More than 5.5 million people in the UK are putting their health and finances at risk by not getting their gas appliances safety checked every year – which, according to a new survey among gas engineers costs, as little as £60.
In the last year there have been more than 67,000 gas emergency call outs to homes in the UK, the equivalent of 186 every day. On top of which, the gas authority – Gas Safe Register – has found dangerous gas appliances lurking in one in six of the 142,000 homes it has inspected in the past five years. These dangers have led to six deaths and more than 300 injuries in the last year alone.
Left unchecked, gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Not only can these kill you, they can also result in damage to your home which can run into thousands of pounds to rectify. Common problems associated with faulty or badly maintained gas appliances include black staining on surrounding walls, burst gas pipes, excessive condensation and in extreme cases, house fires and explosions.
Having a gas safety check is a legal requirement for landlords, however for homeowners the onus is on them to get this done. To mark this year’s Gas Safety Week, Gas Safe Register is calling on homeowners to protect themselves and their property by having a safety check.
You can call us on 01473 824884 to arrange a gas safety engineer to visit your home and check your appliances. Call today and don’t delay.