Ensure gas appliances are safe and kept serviced too

Wishaw residents are being warned to make sure their gas appliances are safe and properly serviced.

North Lanarkshire Council is supporting Gas Safety Week 2017 which is taking place this week.

Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Every year thousands of people across the UK are diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning.

You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, but it can kill quickly with no warning.

Follow these few simple checks to keep you and your family safe:

Check your Landlord’s Gas Safety Record. By law, your landlord must keep gas appliances supplied for you to use in good condition. They should arrange a gas safety check every 12 months and give you a record of the check.

Check any gas appliances you own every year. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered. Check for warning signs your appliances aren’t working correctly e.g. lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.

Know the six signs of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.

Have an audible carbon monoxide alarm. This will alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home.

For gas safety advice or to find and check an engineer visit the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk.

Alternatively, call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.