We’re proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week running from 19 – 25 September 2022.

But it’s important to keep your home gas safe not just this week, but all year round. So, to help you do this, we’ve pulled together seven simple steps to keep you safe and warm in your home as we head into autumn.

1. Regularly check your gas appliances

We recommend that an annual inspection is carried out every year to check all of your appliances are safe and there are no gas leaks. If you live in a ForHousing home, we will arrange this with you every 12 months. You can read this information page for more details on how we’ll work with you to keep your home gas safe.

It’s important for you to keep an eye on your appliances too and look out for any warning signs that they may not be working safely. Some of these include leaks, cracks, clunking noises or black, sooty marks. If you notice any of these it’s a sign to get them checked by an engineer so please reach out to us as soon as possible.

2. Ensure that engineers are gas safe registered

You should only allow engineers with a Gas Safe Register membership card to work in your home and allowing an unqualified engineer to do the work could put you at risk. If an engineer comes to check your boiler or gas appliances, we recommend checking their ID to ensure they’re fully qualified to carry out checks or do any work.

ForHousing will only ever send Gas Safe Engineers to carry out essential work on your home, but please always ask if you’re unsure – and make sure to check their ID so you know that we’ve sent them, and it’s not a scam.

3. Know the six signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon Monoxide is a gas which can make you seriously ill if you breathe it in. It’s colourless and odourless meaning it’s quite hard to tell if it’s around you. It can be produced by your gas appliances if they’re not installed properly, are faulty or poorly maintained. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Breathlessness
• Collapsing
• Loss of consciousness

If you start feeling unwell and believe you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide, then contact your GP immediately or go to hospital to be checked over.

4. Get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted

One sure fire way to keep yourself and your family safe from carbon monoxide is to get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted.

If your ForHousing home does not have an alarm, don’t worry. We’ll be reaching out to you soon to get one fitted securely and easily in your home as part of your annual gas check mentioned above!

5. Only use appliances for their intended purposes

Messing with your gas appliances can be really dangerous, so it’s important to only ever use them for their intended purpose. For example, never use your gas cooker to try and heat the room or a gas BBQ inside the house.

6.Check that vents and chimneys are clear

Gas appliances need to have a good air supply to ensure that they burn and work correctly, which reduces the risk of any accidents occurring. Always ensure that there is good ventilation around your home and that no vents or chimneys are blocked.

7. Know what to do in an emergency

We really hope that this never happens, but if you do smell gas in your home, you must act quickly. You must open all doors and windows to help with ventilation, turn off your gas emergency valve control and contact National Emergency Gas immediately on 800 111 999. They will be able to guide you and advise what to do next.

We hope that you’ve found this useful and now know how to keep your home gas safe and what to do if something goes wrong.

Keep up to date with more of our tips and tricks about sustainability and living more eco-friendly by following us on social media @ForHousing.