A surprising new statistic shows that 1 in 5 people would only think about getting their gas appliance looked at by an engineer if it broke down, research from the Gas Safe Register has revealed.
2,000 adults in the UK were surveyed, which is concerning when you consider that the Gas Safe Register labeled almost 1,300 sites as unsafe during the summer of 2017. Last year alone, the fire and rescue services were called out 201 times to incidents relating to gas appliances.
During the summer months, the nation’s biggest concern will be getting too hot (32% of people) which is just over 5 times more than carbon monoxide poisoning (6%). Allergies and hay fever (25%) and sunburn (20%) are also bigger concerns than carbon monoxide poisoning when the weather’s hot.
Speaking about the statistics, the chief executive of the Gas Safe Register, Jonathan Samuel, said: “The sun may be shining but that doesn’t mean that checking your gas appliances can be left until later in the year when you may be cranking up your heating. Our inspections data shows that it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, your gas appliance could still put your health and home at risk if it’s not been safety checked recently.
“It’s important that gas appliances are checked regularly, we recommend on an annual basis so that you can have peace of mind that they are working safely and efficiently whilst making the most of the Great British summer.”
UK Cities Where the Most Unsafe Gas Appliances were Found in Summer 2017
| UK City | Number of Unsafe Gas Appliances Found |
| London | 277 |
| Birmingham | 89 |
| Coventry | 45 |
| Cardiff | 41 |
| Newcastle | 38 |
| Manchester | 34 |
| Sheffield | 34 |
| Norwich | 33 |
| Edinburgh | 26 |
| Nottingham | 24 |
Why Should You Have Your Gas Appliances Serviced Regularly?
If your home is fitted with an unsafe gas appliance then it can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and even carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Gas Safe Register is urging homeowners to ensure that their gas appliances are safety checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer if the last service was over a year ago. When the engineer arrives at your home, remember to always ask to see their Gas Safe card which proves that they’re fully qualified.
When Should You Have Your Gas Appliance Serviced?
You should have your gas appliances serviced every 12 months to ensure that it’s running safely. During the summer, when you’re not relying on them so much, is an ideal time to arrange a service. That way, you know that your heating will be ready when the temperature begins to drop.
