All You Need To Know About Gas Safe

When you hire an engineer to service your home gas appliances, such as your oven or boiler, it is very important to make sure they are Gas Safe Registered. Poorly serviced or incorrectly installed appliances can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, and it is thought that low standards of workmanship account for almost all deaths caused by gas leakage. You can easily check whether your gas engineer is Gas Safe Registered by visiting www.gassaferegister.co.uk or calling 0800 408 5500.

The Gas Safe Register replaced the old CORGI system (Council of Registered Gas Installers) in 2009. It is now the only official register of gas engineers for the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and Guernsey.

The Register works by only accepting engineers who have recognised qualifications and adhere to strict safety standards. All of the work completed by the engineer is then logged for potential customers to check online or by calling the freephone number. The registered engineers also carry an ID card with their name, photograph and details of their qualifications. It is a good idea to check this before allowing an engineer to service your appliances, as an engineer who is qualified to repair a gas oven may not be able to service a boiler, for example.

No matter how plausible an engineer may seem, it is always a good idea to make sure they are registered with Gas Safe. It only takes a couple of minutes to check and it could be a valuable decision. The Gas Safe Register was created not only to promote high standards of safety but also to investigate unlicensed traders who could potentially put your home at risk.

Do You Need A New Boiler?

If your boiler is around ten years old, it could be time to replace it. Older boilers are less efficient, use more fuel and produce less heat than newer, condensing boilers. Despite the initial cost, by buying a new boiler, you could be saving yourself a significant amount on your heating bills. According to Boilers.org.uk, an old boiler costs the average household around £634 a year compared to a new energy-efficient boiler which costs a household only £401. There are also plenty of grants and special offers available if you feel you can’t afford the full cost of a new boiler so it’s worth checking out if you qualify.

All boilers fitted in the UK have to be classed as energy-efficient. This means they provide the maximum amount of power on minimum fuel. By purchasing an energy-efficient boiler, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also helping to save the environment, too.

A combination (or combi) boiler is a popular choice for many households, as they can provide the hot water for your whole house without needing a separate tank. However, if you have a large house and often need to run more than one shower or bath at the same time, a system boiler is a better option. These come with storage cylinders that can hold a large amount of water at any one time. The system boilers have largely replaced the old open vent or heating only boilers as they take up far less space.

Boiler insurance is a good idea, even with the purchase of a new boiler. Central heating repairs can be expensive and, without insurance, you could be left with no hot water or heating until your boiler can be fixed.

The best thing you can do is speak to a trusted, Gas Safe registered London plumber to find out the best type of boiler for your property.

The Benefits of Electric Central Heating

Not all homes have gas and there are many that can’t have gas installed at all. Some new property developments in London for instance can’t have gas as the space that the buildings are in is too enclosed or the flue system is not adequate. So what is the best way to heat a home and have a constant supply of hot water if you can’t have gas central heating fitted?

Powered by Electricity

Electric central heating is the answer. Electric heating runs from the mains electricity with electric radiators that can be controlled individually throughout the house and hot water that is powered from an efficient and economic electric boiler. There are a number of choices of good energy efficient electric boilers available. The Electromax boiler and Thermaflow boiler are compact, quiet boilers with a high efficiency rates of 99% plus. Another good option is a wall mounted electric combination boiler. Qualified electricians here at Bates Plumbing and Heating will advise you on the best electric boiler for your home and will fit it too. All the electricians who work for me wiring and fitting electric boilers are fully NICEIC registered.

Electric central heating is not just for homes without access to gas either. Many people are opting for electric central heating as it’s a safer way of heating your home with no risk from gas leaks or carbon monoxide. You can choose to have either heating, hot water or both. It’s easy to fit and maintain and you can even make use of cheap electricity tariffs.

If you’re thinking of making the switch to electric central heating call Bates today on 020 8924 3558.

Be Gas Safe with a Qualified Heating Engineer

Believe me when I say that you shouldn’t feel like you are the only one confused if you cannot get your head around what you should look for in a gas engineer. The powers that be haven’t exactly made it easy for the general public to know who to trust and what you should be looking for.

From my own personal experience, the name CORGI was widely known – people would know that a reliable gas engineer had to be CORGI registered. But far fewer consumers know that CORGI has been replaced by Gas Safe.

Gas Safe is what you now must look for when hiring a London heating engineer. At Bates, all my team members are Gas Safe registered – meaning they can do all manner of works on your boiler, radiators, pipe work – you name it – legitimately and more importantly, safely and with a guarantee.

It is easy to check what anyone claiming to be a heating engineer can and cannot do. All you need to do is ask to see their Gas Safe card. On the back should be a list of all the work they are qualified to perform. If they are there to fix your boiler but you cannot see boilers listed on their card, turn them away and call someone else. Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of carbon monoxide poisoning and lead to many deaths in the UK each year. Never take the risk and assume that the person working in your home is qualified.

Only ever use a Bates Gas Safe registered engineer for total peace of mind. If you suspect that someone who has worked on your gas appliances was not Gas Safe registered, give Bates a call and we’ll check everything out for you and make sure your home is 100% safe where gas is concerned.

Landlords: Take Advantage of Bates Gas Safe Engineers

As a landlord you’ll always have something to worry about, whether it’s tenants late on the rent, a contract dispute or a property lying empty. With all this to worry about, it must be a nightmare when something such as a boiler breaks down. Not only will you get a tenant complaining to you, but you’ll also have to find a reliable company to fix it. Rather than searching through the Yellow Pages, simply give Bates Heating a call. We can fix boilers, install radiators – anything you need.

Dedicated Landlord Gas Maintenance and Servicing Programme

What’s more, we have a dedicated landlord gas maintenance programme which many property managers across London take advantage of and their tenants have commented on as a reliable and prompt service. Our Gas Safe registered heating and plumbing engineers will give your whole system a once over every year, meaning any problems can be sorted out and anything which may cause you problems in the future will be spotted – and fixed – before they become an issue.

Remember, you're legally required to have all gas appliances in the properties you let checked every 12 months and to hold a Gas Safety Record. If you think you have things to worry about now, it could get ten times worse if you were caught without a Gas Safety Record. You could face a heavy fine or even a prison sentence.

I’m sure that as a landlord you are always looking at ways to reduce the stress and costs involved in managing your properties. When it comes to gas safety, a landlord gas maintenance contract from Bates can make a huge difference.