faulty boiler affects eastenders'
heather
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly. Make sure you
understand the symptoms and know how to keep Gas Safe in your
home.
The recent Eastenders storyline illustrates the importance of
knowing how to keep Gas Safe in your home. Popular
character Heather has been affected by carbon monoxide
poisoning from a faulty boiler.
What are the dangers of faulty gas appliances?
In the right hands gas is safe, but badly fitted and poorly
serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and
carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon
monoxide is a poisonous gas. It has no taste, colour or smell and
it can make you feel seriously ill.
If you are suffering from headaches, dizziness, nausea,
breathlessness, collapse or loss of consciousness and you don’t
know why, it might be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning and you
should see a doctor immediately.
Did you know you can buy a carbon monoxide
alarm to alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home?
But remember it shouldn't replace regular servicing of your gas
appliances by a Gas Safe registered
engineer.
What is Gas Safe Register?
Gas Safe Register is the only official list of gas engineers who
are legally allowed to work on your gas appliances including
your:
- Gas boiler
- Gas cooker
- Gas fire
The Register is there to help protect you from unsafe gas
work. You might remember it used to be known as CORGI.
When you have your gas appliances fitted, fixed or serviced,
always use a gas engineer who is on the Gas Safe Register.
Don’t forget – get your gas appliances regularly
serviced and safety checked every year. Annual servicing not only
helps keep your heating and hot water working properly, it helps
keep you safe.
How do I find a Gas Safe registered
engineer?
Gas Safe Register can help you find a local Gas Safe registered
engineer and tell you if they’re qualified for the type of work you
need them to do.
- Call the free Gas Safe Register helpline
on 0800 408 5500.
- Find a Gas Safe registered business online
by entering your postcode into the ‘postcode’ panel on the right of
this page.
Ask for the Gas Safe ID card
All Gas Safe registered engineers carry an ID card to show you
they are Gas Safe registered when they turn up at your door – if
they don’t show you then don’t be afraid to ask to see it.
All gas work is different and the back of the ID card tells you
if they’re qualified for the specific job you need them to do.
View our video to see what you need to check
on the Gas Safe ID card.
Gas safety for tenants
If you rent your home, your landlord has to have the gas
appliances safety checked and serviced once a year by law. For
proof of this annual check, your landlord must by law give you a
copy of the Landlord’s Gas Safety
Record.
As a tenant always:
- Ask for a copy of the current Landlord’s Gas Safety Record
before you move in or within 28 days of the safety check being
done.
- Check the Gas Safe ID card of any gas
engineer that comes to do work in your home.
- Cooperate with your landlord and let a registered engineer in
when a gas safety check or servicing has to be done.
If a landlord refuses to regularly service and safety check your
gas appliances you should call the Health and Safety Executive on
0800 300 363.
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Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms
- headaches
- dizziness
- nausea
- breathlessness
- collapse
- loss of consciousness
Find out more about carbon monoxide
poisoning