Natural Gas Safety Inspection: Everything You Need to Know

Natural gas has made the life of humankind very easy. While building a new house or renovating a house, the first thing you do is check it for natural gas.

It heats your home, provides warm water for your showers, driers your clothes, and cooks your food. On the other hand, natural gas can be the most dangerous thing you will ever encounter if it is not used with care.

Five years ago, we had a major accident due to my negligence. By the blessing of God, no causalities were reported. My uncle, who is a gas safety engineer,informed me about gas safety inspection and its importance.

What is a Gas Safety Inspection?

The first and the most basic question when learning about the topic is what a gas safety inspection is. A gas safety inspection is a process carried out by a gas safety professional in which all the gas appliances are checked. After that, a gas safety certificate is issued to you.

These certificates are obtainable in any part of the world at a reasonable price. For example, Gas safety certificates in Leicester or in any part of the UK cost about £45-£50

Gas safety inspection can be the only thing standing in the way of serious damage to your property or loss of life.

Gas Rules and Maintenance Timings

No matter what type of gas appliances are installed in your home, various rules and regulations are uniformly applied to all the appliances. These regulations are introduced to keep you and your family members safe from accidents.

How often you want to conduct the gas safety inspection is up to you. Some people do it after 2-3 years. We recommend you conduct gas safety inspections annually to keep yourself on the safe side. The best time to get this done is the start of the winter season as gas is used more during winters.

Gas Safety Inspection Process

The length of the gas safety inspection depends on how many gas appliances are in your home. A detailed check will be run on all the appliances that use gas. We have generalized the list of checks so that everyone of you can relate.

·       Comprehensive check on the pressure on which the appliance is working.

·       Check the gas furnace in detail.

·       Inspect the gas pipework and determine the pressure.

·       Check the gas meter readingand if it is fitted properly in your home.

·       Check all the appliances whether they are working properly or not.

·       Check if the carbon monoxide detector is working properly.

·       Make sure that all the harmful gases are properly emitted from your home.

·       Position the gas cylinder and check the gas valves.

Importance of Gas Safety Inspection

1.    Safety

The first thing you should look out for while installing gas appliances in your home is safety. Faulty gas appliances can cause serious damage to your home, property, and human health. Inspection of your gas appliances regularly by a certified engineer will ensure the safety of your home.

2.    Help in Claiming Insurance

The law states that if your appliance is not according to the standard principles, then you cannot claim insurance incase of an accident. So, if you want to claim the insurance, get a gas safety certificate for all of your appliances.

3.    Prevention

You must have heard the phrase, 'prevention is better than cure.' The phrase fits right on the gas appliances. If you check your gas appliances annually, you will be able to diagnose the problem before it causes any serious damage.

On the other hand, if you will neglect the small issues, it can cause serious issues for you in the longer run.

4.    Gas Safety Certificate

The most important point of gas safety inspection is a gas safety certificate. To be eligible for it, contact a registered gas safety engineer. He will check every appliance of your home and issue you a certificate afterwards. This certificate confirms whether the gas appliances in your home are safe to use or not.

Benefits of Gas Safety Inspection

Even though gas issues are rare in number, we still recommend you to check and maintain your gas appliances now and then. The reason is that a small accident triggered by a faulty gas appliance can cause huge damage to your property.

· Ensuring the Efficiency of Appliances

A detailed inspection includes checking all the major and minor parts of your equipment. It includes uncovering clogs, blockages, leaks, and worn parts. Replacing the faulty parts will save you from accidents and increase your appliances' efficiency.

· Free your Home from Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is very dangerous for human health. Many gas appliances that you use release carbon monoxide. To save yourself and your family members from this deadly gas, you should install a carbon monoxide detector.

Signs Indicating the Need for Inspection

You cannot do gas safety inspection yourself, requiring proper training and experience. We previously recommended you do an annual inspection, but immediately contact a gas safety engineer and get your appliances checked in case of a natural disaster.

· Smell of Sulfur

You cannot see or smell gas as it is colorless and odorless. Nowadays, providers add a sulfur smell so that you can notice the leak right away. As soon as you smell the smell of sulfur, open the windows, turn off the gas appliances, and call the concerned person.

· The Issue with the Functioning of Appliances

There are multiple ways to detect the malfunction of your gas appliances. As soon as you detect malfunctioning, report it and get it fixed.

· Compression on Windows

Suppose there are vapors on your window, some dangerous gas leaks from your gas appliances. Open your windows so that the gas can go out.

· Appliances Making Noise

Incase you don't smell or see any gas, leakage can also be detected by the whistling sound made by your gas appliances. As soon as you hear such noise, leave the place as soon as possible. Contact the technician, and ask him to detect the leakage and repair it.

Conclusion – Natural Gas Safety Inspection

The inspection of natural gas in your homes is very important because it helps you to prevent any serious accidents from occurring due to misuse of gas or a loosely fitted gas appliance. Moreover, gas safety inspections don’t only prioritize the safety of your home but also the safety of your family members.