Here at K & M Maintenance, gas safety is one of our top priorities. Here are some top gas safety facts to get you thinking:
All gas appliances should be installed by a registered and qualified engineer, and then be regularly serviced and maintained.
It is a legal requirement for landlords and housing associations to implement an annual gas safety check where the gas appliances will be maintained and tested to ensure safety and quality. It is also the opportunity to make repairs and make records of where replacements are needed.
21 million households in the UK rely on gas for heating, hot water and cooking
There are around 7,500 gas fitters working in the UK that are unregistered and this means that around 250,000 gas jobs are carried out each year, illegally. On top of this, 1 in 3 people in the UK would fit their own gas appliances, rather than pay for a qualified, registered gas engineer.
Illegally fitted or repaired gas appliances can be incredibly dangerous. Gas leaks, Carbon monoxide poisoning and explosions are all things that can occur when a gas appliance is fitted badly or is not correctly serviced, something that could well happen when you employ an unregistered gas engineer, or attempt to fit a gas appliance yourself.
Gas fires are also a result often a result of poorly maintained or poorly fitted gas appliances.
All of this danger adds up to some shocking statistics. In 2008-2009, 18 people died and 310 were injured from accidents or events occurring through dangerous gas practices. In the same year, 15 reported deaths were from carbon monoxide poisoning.
A standard carbon monoxide alarm generally costs between £15 to £20 and this can protect from the invisible and almost undetectable lethal gas, but it is not a substitute for regular servicing or yearly gas checks.
If you have a gas appliance that needs fitting or servicing, dont hesitate to contact us here at K&M Maintenance, where we are qualified and registered gas engineers.