There are some occasions when warnings about the need for extra maintenance and checks are exaggerated, but one instance where that is not the case is when gas appliances are involved.
Quite simply, if you need a gas safety check in south London, you should book it without delay, to ensure not only that your appliance is fully functioning and providing the service you need – be it for hot water, heating your home, or cooking – but because there could be greater dangers if you do not.
A tragic incident in Worcester may provide another stark reminder of what can happen if things go wrong. The BBC reported on a suspected gas explosion in the home of a woman in her 90s. She was rescued from the ensuing blaze and taken to hospital, but later died.
Neighbours rushed to the scene when the fire engulfed the property at around 22:10 on June 13th and kicked open the door, but their bravery was ultimately unable to save the woman. While the case has now been referred to the county coroner by West Mercia Police, the circumstances appear to indicate that a gas issue was the cause of the conflagration.
More facts about the case will emerge as the incident is investigated, but it is a reminder of what can happen when there is a gas leak and it is exposed to a naked flame or even the spark from a light being turned on.
For this reason, if you smell gas it is important to avoid lighting any flames, open the windows and doors to ventilate the affected room and call in an engineer as soon as possible.
However, it also makes sense to get your gas appliances checked fairly regularly to make sure they are in order. In rented homes, landlords are legally obliged to have this done on an annual basis, so it makes sense for homeowners to do the same.
Overall, gas explosions are still thankfully rare, but when they happen the results can be devastating.
Earlier this year, a man was killed and three other people hospitalised by an explosion that obliterated a house in Swansea, while last year, a woman died in another explosion that destroyed a house in Birmingham, with a leaky gas pipe being responsible.
Another incident that recently occurred in Bournemouth wasn’t fatal, but did leave a woman in hospital and prompted a series of gas safety checks to be carried out on other homes in the vicinity, the BBC revealed.
Explosions are not the only risk from faulty gas appliances. Carbon monoxide is another risk, as this can cause potentially fatal poisoning. The Gas Safe Register identifies this as a consequence of an appliance being “incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained”. It added that blocked flues, vents and chimneys can also cause it to build up.
For all these reasons, it is vital to ensure you do have your gas appliances checked. That way, you can protect yourself, your family and your home from an avoidable danger.