With Gas Safety Week on the horizon, Jacqueline Gallazzi-Ritchie, Director of All England Gas, gives us her top tips to keep your gas appliances working safely and effectively.
Your gas appliances keep your park home warm and toasty and allow you to rustle up some tasty meals. But, without taking the necessary safety precautions, these appliances can become dangerous and you could be put at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Luckily, these precautions are easy to carry out and, below, I’ve listed my simple gas safety tips to help ensure that you and your family are kept safe.
Fit a carbon monoxide detector
Carbon monoxide is an odourless and colourless gas, which means it can be impossible to detect without a carbon monoxide alarm. Ideally, these should be kept in the living area and master bedroom of your park home and should be tested once a month to make sure they’re in working order.
If your alarm sounds, turn off all gas appliances, open any windows, and make sure all inhabitants leave the property safely. You should also turn off the gas at the meter. Then, call the gas emergency number on 0800 111 999 and inform your park manager, too.
If anyone becomes dizzy, nauseated, breathless, has a headache, collapses, or loses consciousness, call an ambulance immediately, as they may have carbon monoxide poisoning.
Service appliances regularly
As with any property, your gas appliances should be serviced at least once a year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. These are engineers who have been given the appropriate safety qualification to legally handle gas appliances in your home. If you want to check this before allowing them into your property, they’ll usually be carrying an ID card that shows they are Gas Safe registered. Your engineer will be able to check that all the elements of your appliances are working as they should be, as well as identify and fix any issues before they cause a problem.
Your annual service can be done at any time of the year, but it’s usually recommended that you get it done towards the end of the summer. This way, if any problems are found, you can get them fixed in time for the cold winter months.
Check for any warning signs
Aside from your annual service, you should call your Gas Safe engineer immediately if you notice any of the following signs:
Soot or staining around the appliance
Flames are burning a lazy yellow instead of a crisp blue
The pilot light in your boiler keeps going out
There is a build-up of condensation in the room every time you use the appliance
These are all signs of a carbon monoxide leak and should be checked by an engineer as soon as possible.
Avoid blocking ventilation areas
Your gas appliances will need to have a constant air supply in order for combustion to happen safely and efficiently. These appliances should have been installed with appropriate ventilation systems that lead to the outside of your property. The most common methods of ventilation usually include windows, extractor fans, and air vents.
Try to keep these ventilation areas clear at all times, especially in areas with gas fires, stoves, and boilers, in order to keep the appliance working and avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Air vents and extractor fans should be kept clean and free of dust to make sure that air is able to move through them easily
Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most dangerous issues which can occur with gas appliances. Luckily, the simple tips mentioned in this guide can go a long way towards keeping yourself and your family safe.
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