Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Gas Safety Check?
What is a Service?
What are the signs that your appliances need servicing?
What is carbon monoxide?
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
What is OFTEC?
What is a Gas Safety Check?
A gas safety check involves a Gas Safe registered engineer inspecting your gas appliances. They will check the appliance is working correctly and will check the following four areas:
• Gas appliances are on the right setting and burning correctly with the correct operating pressure.
• Harmful gases are being removed from the appliance safely to the air outside
• That any ventilation routes are clear and working properly.
• All the safety devices are working.
The check will identify any defects which require remedial work. You should have a gas safety check every year. If you are a landlord this is the law.
What is a service?
Whilst a gas safety check assesses the basic safety of a gas appliance a service will consist of a full check of a gas appliance and the engineer is likely to take the appliance apart to inspect it. The engineer will assess the physical condition of the appliance, installation pipework, air vents and any flues for deterioration. They will carry out performance tests and take any necessary remedial action.
Appliances should be serviced regularly in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Servicing your gas appliances regularly will make sure they are safe to use. It will also maintain your appliances efficiency and performance.
What are the signs that your appliances need servicing?
Gas appliances should be serviced regularly but if you notice any of the warning signs below you should arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to service your appliance as soon as possible:
• Your gas appliance is not working properly
• Your appliance is burning with a lazy yellow flame instead of a crisp blue flame
• You can see black marks or stains on or around your gas appliances
• The pilot light keeps going out
• There is increased condensation in the room
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous substance produced by the incomplete burning of gas and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).
This happens when a gas appliance has been incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained. It can also occur if flues, chimneys or vents are blocked.
Oil and solid fuels such as coal, wood, petrol and oil can also produce carbon monoxide.
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when you breathe in even small amounts of the gas.
When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it gets into your blood stream and prevents your red blood cells from carrying oxygen. Without oxygen, your body tissue and cells die.
Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health when breathed in over a long period of time. Long term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning include Paralysis and brain damage. Such long term effects occur because many people are unaware of unsafe gas appliances and subsequent gas leaks.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but it can kill quickly and with no warning. Unsafe gas appliances produce a highly poisonous gas called carbon monoxide (CO). It can cause death as well as serious long term health problems such as brain damage.
• headaches
• dizziness
• nausea
• breathlessness
• collapse
• loss of consciousness
What is OFTEC?
Much like the Gas Safe Register is for gas, OFTEC are watchdogs of oil safety within the UK. OFTEC are also in partnership with Building Regulations in an effort to stamp out rogue engineers and improve overall quality and standards within the oil fired industry.