Do I need a gas safety check if I own my home?

If you own your home, there's no law that says you must have a gas safety check every year. That rule applies to landlords. But every gas appliance in your home can leak gas or produce carbon monoxide if something goes wrong, so a yearly check by a Gas Safe registered engineer is strongly recommended, especially if you have more than one gas appliance.

This post explains what a gas safety check is, how it differs from a boiler service, what the engineer looks at, and the situations where booking one makes particular sense. You can keep an eye on your appliances day to day, but never try to adjust, repair or take the cover off a gas appliance yourself.

What a gas safety check is

A gas safety check is an inspection of every gas appliance in your home, plus the pipework and the flues and ventilation that go with them. The engineer's job is to confirm that each appliance is burning gas safely, isn't leaking, and is getting rid of its fumes properly.

It usually covers your boiler, but also your gas hob or cooker, any gas fire, and anything else that runs on gas. At the end, you get a written record of what was checked and whether anything needs attention.

How it's different from a boiler service

People often mix the two up, and there is some overlap, but they do different jobs.

• A boiler service focuses on the boiler. The engineer cleans and checks its working parts, tests how well it's burning, and catches wear before it causes a breakdown. It keeps the boiler running efficiently and, for most new boilers, keeps the manufacturer's warranty valid.

• A gas safety check looks at safety across all your gas appliances, not just the boiler. It doesn't clean or maintain the boiler's internal parts in the same way.

If the boiler is your only gas appliance, a yearly boiler service covers much of the same ground. If you also have a gas hob, cooker or fire, a gas safety check makes sure those are safe too. Our post on what a boiler service includes goes into the service side in more detail.

What the engineer checks

On a typical gas safety check, a Gas Safe registered engineer will:

1. Test the pipework for leaks, using a gauge at the gas meter to confirm the system holds pressure.

2. Check each appliance is burning correctly, including the gas pressure or rate it's running at.

3. Make sure fumes are escaping safely, by testing the flue on boilers and fires, so carbon monoxide goes outside rather than into your home.

4. Check ventilation, as some appliances need a supply of fresh air to burn safely.

5. Test the safety devices, the parts that shut the gas off if a flame goes out or something goes wrong.

If an appliance is found to be dangerous, the engineer will explain why. With your permission, they will turn it off and label it so it isn't used until it's repaired.

Signs a gas appliance needs checking now

Don't wait for a yearly check if you notice any of these:

• a lazy yellow or orange flame on a gas hob or fire, instead of a crisp blue one

• black marks or soot around an appliance

• condensation building up on windows in the room with the appliance

• a boiler pilot light that keeps going out

• headaches, dizziness or tiredness that get better when you leave the house

These can be signs of incomplete burning and carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide has no smell, which is why a working carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a gas appliance is so important.

If you smell gas, open doors and windows, don't use light switches or anything that could cause a spark, turn the gas off at the meter if you can safely reach it, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

When a gas safety check is especially worth booking

• You've just moved in. You don't know when the appliances were last checked or who worked on them. A check gives you a clear starting point.

• You're selling. Buyers and their surveyors often ask about the gas appliances, and a recent record helps.

• You have an older gas fire or cooker. These can be overlooked when the boiler gets all the attention.

• Someone vulnerable lives with you. Older relatives and young children are more at risk from carbon monoxide.

• You rent out a room or a property. If you're a landlord, the yearly check is a legal duty, and you must give your tenants a copy of the record.

What landlords need to know

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must have every gas appliance and flue they provide checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants must get a copy of the gas safety record within 28 days of the check, and new tenants before they move in. Landlords also need to keep records for at least two years.

You can have the check done up to two months before the deadline and keep the original renewal date, so there's no need to leave it to the last minute.

Booking a gas safety check

OneHeat Limited carries out gas safety checks for homeowners and landlords, and can issue landlord gas safety certificates. Every check is done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and you get a written record when it's finished. Find out more about our gas safety inspections and book a visit.