Frequently asked questions about gas safety
- What’s the Gas Safe Register?
The Gas
Safe Register is the official body for gas safety in United
Kingdom, Isle of Man and Guernsey. The Gas Safe Register is the
only official list of gas engineers legally able to perform gas
work on boilers, hobs, ovens, fires and all other gas appliances.
Anyone carrying out gas work must have a Gas Safe Register ID card.
If not, they are breaking the law and putting you and your family
at risk.
- What’s Carbon Monoxide?
Click here for
more information on Carbon Monoxide.
- What happens if my gas heating/hot water breaks
down?
If you’re heating and/or hot water breaks down, please contact the
Gas Safety Team on 01225 366111 or email us at gas@somer.org.uk
We will send a Gas Safe registered engineer to your home at a time
convenient with you.
- What happens if the appliances in my home are faulty
but I still use them?
It is illegal to use, or for the Trust to allow you to use, a gas
appliance which is known to be unsafe.
- What if my home is heated by solid fuel?
Carbon monoxide fumes from solid fuel burning can kill. Due to the
potential risk to tenants, the Trust as a responsible landlord,
will carry out annual safety checks and service all appliances
served by solid fuel.
In addition, battery operated carbon monoxide detectors will be
fitted to all properties served by solid fuel. Batteries will be
checked for operation at each safety check and replaced if
necessary.
Chimneys will be swept on an annual basis for all properties that
use solid fuel.
- What if I want to make a comment or complaint about the
gas safety check?
After the gas safety check has been completed, the engineer will
leave you with a customer satisfaction survey. We want to hear your
views and experiences of the service so we can improve the areas
that matter to you. We will provide a pre-paid envelope for you to
return the survey to us.
If you would like to make a complaint, please click on the link
below for more information:
» How to make a comment or complaint.
- What if I want to replace a gas
appliance?
If you want to replace or install a gas
appliance you must ask the Trust for permission in advance of the
works being carried out.
You must get a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out the work.
You can find a Gas Safe registered engineer from the Gas Safe Register
website.
Once the work has been completed, you must send the Trust a
certificate from the engineer who completed the work.
At the time of the next gas safety check, providing you have met
the conditions outlined above, the Trust will include this
appliance in the safety check free of charge.
If the appliance is found to be unsafe, our engineer will turn the
appliance off and you will need to arrange to get it repaired by a
Gas Safe registered engineer at your own cost.
- Sleeping in rooms with gas appliances
Rooms where gas appliances are installed should not be used to
sleep in. Use designated bedrooms only. Where, through ill health
or for any other reason, the gas appliance room must be used to
sleep in, please contact the Gas Safety Team for further
advice.
- What if I am a Leaseholder or Shared
Owner?
If you are a leaseholder or have shared ownership of your home and
your home is served by gas, you need to:
- maintain the appliance(s), system, associated pipe work and
fittings and arrange for these to be serviced at least annually by
a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- provide the Trust with documentary evidence of this on an
annual basis.
The Trust will write to you requesting this information.
If you are a leaseholder or shared owner and would like the Trust
to carry out the safety check and service, this can be arranged.
Please contact the Gas Safety Team or Home Ownership Team for more
information.