The ongoing cost of living crisis has understandably prevented many people from undertaking essential home maintenance work. To reduce spending, homeowners leave simple safety checks or repair jobs unaddressed. Far from saving households money, avoiding necessary upkeep is estimated to cost the average home £1885 a year, contributing to an overall additional expenditure of £6.8bn across households in the UK. One task that property owners often procrastinate is having their gas boiler safety checked by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. Still, with autumn and winter fast approaching, not having your boiler safety checked could prove more expensive than having it done.[1]
Quick Links
- Why Does Gas Safety Save You Money?
- What Does a Gas Safety Check Cover?
- What is the Difference Between a Gas Safety Check & an Appliance Service?
- How Much is a Gas Safety Check?
- When Do I Need to Get a Gas Safety Check?
- Which Gas Appliances Need to be Checked?
- Who Can Perform Gas Safety Checks?
- Where Can I Find a Gas Safe Registered Engineer?
- Further Information
Why Does Gas Safety Save You Money?
Research by the Gas Safe Register found that, due to the cost-of-living crisis, one in four households is avoiding spending money on fixing, servicing, and safety checking their gas appliances, including boilers. This could be costly in more ways than one. Not only will it drive up your energy bills, but it also increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, and explosions.[2]
Maintaining an efficient boiler through regular safety checking and servicing will ensure it operates effectively: heating your house more quickly and keeping it warmer for longer. Thereby, decreasing your heating demand. For example, you may be able to shorten the time your heating is switched on, or, turn down your boiler's thermostat. Either way, you will save energy and, subsequently, money. The savings reaped through reduced energy bills will more than cover the price of having your boiler safety checked and serviced by an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
For More Gas Safety Advice, Read Our Blog on UK Gas Safety Pointers
TV financial expert Emmanual Asuquo attests to the economic benefits of servicing and safety checking your gas boiler. He told Coventry Live:
“[…] avoiding tackling regular home maintenance jobs really can turn out to be a false economy, costing homeowners so much more in the long run.
One thing we tackled at our house when we moved in two years ago [2021], was getting our gas boiler safety and serviced checked straight away. Once we had a Gas Safe Registered engineer carry out the necessary checks, the results were instant – our house now heats up much quicker and stays warmer for longer, so we don’t need the heating on all the time. The engineer advised us to turn down our boiler thermostat, and it meant that our gas and electricity bill went down by 20 per cent!”[3]
- Emmanual Asuquo, TV Financial Expert
More importantly, regular servicing and safety checking of your boiler will protect your family, friends, and neighbours from dangerous fires, explosions, and CO poisoning. As Rob Denman, Head of Professional and Field Services at Gas Safe Register, points out:
“A regularly serviced boiler not only keeps it working efficiently, helping reduce bills, but can also reduce the risk of gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning – keeping you and your loved ones safe.”[4]
- Rob Denman, Head of Professional and Field Services at Gas Safe Register
What Does a Gas Safety Check Cover?
A standard gas safety check, performed by an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer, involves checking that your gas appliances are:
- Properly set and adjusted to burn gas correctly
- Suitable for the room they are in
- Physically stable
- Securely fitted
- Correctly connected to gas pipework
- Surrounded by adequate ventilation and a permanent air supply
- Supported by functioning safety devices
- Operating correctly with clear, functional flues, chimneys, and air vents
Moreover, a full gas installation safety check includes the above and your engineer will also:
- Test the gas pipework to make sure there are no leaks
- Visually inspect the pipework as far as reasonably practical[5]
What is the Difference Between a Gas Safety Check & an Appliance Service?
An appliance service is particular to the make, model, and type (e.g. boiler or cooker) of your appliance. A service includes all the regular steps of a routine safety check but your Gas Safe registered engineer will also conduct additional tests as specified by the manufacturer of your gas appliance. These tests could include:
- Analysis of the combustion exhaust gas
- Checking for signs of heat or distress
- Evaluating the effectiveness of seals and gaskets
- Inspecting the cleanliness of heat exchangers[6]
How Much is a Gas Safety Check?
Factors such as area, how many gas appliances you need to have checked, and the rate of your chosen Gas Safe registered engineer will affect the overall cost of your gas safety check. Typically, the average cost of a gas safety check is in the region of £80 to £100.[7]
Please bear in mind that some energy suppliers may offer free gas safety checks to those with a lower income. Get in touch with your energy supplier to see what they offer and whether you are eligible.[8]
When Do I Need to Get a Gas Safety Check?
Gas Safety certificates expire after a year. Therefore, it is recommended that you safety check your appliances every ten to twelve months. Landlords are legally required to safety check their properties every year. This is not an obligation for private homeowners, however, it is highly recommended that they check their appliances every twelve months.[9] Similarly, tenants should get their personal gas appliances (i.e., those not provided by their landlord) checked every year. You can register for an annual reminder at StayGasSafe.co.uk.
Sign Up for a Yearly Gas Safety Check Reminder
Which Gas Appliances Need to be Checked?
Gas Safe registered engineers will inspect all your gas appliances (provided they are qualified to work on your gas- and appliance-type), including:
- Boilers
- Cookers
- Portable fires
- Permanent fires
- Gas pipework and fittings
- Chimneys
- Flues[10]
Who Can Perform Gas Safety Checks?
Only Gas Safe registered engineers can perform gas safety checks and gas appliance services. You must always ask to see your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card to check that:
- They are Gas Safe registered.
- They are qualified to work on your gas- and appliance-type. You can find this information on the back of your engineer's Gas Safe ID card and on the Gas Safe Register’s website.
Check Your Engineer’s Qualifications & Gas Safe ID
Where Can I Find a Gas Safe Registered Engineer?
You can find a Gas Safe registered engineer qualified to work on your gas supply and appliances at GasSafeRegiser.co.uk. Alternatively, please call the Gas Safe Register’s free helpline on 0800 408 5500.
Find a Gas Safe Registered Engineer
Further Information
For more gas safety advice or to find and check a gas engineer, please visit the Gas Safe Register or call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.
Additional gas safety information for specific sectors and situations is detailed in the following blogs.
Why is Gas Safety Important & What is the UK’s Gas Safety Advice?
Why Gas Detection is Crucial in Farming & Agriculture
Gas Safe registered engineers may also be interested to know that we offer an array of CO detectors, flue gas analysers, and flue gas analyser kits.
Browse Our Extensive Range of Gas Analysers, Detectors, & HVAC Equipment
For more information regarding any of our products, please don’t hesitate to contact our Sales team on 01642 931 329 or via our online form.
[1] Neil Shaw, ‘Avoiding basic home maintenance could cost you almost £2000’, Coventry Live, last accessed 12 September 2023.
[2] Neil Shaw, ‘Avoiding basic home maintenance could cost you almost £2000’.
[3] Neil Shaw, ‘Avoiding basic home maintenance could cost you almost £2000’.
[4] Neil Shaw, ‘Avoiding basic home maintenance could cost you almost £2000’.
[5] Gas Safe Register, Check Your Gas Appliances, last accessed 12 September 2023.
[6] Gas Safe Register, Check Your Gas Appliances.
[7] Sources:
- Checkatrade, Gas safety certificate cost guide, last accessed 12 September 2023.
- Sajni Shah, ‘Guide to gas safety certificates’, Compare The Market’, last accessed 12 September 2023.
- Neil Shaw, ‘Avoiding basic home maintenance could cost you almost £2000’.
[8] Gas Safe Register, Check Your Gas Appliances.
[9] Sources:
- Checkatrade, Gas safety certificate cost guide.
- Sajni Shah, ‘Guide to gas safety certificates’.
[10] Checkatrade, Gas safety certificate cost guide.
