The Importance Of Getting Your Appliances Checked

Did you know, all gas appliances in your property need to be safety checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer annually and serviced according to manufacturer’s instructions?

Having all of your gas pipework inspected annually is crucial. Any appliance left unchecked could leave you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, here at LJS Gas and Heating we often get asked about our servicing service, and just what happens during a gas safety check. So, if you’re still unsure about when you should get your gas appliances checked, or why, we’ve got all the answers you need in this blog.

Servicing

Knowing when to get your appliances checked is very important, we advise that all of your gas appliances and pipework should be checked annually to avoid any risks. However, there are often indicators drawing you attention to when appliances will need checking.

If you notice any of the following warning signs, you’ll definitely want to get your appliance serviced right away:

• The gas appliance just isn’t working properly
• The appliance is burning with a yellow flame instead of a crisp blue one
• Black marks or stains are evident around the gas appliance
• The pilot light keeps going out
• There is an increase of condensation in the room

If you’re experiencing any of the above it is important to act right away – contact a member of our team on 01256 391355.

 The difference between a gas safety check and a service

As registered Gas Safe engineers, our team know there’s differences between an appliance service and a safety check as well as the difference between a safety check of appliances only and a safety check of the whole installation, which includes pipework. However, knowing the differences yourself, and knowing which check is required can be difficult.

What is an appliance safety check?

At minimum an appliance safety check includes checking and testing of all appliances to ensure they are safe to operate. These checks include:

• Is it correctly set and adjusted to ensure the gas is burning correctly
• Is the appliance suitable for the room in which it is located?
• Is the appliance safe, securely fitted and properly connected to the gas pipework?
• Is there an adequate and permanent air supply suitable for the appliance?
• Any flues or chimneys are operating correctly
• All safety devices function correctly

What is an appliance service?

Not only will an appliance check include all of the above checks and tests, but further checks and tests are carried out, these include:

• An analysis of the combustions gases to ensure the appliance is burning correctly
• A check of the condition of the appliance which may include- the effectiveness of any seals and gaskets, the cleanliness of the heat exchanger and checking for any signs of any excessive heat or distress

However, please note this is not an exhausted list and servicing requirements will vary across appliance types and models.

 What is a gas installation safety check?

If a gas installation safety check is required, each appliance will need to be checked as outlined above and additionally:

• All accessible gas pipework is visually inspected to ensure the installation is in good condition
• The gas pipework is tested to ensure there are no gas leaks

When assessing an unsafe gas appliance, our engineers will follow the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP) which provides ‘best practice’ advice to engineers on how to deal with specific gas safety concerns.

 Please do remember that if you are a business, not getting your appliances checked yearly may result in negating your insurance!