Gas FAQs: Appliance and Installation Safety
[ Last Updated 3 July 2007 ]
Appliance Safety
Q. Why is Ventilation Important?
A. Gas appliances need a supply of fresh air for safe and efficient operation, and must be used in well-ventilated areas with adequate fresh air.
If ventilation is restricted, or if a gas appliance is faulty or has not been adequately maintained, it can produce carbon monoxide, which can cause headaches and nausea, possibly leading to unconsciousness, or even death. It is even more important to use unflued gas appliances in well-ventilated areas with plenty of fresh air, as unflued gas appliances draw the air from the surrounding space and expel their waste combustion products directly into the same space.
Q. What is Carbon Monoxide, and Why is it Dangerous?
A. Carbon Monoxide is a molecule that consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom (its chemical formula is CO). If an appliance is unable to burn its fuel efficiently because of a fault or inadequate ventilation, it may produce carbon monoxide which is a highly poisonous gas. While it is odourless, it is accompanied by other emissions that may produce a "car exhaust" smell. The oxygen carrying component of blood has a much greater preference to take up carbon monoxide than oxygen.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can produce the following symptoms:
- headaches
- nausea
- flushed (red) skin
- dizziness
- a false sense of well-being
- tiredness or a desire to sleep
- vomiting
Prolonged exposure or high levels of carbon monoxide can lead to collapse, unconsciousness, or even death. If you suspect that you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide, move into clean air, seek immediate medical attention, and ventilate the room if it can be done safely.
Q. Who is Responsible for the Maintenance of a Domestic Gas Appliance or Installation?
A. Homeowners - including landlords and tenants - are responsible for ensuring the safe operation and maintenance of their gas appliances and installations. Operators and users of equipment have similar obligations.
Q. What Maintenance Does a Gas Appliance Require to Keep it Safe?
A. Clean the dust around the burner inlet and underside of the appliance and organise a check by a gasfitter every one to three years, according to the manufacturer's or supplier's instructions. It is strongly recommended that flame-effect fires and cabinet heaters are serviced annually.
Q. How Can I Detect a Poorly Operating or Unsafe Gas Appliance?
A. Signs that an appliance is not working correctly, or that the flue is blocked, include:
- a yellow flame, rather than a blue flame
(Note: some "flame effect" heaters, however, are designed to burn safely with a yellow flame, with minimum Carbon Monoxide emissions)
- soot deposits in and around the appliance
- an unpleasant, distinctive smell, similar to that of a car exhaust
Symptoms like dizziness and headaches should always be taken seriously while a gas appliance is in operation. A competent person must fix the problem. Contact an appliance service agent or a craftsman gasfitter.
Q. Are There Places Where I Must Not Use a Gas Appliance?
A. Don't use unflued gas appliances, such as cabinet heaters or instantaneous water heaters, in small rooms or confined spaces such as bedrooms or bathrooms. In small rooms, like bedrooms and bathrooms, only room-sealed and balanced flue type appliances may be used, in certain circumstances. Ask a licensed gas worker for advice.
Installation Safety
Q. What Work Am I Allowed to Do, as an Unlicensed Person?
A. Home owners can do gasfitting work only if working under the immediate supervision of a craftsman gasfitter and the work is certified by the same gasfitter.
Q. How Often Do I Need to Get My Gas Installations Checked to Ensure they Stay Safe?
A. Gas installations are generally safe for a long time. However, depending on the condition and complexity of the installation, the installation and appliances should be checked every 1 to 3 years by a craftsman gasfitter. If you smell gas, suffer from headaches or feel unwell, you should arrange for your gas installation to be checked immediately.
Q. What Should I Do If I Can Smell Gas Inside My House?
A. Don't operate any electrical equipment, including turning switches off or on, or do anything that could create a spark (or other source of ignition). Get out of the house immediately, and turn off the gas at the meter. Wait for a while until you are confident that the leaked gas has dispersed. You can then return and open the windows to ventilate the premises. Check for any obvious source of the leakage and shut any gas valve that may have been left open. Call a craftsman gasfitter for testing and re-commissioning of your installation.
Q. How Do I Turn Off My Gas Supply, and How Do I Have it Turned Back On?
A. The emergency cut-off valve is generally located adjacent to your gas meter or gas cylinder and, if the handle is not there, you can use an adjustable spanner to shut the valve off. You should call the gas company or a craftsman gasfitter to turn the gas on, so that installation safety is assured and commissioning procedures are properly followed.
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