Gas appliances help keep our homes warm, comfortable and running smoothly. However, boilers, cookers and gas fires must be installed and maintained correctly to operate safely.
Taking place from 14–20 September, Gas Safety Week 2026 was an important reminder to check the gas appliances in your home and address small concerns before they become serious problems.
Unsafe or poorly maintained appliances can increase the risk of gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. The good news is that a few straightforward precautions can help protect your household throughout Gas Safety Week and all year round.
1. Arrange an Annual Gas Appliance Service
One of the most important gas safety tips for homeowners is to have gas appliances serviced regularly by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
An annual service can identify wear, damage or unsafe operation that may not be obvious during everyday use. It may also help your boiler run more reliably and reduce the likelihood of an inconvenient breakdown when colder weather arrives.
Your boiler is not the only appliance that needs attention. Gas fires, cookers and other gas appliances should be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you cannot remember when an appliance was last serviced, Gas Safety Week is an ideal time to arrange an appointment.
2. Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer
Gas work is not a DIY job. By law, anyone carrying out gas work in the UK must be on the Gas Safe Register and qualified for the particular type of work involved.
Before allowing an engineer to begin, ask to see their Gas Safe ID card. Check:
- The photograph and identity details on the front
- The card’s expiry date
- The types of gas work they are qualified to perform, shown on the back
Registration alone does not mean an engineer is qualified for every appliance, so it is worth checking the relevant categories.
CORGI Trade helps homeowners connect with certified, insured professionals in their area, making it easier to find trusted help for servicing, repairs and installations.
3. Learn the warning signs of an unsafe gas appliance
A gas appliance can appear to be working while still developing a fault. Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer if you notice:
- A floppy yellow or orange flame instead of a crisp blue one, except on appliances designed to produce a decorative yellow flame
- Black marks, soot or staining around an appliance
- Unusual amounts of condensation on nearby windows
- A boiler pilot light that repeatedly goes out
- Unfamiliar noises or smells
- An appliance that frequently loses pressure or stops working
- Heat damage or discolouration around the appliance
Do not attempt to inspect or repair the appliance yourself. Switch it off if it is safe to do so and seek professional advice.
4. Install and test carbon monoxide alarms
Carbon monoxide, often shortened to CO, is a poisonous gas produced when fuels do not burn correctly. It cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, which is why an audible carbon monoxide alarm provides such an important extra layer of protection.
Choose an alarm that meets the applicable British Standard, such as BS EN 50291, and install it in the correct position. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully or ask a qualified professional for advice.
Test each alarm regularly and check its replacement date. Carbon monoxide alarms do not last indefinitely, even if the test button still works.
Remember that an alarm is an additional safeguard. It does not replace professional installation, regular servicing or annual appliance checks.
5. Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can resemble flu, food poisoning or tiredness. They can include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Breathlessness
- Weakness or confusion
- Collapse or loss of consciousness
A possible warning sign is that symptoms improve when you leave the property and return when you go back inside. Other household members—or even pets—may experience similar symptoms at the same time.
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get into fresh air immediately, leave the property and seek medical help. Do not re-enter the building until you have been told it is safe.
For more information about the effects or symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning, visit the CO Research Trust’s website:
6. Keep vents and flues clear
Ventilation helps some gas appliances burn safely. Never cover, block or seal a vent, even if you notice a draught.
Outside the home, visually check that flues and air bricks have not been obstructed by plants, stored items, building work or debris. Do not climb or dismantle anything to inspect them.
Be particularly careful during home improvements. New cupboards, extensions, insulation and decorative work can accidentally interfere with ventilation or conceal gas pipework. Speak to a qualified professional before making changes around an appliance, vent or flue.
7. Never use a gas appliance for the wrong purpose
Only use appliances as their manufacturers intended. Never use a gas cooker or hob to heat a room, and do not use an outdoor barbecue, patio heater or camping stove inside your home, garage, shed, tent or caravan unless the appliance is specifically designed and approved for that environment.
Burning fuel in an enclosed or poorly ventilated space can cause carbon monoxide to accumulate quickly.
8. Know what to do if you smell gas
If you smell gas or suspect a leak:
- Open doors and windows to ventilate the property.
- Turn off the gas supply at the meter if you know how and can do so safely.
- Extinguish naked flames.
- Do not smoke, strike matches or use anything that could create a spark.
- Do not operate electrical switches, plugs or doorbells.
- Leave the property and call the gas emergency service from a safe location.
In Great Britain, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Different emergency numbers apply in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. LPG users should contact their supplier.
If anyone is unwell or there is an immediate danger to life, call 999.
9. Keep servicing and installation records
Keep copies of service reports, receipts, warranties and any Building Regulations Compliance Certificate supplied after a relevant installation.
These documents can help you:
- Track when the next service is due
- Maintain a manufacturer’s warranty
- Provide useful information to an engineer
- Demonstrate that work was completed correctly
- Answer questions when selling your home
Set a calendar reminder a few weeks before the next service is due so you have time to secure a convenient appointment.
10. Check on relatives and vulnerable neighbours
Gas Safety Week is also an opportunity to support somebody who may find it difficult to arrange their own maintenance.
Ask older relatives, adult children who have recently moved out and vulnerable neighbours whether they have:
- Had their gas appliances checked recently
- Tested their carbon monoxide alarms
- Kept vents clear
- Saved the emergency gas number
- Booked repairs for any known faults
A quick conversation could help identify a risk that might otherwise be overlooked.
Make gas safety part of your annual home-maintenance routine
Gas safety should not be limited to one week in September. Regular servicing, working carbon monoxide alarms and prompt attention to warning signs can help keep your home safer throughout the year.
If your boiler needs servicing, an appliance is behaving unusually or you are planning new gas work, choose a properly qualified professional.
Need trusted help with your home? Submit a job request through CORGI Trade and we’ll help connect you with a certified, insured professional near you.
Frequently asked questions
How often should homeowners have gas appliances serviced?
Gas appliances should generally be serviced annually by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer, or at the intervals stated by the manufacturer.
Is an annual boiler service a legal requirement for homeowners?
Owner-occupiers are not generally subject to the same annual gas-safety-check duty as landlords. However, annual servicing is strongly recommended for safety and may be required to maintain the boiler’s warranty.
Can I service or repair my own gas boiler?
No. Gas work must be completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is qualified for that particular appliance and type of work.
How can I check whether an engineer is Gas Safe registered?
Ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card and check both sides. You can also verify an engineer through the official Gas Safe Register.
What colour should a gas flame be?
Most correctly operating gas appliances produce a crisp blue flame. A floppy yellow or orange flame may indicate incomplete combustion, although some decorative gas fires are specifically designed to display yellow flames. If you are uncertain, stop using the appliance and consult a qualified engineer.
What is Gas Safety Week?
Gas Safety Week is an annual awareness campaign coordinated by Gas Safe Register. It brings organisations across the UK together to share practical advice about preventing unsafe gas work, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Where can I find a trusted installer?
Here at CORGI Trade, we have a network of CORGI Trade Approved installers to support with gas work. If you need a professional, just click the link below to tell us more about the work you need. We’ll find you a CORGI Trade Approved installer in your area in just 24 hours.