Gas Safety and Servicing

CHP is legally required to service all gas heating and hot water systems in your home every year to ensure they are in safe and efficient working order. A faulty gas appliance can produce carbon monoxide which is hazardous to you and your family’s health and may even be fatal.

A poorly maintained gas appliance can also be wasteful, resulting in higher energy bills and unnecessary damage to the environment.

An annual service will highlight potential problems with your gas appliance(s). Early analysis of problems will reduce the risk of future breakdown and inconvenience to you.

A Gas Safe registered engineer will check all gas appliances and pipe work installed by CHP. They will ensure it is working correctly, that there is adequate ventilation, and that there are no leaks. They will also carry out a visual inspection of any gas appliances installed by you.

For more information download CHP's Gas Safety and Servicing leaflet. The Health and Safety Executive have produced a talking leaflet on keeping your gas appliances in safe working order.

If you smell gas:

It is important that you know where to find the gas safety valve in your home. In an emergency you may need to switch off the gas supply to your home.


• Turn off the supply by moving the valve to the OFF position;
• Contact National Grid gas immediately on 0800 111 999;
• Do not smoke or use any matches or lighters;
• Do not use electrical switches;
• Check to see if the pilot light to your boiler has been blown out or if a gas tap has been left on.
• Open doors and windows to increase air ventilation;

If you think there is a problem with your boiler or gas
appliances do not attempt to fix it yourself. Repairs
should only be carried out by Gas Safe Register
qualified engineers.

Making the appointment

CHP’s gas contractors will contact you every year to arrange for an engineer to service your appliance(s). If you are unavailable at their suggested time, you will need to contact them to arrange a convenient appointment. If you are unavailable at their suggested time, you should contact R G Francis to arrange a convenient appointment, which could be an evening or weekend, if this is more suitable for you.

If you refuse access, or fail to keep pre-arranged appointments, CHP will serve you with a Notice of Seeking Possession (NOSP), which could lead to court action. The court can grant an injunction allowing access to your home to carry out the service. In extreme cases, they can also grant us an eviction order, forcing you to permanently vacate your home.

Finding a fault

If the engineer finds a fault, the engineer will arrange to replace the appliance, or part, as quickly as possible. If the appliance is deemed hazardous, the engineer will turn it off. If this leaves you without heating an alternative source of heat will be provided.

 

Your responsibilities


You must:

  • Make sure that there is a gas supply to your home on the day of your service;

  • Allow CHP’s contractors access to your home on your scheduled appointment date and time. If your plans change and you are no longer available, contact the contractor in advance to rearrange your appointment;

  • Get any faults the engineer finds - on appliances you have installed - fixed by a Gas Safe registered engineer;

  • Make sure you ask the engineer for a gas safety certificate (a CP12) once they have completed the service and keep it in a safe place.

What if I experience problems with my heating system in between services?


Call CHP free (from a landline) on 0800 953 1447 and select option one. You will be put through to CHP’s gas engineers. They will arrange an appointment to come and inspect the appliance. If you have no heating and hot water they will ensure that the appointment is carried out within 24 hours.