Gas Safety
My home has gas appliances installed, what precautions should I take?
Make sure that you know where the main gas stop valve in your home is. If you are not sure where it is contact Housing, and the staff will be able to help you.
For safety reasons, you are not allowed to sleep in a room that has an open flued gas appliance, for example a gas fire. If for any reason you must sleep in a room with an open flued gas appliance you should contact Housing at once.
Do not paint, or varnish, any part of any gas fire in your home. This is dangerous and you will be recharged for any damage caused.
What should I do if I discover a gas leak?
Act quickly and take the following safety steps:
- open all doors and windows to ventilate the room. Get fresh air immediately
- switch off the appliance and do not reuse until it has been checked by our gas servicing contractor
- shut off the gas supply at the mains
- call the National Grid Gas Emergency freephone number 0800 111 999 to report the leak
- visit your GP or the hospital immediately and tell them that you believe your symptoms may be related to carbon monoxide poisoning
- Contact the repairs line on 03456 08 12 03
What should I do if there is a problem with my gas appliance?
If you think there is a problem with any gas appliance, including your gas central heating boiler, do not use it. Call the repairs line on:
03456 08 12 03
A faulty gas appliance may lead to the release of carbon monoxide, some of the warning signs could be:
- The flame on your cooker should be crisp and blue. Lazy yellow or orange flames mean that there could be a problem
- Soot or yellow / brown staining around or on appliances
- Pilot lights that frequently blow out
- Increased condensation inside windows
You may also experience symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Remember the six main symptoms to look out for are:
- headaches
- dizziness
- nausea
- breathlessness
- collapse
- loss of consciousness
What is the Gas Safe Register?
The Gas Safe Register exists to protect you, your family, and your property from dangerous gas work.
Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of lethal carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and can also lead to gas leaks and explosions.
To carry out work on gas installations and appliances safely and legally, engineers in Great Britain and the Isle of Man must be on the Gas Safe Register.
All engineers appointed to work on our behalf are Gas Safe registered. We also make sure that quality assurance checks are carried out on a selection of services done by our contractors.