Gas Safety Week is on this week, and the main aim of the week is to raise awareness of the dangers of gas, whether that is gas stoves used for cooking or gas boilers/heaters for heating etc. The Gas Safe Register has themed the week around ‘taking no chances’, a simple and important message that aims to encourage homeowners/residents to remain vigilant, act if they see a fault and be careful when using gas power applications. 

Why are gas-powered systems dangerous? 

• They can explode if overheated, faulty and not properly serviced/maintained. 

• They can leak gas, which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.  

• They can overheat and start fires. 

• Gas appliances such as heaters can set furnishings and fabrics alight if they get too hot. 

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning: 

• Headaches 

• Dizziness 

• Breathlessness 

• Nausea  

• Collapse  

• Loss of consciousness  

How to avoid incidents: 

• Check your gas appliances every year. 

• Ensure your annual checks are performed by a qualified and Gas Safe registered engineer. How can you check this? Ask to look at their card; ensure you look at both sides. To see what you need to look out for, visit the Gas Safe Register website. 

• Be aware of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning; revisit the signs earlier in this article. 

• Look for warning signs. Examples can be: 

• Lazy yellow flame instead of a strong blue flame when using a gas stove. 

• Black marks or stains around the rooms. 

• Pilot lights frequently blowing out. 

• High levels of condensation. 

• Install several carbon monoxide detectors; there should be one on each level and they should be audible and regularly tested and maintained. 

• Ensure your chimney is regularly cleaned; this prevents a build-up of CO2 and toxic chemicals that can lead to health issues. By sweeping your chimney often, you can remove any build-up of debris, creosote and blockages which can either prevent CO2 escaping from your chimney or act as a fire hazard. 

• Only use gas appliances for their intended use; misuse of a device can lead to faults which can lead to gas leaks and explosions etc. 

• Ensure you remind your friends, family and colleagues; spreading awareness is crucial and helps reduce risks across the board. 

So looking back, it is clear to see that we should be aware of the risks gas-powered appliances can pose to the home and business; therefore, it is critically important that you follow our guidance on the signs to look out for, the risks and how to avoid these risks so that you can continue to use gas devices safely. Don’t forget to share this guidance with your friends, family and colleagues as a way of helping keep them safe.