4 Gas Appliance Safety Tips for London Winters

London may be still enjoying the last few weeks of summer warmth but everyone who’s lived in the capital knows that winter is never far away. It is easy to take your gas appliances for granted in the summer time. It’s when the temperature drops that you realise how much of a difference your gas boiler makes to your life in London. And when the temperature drops and you reach to turn on the boiler and the fires, you put pressure on your appliances. Now is the time they could break down, just when you need them the most. While you may not want to think too much about winter days, now is the time to put boiler maintenance on your to-do list, and take a look at your other appliances to make sure they are gas-safe through the colder months.

1. Get Your Boiler Serviced

Now is the time to make sure that your boiler is up to date with its service. Gas appliances need to be checked annually to make sure they are working safely and efficiently. A gas check of a boiler should be carried out by a professional, qualified engineer. By scheduling a gas safety check for the summer or autumn months you have a better chance of clearing up any problems without major inconvenience when it is freezing outside. For boiler repair London has engineers in every borough but it is best not to have to deal with a boiler emergency by being prepared with a boiler service.

2. Don’t Do it Yourself

While it may be tempting to do it yourself and fix a problem with your boiler, thus saving yourself the engineer’s charges, this can be a false economy and also dangerous. Always remember to use a gas safe registered engineer for any gas checks or boiler repairs. It can be highly dangerous to try to solve gas problems yourself. If you mend an appliance and the repairs result in a badly fitting case, or a blocked air vent, then you could suffer a deadly build-up of carbon monoxide or a gas leak.

3. Check Appliances are Functioning Well

Do a trial run of the heating systems and the boiler during warmer months to identify any problems before you actually need the heating to be working. It is much easier to fix a boiler when you are not relying on it to keep you warm at night.

4. Buy a Carbon Monoxide Detector and Smoke Alarm

All London homes need a fully functioning smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector when they have a gas boiler or other gas appliances. These two items are relatively inexpensive and they could save your life, so it is best not to leave it to chance. A carbon monoxide detector helps to remove the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Put these two essentials on your to-buy list and enjoy a safer home in the winter.

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