Why is a gas safety check important?

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Allserve Heating & Plumbing

Every landlord has to provide a Gas safety certificate to their tenants by law annually. At Allserve Heating & Plumbing, we perform these gas safety checks for hundreds of landlords and letting agents every year. Gas safety Inspections are essential to make sure that all gas appliances within a property are safe and conform to national safety standards. If a landlord does not comply with this requirement, and a fault leads to death from carbon monoxide poisoning through a faulty appliance, the landlord can be charged with manslaughter. Failure to produce a safety certificate (CP 12) can result in prosecution, a fine, invalidation of property insurance and even in extreme cases, loss of life.

A landlord’s gas safety certificate must be given to a tenant within 28 days of issue, and the tenant should keep their copy for two years from the date of testing.

Gas safety inspections consist of the checking of the following appliances:

Gas fired boilers
Central heating systems
Gas fires
Cookers
Ovens

Our engineers are Gas Safe registered and fully qualified in working on gas appliances

Allserve engineers will attend your property and fully test of the appliances using the latest technology. Our instruments can detect even minor fluctuations in carbon monoxide levels so that you can be sure your property is safe.

As part of your gas safety check, our engineers will test the following:

Check for gas leaks on your central heating system
Perform a ‘tightness test’ on your gas meter to make sure there are no leaks
Check Co2 (carbon monoxide) levels on your boiler flue
Check that your flue location is correct and conforms to British Standards
Check your gas hob location and clearances conform to British Standards
Make sure your gas hob and/or oven is functioning correctly
Check your gas fire to make sure it is lighting properly and that there are no leaks
Check your chimney with a ‘smoke test’ to make sure there is adequate ventilation for your gas fire
Check to make sure the space around your boiler is properly ventilated
Check the working pressures on your system

Upon successful completion of the gas safety check, you will be provided with a complete and professional certificate containing the property address, engineer’s name, gas safe number and details of the inspection. This will be sent to you via email or in the post immediately providing that there are no issues that need to be remedied. If there are any problems, we will endeavour to correct these immediately, either whilst on site or by arrangement.

email us at info@ahpltd.com or call us on 01923 254173 to arrange a gas safety check or to arrange remedial works on a failed gas appliance.

Should I use drain cleaner in my blocked sink?

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Allserve Heating & Plumbing

If you have a blocked sink or toilet, it is always tempting to go to your local shop, pick out the most powerful drain cleaner you can find, and throw it down the affected plug hole.

This is extremely risky and can be dangerous. Firstly, powerful drain cleaners are made of sulphuric acid and can actually destroy the drain itself. We often find waste systems warped and with holes because the customer decided to use an acid based drain cleaner.

Secondly, the fumes given off by these drain cleaners are extremely powerful and harmful. Chemicals like sulphuric acid react with other chemical such as bleach and bathroom cleaner. Mixing them can create a chemical reaction that can kill. If you have a blocked sink, you should immediately call a plumber who will be able to explore the problem and safely remedy the situation. Do not take unnecessary risks. Contact us today to fix the problem safely and quickly.

How do I know if I have a carbon monoxide leak?

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Allserve Heating & Plumbing

Do I have a carbon monoxide leak?

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. It has no taste or smell and is invisible, which makes it incredibly difficult to detect by your natural senses alone.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are a little like flu. This makes most people suffering with carbon monoxide poisoning think they have just caught a bug and they often don’t seek help.

Carbon monoxide is everywhere. It is expelled from you car exhaust, your boiler, your refrigerator and your gas fire just for starters. These fumes are usually harmlessly expelled by adequate ventilation, and dispersal systems such as chimneys and the flue on your boiler. However, when these malfunction fumes can escape into your home and have potentially fatal results.

The symptoms

If you start to experience flu-like symptoms that come and go or worsen at different times of the day, call us on 01923 254173 to come and inspect your home immediately. We would also recommend installing a CO detector in your home as a matter of course.