Gas Fire Safety Checks

Your gas fire should be checked for safe operation once a year, and serviced in accordance with the recommendations outlined in your instruction manual.

Why check the fire? If you fail to have your gas fire serviced and safety checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer, you’re putting yourself, your home and family at risk from fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s as simple as that.

So what’s involved in a safety check?

A gas safety check must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, so ask for proof of registration. It is illegal to perform any kind of work on gas systems and appliances without these credentials.

Your engineer will check that your fire is working correctly. He or she will check to see if the fire has been properly installed, and is operating with the correct pressure. The engineer will also check that any harmful gases released by your fire are vented properly, that all flues and ventilation routes are clear, and that any safety features are working as they should.

How much does a gas safety check cost?

That depends on the gas engineer you choose, but you may be able to get your gas safety check for free:

* if you are of pensionable age

* if a member of your household is under five years old

* if you have not had a gas safety check carried out at your premises in the last year

Ask us whether you qualify for a free gas safety check when you contact us for a quote.

What if I don’t own my home?

If you live in rented accommodation, then the safety check is the responsibility of the landlord. Indeed, they’ll be legally obliged to have your gas fires and appliances checked, and you should see the paperwork for this.

If you have not seen a gas safety certificate from your landlord since you moved in, then you can demand that you see it immediately. If there is no certificate, or the certificate is more than a year old, then your landlord has to arrange a safety check, and he or she has to share the findings of that check with you.

What if the engineer finds a fault with my gas fire?

All engineers must follow the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP). The engineer will discuss this with you. You will need to cooperate, as the GIUSP has been devised with your safety in mind. The engineer might condemn the fire, and if that’s the case, you are strongly advised not to use it.

Anything else I need to know?

Gas is typically perfectly safe if proper procedures are followed and appliances are correctly installed, maintained and serviced. Appliances that are faulty can lead to injury and death. That’s why proper maintenance is so important.

You need to have your gas fire serviced in accordance with your manufacturers instructions and safety checked an annual basis. It is your safety, and the safety of your home and family that’s at stake.