Do you have gas appliances in your home? Natural gas is a cost-effective, safe solution when installed and maintained correctly. Your gas fires, heating systems, water heaters, and stovetops do need regular servicing.  It’s recommended to get them serviced every 12 months. Why? Just like a car, a regular service makes sure everything is working properly. In your service, the gasfitter will check for signs of leaks, damage, wear, or build-up that can cause problems. It also makes sure it’s running efficiently, which saves costs.

We’ll run through these soon, but the most important thing to know is the work should only be completed by an authorised gasfitter. It’s illegal (not to mention dangerous) to have it done by anyone else, and this could also void your home insurance if anything goes wrong, so be sure to check the company you’re using has the right credentials with the Plumbing Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.

With winter well and truly setting in, it’s a good time to be prepping your gas appliances with a service.

Safety 

Safety is the biggest reason to get your gas service in every year. Gas appliances are used every day in a typical family home – with water heating, cooking, and heating (especially in winter!). Servicing will help to detect any safety issues that could put your family at risk. If your gas is not connected properly or there’s a leak, it can be picked up and fixed by your gasfitter.

This could include any of the following:

Gas leaks

If there’s a leak in your gas system, this could cause dangerous gases to be released into your home – putting your family at risk. During the service, your gasfitter will check for any leaks and let you know what can be done to fix them. They’ll also check your gaskets for any wear, another cause of gas leaks.

Incomplete combustion

They’ll also check for any carbon monoxide build-up that can result from your gas system improperly combusting the gas. Combustion should result in safe carbon dioxide, not toxic carbon monoxide – an important difference!

Corrosion

Corrosion, or rust, can cause significant damage to your gas lines, flues, or appliances and should be dealt with right away. Your gasfitter will let you know if they catch any signs of corrosion in your service so that they can be replaced. 

Product build-up

Dust, dirt and other build-up can get into the spots you can’t see. That means proper cleaning is necessary, using all the right tools. Your gasfitter will give the appliance a good clean-out to avoid any build-up that can block or cause issues with your gas appliances.

What to look out for between services.

Getting your gas system serviced regularly is a good way to avoid any issues. Between services, if you hear too much noise, notice a rotten egg smell, or your gas hobs are burning yellow instead of blue, first turn them off and then give us a call to come and check them out.

BOP Plumbing & Gas have been servicing the BOP for over 30 years. Certified Master Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers. Get in touch.