More about gas servicing for homeowners

Circle 33: 0845 304 1001 or leaseholders@circle.org.uk
Russet: 01732 781943 or sarah.chatfield@circle.org.uk

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Should you wish to purchase a Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Invicta Telecare, part of Circle LIving, can help. Invicta Telecare supply a battery powered CO detector that sounds an immediate audible alert. It also transmits a signal (via an alarm unit connected to your phone) to their 24 hour monitoring centre. Invicta’s trained staff will contact you or a key holder to warn you about the danger and contact Transco who will check your gas appliances.
For more information contact Invicta Telecare

Telephone: 01732 781966 Email: info@invictatelecare.co.uk

Safety tips

• Never use a gas appliance if you think it is not working properly
• Poor combustion is characterised by a yellow or orange flame, soot or stains around the appliance and a pilot light that keeps going out.
• Never cover an appliance or block air vents or outside flues
• Never fit draught excluders or double-glazing to rooms containing a gas appliance without providing suitable alternative ventilation.

Gas Safety for Subletting Homeowners

Landlords are legally required to ensure that any gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for their tenants use are safe. In particular landlords must:

• Have their gas appliances checked annually by a Gas Safe Register engineer who will issue a "Landlord Gas Safety Certificate." (CP12)
• Keep records of the checks for at least 2 years
• Issue a copy of the CP12 certificate to their tenants.

These regulations also apply to owner-occupiers who must:

• Only allow work to be carried out on their gas appliances by a Gas Safe Registered engineer
• Not use a gas appliance if they suspect it to be unsafe.

In all cases if you suspect that a gas appliance is unsafe you should immediately contact National Grid on 0800 111 999.

If you smell gas or are worried about gas safety, you can call 0800 111 999 at any time, day or night. Your call will not cost you anything.

Important Changes to Guidance Around Concealed Gas Flues

Your gas boiler creates Carbon Monoxide, a harmful gas, which is channelled away through your gas flue.

A concealed flue is one which travels through a ceiling or wall void and is therefore only partially visible. The importance of checking your flue every time you have you annual gas service carried out was highlighted by the Health and Safety Executive in 2008.
Important changes now state that by 2012 all gas flues should be accessible for inspection.

What does that mean for me?

From 1st January 2013, a gas engineer visiting your property will deem your system ‘at risk’ if you have concealed flues without suitable access panels. They will turn off you gas supply and formally advise you not to use it until the work is carried out.

What should I do now?

If you are a tenant, your landlord will arrange any necessary works. If you are a leaseholder (including shared ownership leaseholders), you will need to:

1. Establish if you have a concealed flue. A ‘Gas Safe’ engineer can advise you of this.
2. If you do not have a concealed flue you do not need to do anything.
3. If you do have a concealed flue, arrange for a qualified Gas Safe Engineer to install necessary access panels at your next annual service in 2011/12.

27/07/11 16:33