Natural gas is one of the basic requirements of any home. Whenever we plan to construct a new home for personal use or rent out, gas supply infrastructure must be provided, just like other basic amenities, such as water supply and electricity.
As a homeowner, you are responsible for ensuring a safe gas supply. Laws in the UK are quite clear on this very important subject. So, you need to know what is expected from you regarding gas safety.
The use of gas in homes is not entirely a risk-free matter. Being a highly combustible material, it always carries various threats. It is your responsibility to make it safe for you, your tenants, and your property. It may sound difficult, but it is very simple. You need to follow rules and regulations to deal with gas safety issues. For more details on gas safety, read What Does a Gas Safety Check Involve?
The primary factor in ensuring gas safety is to get gas-related jobs done through qualified gas engineers. Finding a qualified, authentic, and legally registered engineer is not something you need to worry about. UK laws have made it so simple. How? Let’s see..
The gas safe register is an organization that deals with registering qualified gas engineers. They issue a license to safety engineers. When hiring an engineer, you must ask him for his registration number. Go to the official website of the gas safe register and check his registration number. You can safely assign him the task at home if it appears in the register.
The engineer will visit your site and thoroughly examine the entire gas infrastructure, including home gas appliances. If he finds some defects or faults, he will get them fixed on the spot. Once he’s done, he will compile a detailed report and provide you with the much-needed gas safety certificate. It may take a couple of days to complete this task.
This document is equally important for both homeowners and tenants. A homeowner is legally bound to obtain this certificate from a registered gas engineer. This certificate is valid for one year. It authenticates your property being a gas-safe entity. It also covers the required clearance on gas appliance safety.
Homeowners are also bound to show this certificate to their tenants before renting out the property to them. Renting out your property without having a valid gas safety certificate may land you in legal complications, including penalties. Follow the link How Often Do You Need a Gas Safety Certificate?
For the safety of precious human lives and also for the safety of your property, it is important that you get all gas appliances regularly checked for any possible fault. Normally you should do this once a year. That must be sufficient.
But it is also important to check the performance of all gas fittings and appliances. If you notice anything abnormal, immediately call the gas safety engineer and get the problem resolved. And make sure the engineer is officially registered in the gas safe register.
The biggest challenge in home gas safety is unexpected and sudden gas leakage. Though not so common, gas may start leaking at any stage from any gas appliances. Gas leakage prevention is, therefore, very important to avert the chances of any mishap.
Initially, natural gas does not have any smell. It is also colorless. So, in the event of any gas leakage in your home, it would not be easy to detect. That’s why gas supply companies mix a certain quantity of an odorant in the natural gas. It helps us identify if there is any leakage.
Another possible way of detecting leakage is a unique hissing sound. Carefully try to listen if there is any such sound emerging from any gas appliances.
Once identified that gas is leaking somewhere in your home, the first and immediate step required is to cut down the main gas supply. This can be done by shutting down the main gas valve installed near the gas meter or the main entry point of the pipeline in your home. Next, open the ventilation points to allow fresh air inside your home.
Now it’s time to call the gas engineer. Don’t forget that he must be a registered engineer on the official gas-safe registers list. He will visit your site and check the entire gas supply line and appliances. Wherever a fault is detected, he will either remove or repair the faulty part. Once it is done, you can use gas at your home safely.
Carbon monoxide or CO, is another potential threat to gas usage at home. This gas is generated from the gas appliances due to incomplete or faulty combustion of natural gas. If left undetected, it may lead to a serious threat to human life. Common symptoms indicating CO crossing a certain level are dizziness, headaches, and general weaknesses.
In case of any such event, you need to call the gas safety engineer without wasting time. Get the fault removed and replace the faulty appliances if required.
To make it possible for you or your tenant to use the home gas supply safely, some precautionary measures may prove helpful
As a homeowner, you have some obligations regarding the supply and usage of gas in your home. You need to get your site inspected by an officially registered gas safety engineer. Obtain the certificate issued by the qualified engineer listed on the official website of the gas safe register. This certificate is valid for one year.
After every year, you must get it revalidated for another one-year term. In case of any leakage, it is your prime responsibility to get the fault removed without any delay. This is important for the safety of human lives and property.
Comply with all prevailing laws that govern the use of natural gas in homes so you can use this natural gift safely and securely at your home.
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