Last Updated on February 15, 2023 by Tabraiz

As time passes, a lot of people start to get sick of the same dull design of their homes and want to add some new improvements to their homes to make them seem more lively and less depressing. Some people also get home improvements simply because they want to keep up with the trends and some people try to make their houses look more attractive before selling them.

When it comes to carrying out home improvements, we tend to overlook some important things, such as gas safety measures and how home improvements can sometimes negatively affect your home’s gas appliances.

In this guide, you will learn how to prioritize gas safety during home improvements with the help of these 10 tips:

Have a Gas Safety Inspection in Your Home

Whether you want to sell your property or just add improvements to it, the most important thing you need to do first is to have a thorough gas safety check of your property by a gas safe engineer. It’s also important that these gas-safety checks are conducted every 12 months.

The whole purpose of having a gas safety check is to ensure that all of the gas appliances in the house, such as boilers, stoves, gas cylinders, etc., are functioning properly and that if they have any issues, they can be immediately fixed by the gas safe engineer.

Acquire a Gas Certificate

A gas safety certificate, also known as CP12, is a document that confirms or states that the gas appliances in your home are safe to use. You’re only handed this certificate after a gas-safe engineer has thoroughly checked all gas appliances and repaired some of them.

This certificate needs to be updated every 12 months after a gas safety check, and they’re a legal requirement for those of you who are landlords. The cost of these certificates depends on the country and city you live in. For example, the gas safety certificates in Leicester, a city in the UK, cost about £45.

Check Gas-Safe Engineer’s ID

Many Gas Safe engineers carry their gas safe ID cards with them; this is because those cards carry information about the engineer, such as their qualification, who they are, their license number, and the business they work for. 

When you call a gas safe engineer for a gas safety check in your home or property, it’s important that you check their ID cards before letting them in. By doing this, you can make sure whether the gas safe engineer is registered and qualified for the job and not lying about who they are.

There have been many instances where homeowners and landlords have been scammed by people who pretended to be gas-safe engineers but only do more damage to their property than repairing anything.

Get Boiler Serviced

Although it’s not common, there have been incidents where boilers start to release carbon monoxide due to poor service or not being serviced at all, which is extremely dangerous for the residents of the home.

That’s why you must try to get the boiler of your home serviced once every year in order to avoid any mishaps for the sake of your family’s safety and for the family to who you’ve sold the house.

Another benefit is that when you get your boiler serviced, you’re able to catch any issues that your boiler has quickly before they could get worse and also ensure that your boiler is functioning properly.

It’s also been recommended that you get your boiler serviced during summer, as it will help your boiler avoid developing any issues in the winter when it’s turned on.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Alarm

We all have many gas appliances in our homes that we use on a daily basis. Sometimes these gas appliances might not have been fitted properly or may start leaking from somewhere.

Most times, people don’t even know that there is a gas leak which is why it’s important to have a smoke alarm or a carbon monoxide alarm installed in your home, as they can alert you immediately when they detect a gas leak.

Install Fire Extinguishers in Your Home

Another very important gas safety measure that you need to install in your home or property before selling it is a fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers can help stop fires and prevent them from spreading.

Test Gas Pipes for Gas Leaks

Gas leaks are quite common in gas pipes and are also one of the main reasons for fire breakouts. This is why it’s important to test your gas pipes for leaks during home improvements. However, you can do this by yourself; this is a task that must be carried out by a trained professional.

Note Location of Gas Valve

In case of an emergency, you should know where your gas valve is located so that you can shut it off. It’s also your responsibility as a landlord to tell the new residents the whereabouts of the gas valve in the house after they move in so that they know what to do if any issue arises.

Keep Your Chimneys Clean

When you use the fireplace in your home frequently, soot and debris build up in the chimney. If the chimney is not cleaned up for a good amount of time, then a chemical substance called creosote is produced in the flue. This substance is highly flammable and can cause a dangerous chimney fire.

Know the Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is an odorless toxic chemical that is extremely dangerous for humans if breathed in. If there is a carbon monoxide leakage in your home, then you must know the basic signs of it, such as nausea, loss of breath, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a landlord trying to sell your property or just a resident who wants to change the look of their home, you can follow these 10 tips to ensure the safety of not only your home but also your loved ones.

Apart from this, if you are interested to know more about Six Home Improvement Tips to Make Your Home Safer then visit our Home improvement category.