NPH is supporting Gas Safety Week from 16th September to 22nd September 2019
Gas Safety Week raises awareness of the importance of servicing your gas appliance and preventing carbon monoxide poisoning at home. An unsafe gas appliance can put you at risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning as well as gas leaks, fires and explosions.
Gas Safety Awareness Week is held every September. As the mornings get darker and the nights draw in, the temperature begins to fall. It is at this time of the year that people switch their heating back on and use more gas.
It is really important to have your gas appliances serviced and safety checked to ensure they are burning properly and not leaking Carbon Monoxide.
Every year around 7 people die from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can also have long term effects on you and your family’s health.
Nigel Dunkley, Gas Servicing Officer at local housing provider NPH:
“All NPH tenants receive a free service and safety check of their gas appliance each year in their home. It is really important that our Gas Safe Registered Engineers can get into the home so they can service the boiler and check your safety. The consequences of an unsafe gas appliance can be tragic. Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer and can’t be recognised by smell or colour. It can cause headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and even loss of consciousness”.
Key tips to prevent a carbon monoxide leak include:
- Have your appliance fitted, fixed and serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer – A Gas Safe registered engineer has information on the back of their ID card to prove it.
- Make sure your appliance is regularly serviced and safety checked every year
- Know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness
- Check gas appliances for warning signs – a lazy yellow flame instead of the normal blue colour is a warning, as are black marks around the appliance
- Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in your home
If you are a NPH Tenant you can find out when your gas service is due by contacting NPH’s Gas contractor PH Jones on 01604 588 811.
To find a gas safe registered engineer for your home visit: www.gassaferegister.co.uk.