best part here is that most of the boiler manufacturers usually provide free boiler service within a year.
7. Look for the warning signs of the gas appliances
To avoid gas accidents, always make sure to read out the warning signs written on the gas appliances. This rule is applied not only to gas appliances but also to electrical appliances. Learning about the warning signs is for your safety too. Besides, it makes the heating system healthy. It also ensures that all the installed gas appliances are operating safely and that there is no leakage.
The warning signs also warn that it is time to call on a safety engineer to ensure the appliances are in working condition and there is nothing dangerous, or if there is a fix or replacement immediately.
8. Make sure your home is ventilated
The ventilation of your home is important to make your home safe from any kind of accident. The gas appliance requires proper ventilation and makes sure that the air vents are clean and there is no blockage so that the appliances can work smoothly. It is recommended to check the air vents every month and clean them regularly. Also do not put any furniture near the gas appliances.
9. Do not misuse the gas appliances
It is advised never to misuse the gas instance do not use a stove in the room. It could be extremely dangerous. Also do not let the stove be kept ON for hours, and un attendant. Never use a gas appliance, if it is showing a warning sign.
The yellow flame coming from a gas appliance is a warning sign; do not use it. The appliance apparently might be working properly, but do not take a risk. It could be dangerous.
10. Steps to take in an emergency
Never panic in case of an emergency. It is important to stay calm and take these steps to avoid something bigger and more dangerous. If you can sense a gas leakage in your home, immediately open all the windows or doors for cross ventilation. Do not switch on the lights and cut the gas supply.
Next, wait outside until the emergency adviser comes. In the meantime, follow the advice given by the emergency advisor.
Final thoughts !!
Gas accidents are the most dangerous yet common accidents across the globe. Along with faulty gas appliances, the other major reason is that most homeowners and tenants do not know the gas safety rules. First, educate yourself about the gas safety rules, and then consider and follow all the steps mentioned to save your life.
You can never underestimate the importance of a gas safety certificate to ensure all the gas appliances are in working condition. It is your legal right to ask for it from the homeowners if you are a tenant. Or if you are shifting to a new house, never take the risk of moving without this safety certificate.