One in four chance your boiler is unsafe
Nearly one in four homes checked by independent heating company, Swale Heating, has an unsafe gas boiler according to figures they have released in time for Gas Safety Week.
The startling statistics were collated for the quarter May to July 2016 amid concerns that householders do not understand enough about gas safety to keep themselves and their families safe.
Swale Heating, one of the largest independently owned heating firms, installs and maintains gas boilers throughout London and the south east, East Anglia and the Midlands.
Sales Director, Matthew Edwards, says that his company is working hard to alert people to the possible dangers in their homes.
“During the survey period, our engineers made 29,024 service calls and had to issue 6,714 notices of unsafe boilers. That’s boilers only; in some cases where the boiler was working satisfactorily there were other appliances that were unsafe.
“It’s frightening to know that so many people are living in potential danger without even realising.”
About three quarters of the boilers were identified ‘At Risk’ (AR) where the appliance had one or more faults which could pose a risk to lives or property. In that case, the appliance should not be used until the fault has been corrected.
However, in a quarter of cases, the engineers had to issue an ‘Immediately Dangerous’ (ID) notice where the installation is considered to pose an immediate danger to life and property if it is left on.
Engineers cannot disconnect the appliance without the householder’s permission. However, under an ID notice, the appliance is considered so dangerous that he or she will report to the Gas Emergency Service Provider (ESP) if permission is refused. The ESP has the legal right of entry to make the appliance safe and this includes disconnecting the gas supply to the property entirely.
Swale Heating is working with Gas Safe Register to make sure Gas Safety Week makes people more aware of gas safety in their homes. The heating firm has already announced it will give away a free CO monitor with every private order of a new boiler from 19 – 25 September in an effort to reduce the number of people who are poisoned or even killed by carbon monoxide fumes.
“Why put your life at risk?” Matthew asks.
“Make sure all gas work in your home is carried out by an engineer registered with Gas Safe Register and get your gas appliances regularly serviced.
“Then perhaps we’ll see a fall in the number of AR and ID notices issued and we’ll know the gas safety message is really getting through.”
For more information about Swale Heating, visit swaleheating.com
Information about Gas Safety Week is here gassaferegister.co.uk
