Whether you are packing up the car to stay with family over Christmas or you are planning to jet off for some winter sun, there are several precautions you should take to ensure that your home (and those in the vicinity of your property) are safe from gas-related threats while you spend a few days away this winter.
The last thing you want to come back to is frozen pipes or a gas leak, especially if it’s over the festive period when available heating engineers are few and far between.
So, with that in mind, let’s quickly run you through what you need to do before you leave your property for a few days to ensure your gas appliances don’t cause you any unnecessary headaches.
Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector
One of the biggest threats presented by your gas appliances when you leave is a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless, and tasteless gas for those of you unaware.
Without a working carbon monoxide detector, you could be walking into a death trap upon your return. So make sure to test it before you leave, swapping out any old batteries if they need replacing. If you come back and it’s going off, make sure to remain outside and call for help on the National Gas Emergency line. The telephone number is 0800 111 999.
Test Your Smoke Alarms
Fire is also always a risk when you go away for a few days, especially if you accidentally forget to turn a gas appliance off.
Thus, another precaution you need to take involves going around your property testing and checking your smoke alarms to ensure they are both on and functioning correctly. It’s usually as simple as pressing a button and listening for the smoke alarm sound.
By testing your smoke alarm(s), you’ll ensure that your neighbours are protected in case of an emergency. If they hear an alarm, they are more likely to contact you and the relevant authorities to alert them to the issue while ensuring that they don’t incur injuries or damages.
Keep Your Central Heating Active
It can be tempting to leave your heating off, seeing as you won’t be there to benefit from the warmth generated by your boiler, but it’s likely to end in disaster. Winter is always a cold time of year (yes, even with climate change), and turning your central heating off leaves your pipes at risk of freezing over.
Most boilers have an anti-frost setting. However, we recommend having your boiler come on at least once a day since long periods of inactivity can often cause issues within your central heating. That’s why we are most often called out to look at central heating systems during the autumn and winter months – they haven’t been turned on in months!
Consider a Boiler Service Before You Leave
One of the best things you can do before leaving for a winter break with your family is booking in a boiler service. By having an experienced heating engineer look at your boiler before setting off, they can spot any potential issues with your boiler or central heating system.
Boiler servicing is an excellent preventative measure that can prevent you from spending a small fortune on boiler repairs.
Contact Wirral Plumbers Today for Peace of Mind
Whether you’re planning a short stay with relatives over Christmas or you can’t wait to get the warmth of the Mediterranean sun on your skin after a miserable British winter, the last thing you want to come back to is a gas, heating, or boiler-related disaster. But taking the above precautions, you can ensure that your home remains gas safe while you’re away.
If you are interested in booking in a boiler service before you go away this winter, then why not give us a call on 0758 0395 493 or email us at mike@wirralplumbers.com for an obligation-free quote?
