Gas Safety Week 2025: Top tips
8-14 September is Gas Safety Week, an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness around this important topic. While many of us rely on gas to heat our homes, unsafe gas appliances can pose a serious risk. Here are some top tips to help you look after your home, friends, and family.
Let us in for your annual gas safety check
If you rent your home from us, we service your gas boiler every year, as well as any CHP gas fires or cookers. We’ll also check your smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, and gas pipes. It’s really important that you let us into your home to carry out these checks so that we can fix any problems before they become dangerous.
We’ll let you know the date and time of your gas safety check appointment, and give you the option to change it if it’s not convenient.
If you own all, or part, of your home you’re responsible for arranging servicing for gas heating and hot water systems every year.
Check the engineer’s ID card
When the engineer arrives for the gas safety check, they’ll show you a photo ID card with a personal licence number, business registration number, the start and expiry date of the card, and security hologram. This is how you know they’re a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
If you’re unsure, give us a call on 0300 555 0500.
Make sure all gas appliances that you own have been annually safety checked
We’re not responsible for gas appliances that you own. You should arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out a safety check and service for any you have once a year. You can check the Gas Safe Register website to make sure you choose a qualified engineer.
Look out for the warning signs of unsafe gas appliances
Signs that a gas appliance is unsafe may include:
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lazy yellow/orange flames instead of crisp blue ones;
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black marks on or around the appliance;
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a pilot light that keeps going out;
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too much condensation in the room;
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error messages on the appliance’s control panel.
If you spot any of these signs, stop using the appliance and contact us. If you own the appliance, contact a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Act quickly if you think you can smell gas
If you have a gas leak and you think you can smell gas, follow these steps.
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Leave the house and call National Gas Emergencies straight away on 0800 111 999 or 0800 371 7878 (for people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment).
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If you’re at home and can do it safely, turn off the gas at the mains tap, which is usually near the meter.
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Don’t smoke or use matches or lighters.
Test your carbon monoxide alarms
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas released by gas appliances if they aren’t working properly. Make sure your carbon monoxide alarms are marked EN50291 and display the British Standards’ Kitemark.
We’ll test your carbon monoxide alarm for you when we carry out our annual gas safety check. However, it’s a good idea to regularly test them yourself too. If you notice any issues, let us know.
Learn the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
The six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:
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headaches;
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dizziness;
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breathlessness;
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nausea;
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collapse;
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loss of consciousness.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can often be confused with flu. Feeling better when you leave your home is a sign that it’s carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you suspect there’s been a carbon monoxide leak in your home, go outside straight away and call the gas emergency services on 0800 111 999.
Make sure your vents and/or flues are not blocked
Vents and flues are there to make sure that your gas appliances work safely. Blocking them can be very dangerous.
For more gas safety advice and to find or check an engineer, visit the Gas Safe Register website at GasSafeRegister.co.uk. You can also call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.