Gas safety

Contents 

  1. Overview
  2. If you suspect a gas leak or smell gas
  3. Carbon monoxide
  4. Gas safety - dos and don'ts
  5. Gas servicing

Overview

South Tyneside Council Housing Services must make sure that tenants are living in a safe property, especially for homes with gas central heating or other gas appliances.

If you suspect a gas leak or smell gas

If you suspect a gas leak or smell gas, you should do the following immediately:

  1. Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
  2. Open all doors and windows
  3. Turn the gas off at the emergency control valve if possible (unless the meter is in the cellar or basement) - the emergency control valve is located near your gas meter
  4. Do not turn lights on or off and avoid using other electrical switches and appliances
  5. Don't smoke, light a match or any other naked flame
  6. Inform South Tyneside Council Housing Services on 0300 123 6633
  7. Do not turn the gas back on until the escape has been repaired

Carbon monoxide

Every year people needlessly die or become seriously ill due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

By allowing us to service your gas or solid fuel appliances every year, you could prevent the deaths of you and your loved ones.

Carbon monoxide is an extremely poisonous gas that is produced when gas, solid fuel and wood burning appliances are not correctly installed and maintained.

The gas is produced whenever the fuels are burned with an insufficient air supply. This is caused by faulty, poorly maintained appliances or a lack of ventilation.

Ventilation in the form of wall grilles, door grilles and floor grilles is installed to provide a supply of fresh air to the appliance.

Never cover, restrict, block or remove any air grilles as this will affect the performance of your appliance and it could lead to carbon monoxide production.

Although carbon monoxide has no colour or smell and you cannot see it, smell it or taste it.

Warning signs that indicate it is being produced could include:

  • Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (apart from living flame fuel effect fires which display this colour flame)
  • Soot or yellow / brown staining around or on appliances

If you think your appliance is producing carbon monoxide you must:

  1. Switch off the appliance and do not reuse the appliance until the problem has been dealt with
  2. Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (if you know where it is)
  3. If gas continues to escape call National Grid on the Gas Emergency Freephone Number 0800 111 999
  4. Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room - do not sleep in it

Where your appliance is installed in a cupboard or compartment, never use the space for storage as this can restrict the air grilles and will result in the area being a fire hazard.

Gas safety - Dos and don'ts

Do - always remember to: 

  • ask for a copy of the current gas safety record within 28 days of the check being completed or, if you're a new tenant, when you move in.
  • check the ID card of any gas engineer that comes to do work in your home. The engineer must be Gas Safe registered.
  • check the engineer is qualified for the work you need doing. You can find this information on the back of the ID card.
  • co-operate with South Tyneside Council Housing Services and let our registered engineer into your property when a gas safety check or servicing has to be done.
  • arrange for any gas appliances you own to be regularly serviced and safety checked every year.

Don't:

  • let engineers into your home if they cannot produce a valid ID card.
  • carry out any alteration to gas appliances or gas pipes by yourself and never tamper with any parts of the gas connection.
  • carry out any alterations to your home without prior permission from South Tyneside Council Housing Services.
  • remove batteries or disconnect Smoke or Carbon Monoxide alarms in your home.

For more information and to find and check an engineer go to Gas Safe Register or call 0800 408 5500.

Gas servicing 

We will visit your home to service your gas or solid fuel heating appliances every 12 months.

This must be done by law to make sure the appliance is working safely and efficiently, so it is vital that you allow us or our contractor entry to your property to carry out this work.

For more information see gas servicing.