Why You Should Use Only Gas Safe Registered Engineers

The Gas Safe Register is the only official list of gas engineers legally aloud to perform work on boilers, ovens, fires and all other gas appliances. You may have heard of this list before referred to as CORGI. The Gas Safe Register replaced the CORGI on the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Northern Ireland and Great Britain on April 1st 2009.

If your gas maintenance or installation is performed by someone who is not on the Gas Safe Register you could end up paying with the ultimate cost – yours or a loved ones LIFE. The Gas Safe Register is run by Ancillary Services Limited who won the contract to run the new scheme in 2006. They make sure all 120,000 gas engineers on the register are gas safe and qualified to work with gas.

Why do I need them?

It’s not easy to spot and illegal gas fitter and it’s even harder to spot a lethal Carbon Monoxide leak.
The best way to ensure your family’s safety comes in two ways;

ID card

Before you engineer starts works make sure you ask to see their Gas Safe Register ID card. If they can’t produce one, send them away. You will not incur any costs as it is illegal to work without an ID card.

Check the front and back of the card. On the front of the card you need to check the photo, start and expiry date, licence number and security hologram.

On the back of the card you can check if the engineer is qualified to do the gas work you need eg. cooker, boiler, gas fire. You can also check that their qualifications are up to date. If you are unsure you can call the Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500. You can also report a suspected illegal gas fitter on the same number.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

As an extra precaution once you have a gas appliance in your home a Carbon Monoxide alarm is a must. Carbon Monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating, which makes it difficult for humans to detect. A Carbon Monoxide alarm looks similar to a smoke detector and is available at around the same price.

Badly fitted gas appliances can lead to fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning. Incidents like these killed 18 people in the UK last year and hospitalised a further 310 people. Ultimately always remember that a gas leak can take your life in under 3 minutes and a gas explosion instantly. So when it comes to gas Never, Ever DIY!

When else should I check the Gas Safe Register?

Renting or Buying a Property

When renting a property your Landlord is ultimately responsible for the Gas Safe Registered Certificate. Make sure you have seen the original safety certificate before signing any contracts. It is illegal in the United Kingdom to rent out a property without a valid gas Safe Certificate, so therefore all contracts will be null and void.

When buying a property ask the previous owner for the Gas Safe Certificate. If there isn’t one it’s best to call out an engineer to asses the property before signing any contracts as there could be hidden costs with dodgy appliances.

Gas Safety and Renting a Holiday Home

You are more venerable when away from home as you don’t know how often the appliances are serviced or if they were installed by a registered engineer.

When holidaying in the UK you can ask the owner of the accommodation for a look at their valid Gas Safety Certificate.

If abroad the Gas Safe register does not exist, so make sure you are familiar with the signs of malfunctioning gas appliances. They are, black marks and stains around the appliance, lazy orange flames instead of crisp blue ones and condensation.

Remember the signs of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and don’t mix them up with other holiday illnesses like hangovers, food poisoning or dehydration. The six main symptoms are headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

If you do smell gas or suspect a leak turn off the gas at the meter, open all windows, extinguish any naked flames, leave the area and seek medical advice immediately if you feel ill.