Gas safety in your home is your responsibility. Here are a few things you need to know.
What to do if you smell gas
In the unlikely event you suspect a gas leak or smell gas in or around your home:
- Keep flames and cigarettes away from the area
- Do not operate any electrical switches
- Do not use your mobile phone in the area
- If it can be done safely, turn off valves to gas appliances
- Open doors and windows to ventilate the area
If the smell persists, go outside to a safe place away from the building and call Powerco on 0800 111 848 or a licensed gasfitter.
Leave installation and maintenance to the experts
Correct installation is important to ensure safe use of your natural gas appliances. A certifying gasfitter will install your gas appliances and provide you with a gas installation certificate. This certificate is a legal requirement, as it shows that the appliance or gas installation has been tested and is safe for you to use. It’s recommended you have your gas appliances serviced every couple of years to ensure they’re working efficiently and effectively, with no blockages in the flue.
Choose flued gas heaters
The Gas Hub recommends flued gas heating which will help with a warm, dry and healthy home. If you do use unflued gas appliances, they should be kept at least one metre away from anything that could catch fire, and should only be used in well ventilated areas. Unflued gas appliances will add moisture and dampness to your home. Find out more about better heating with natural gas.
Choose appliances with smart safety features
Particularly if you have a young family, look for gas appliances or add-on accessories with smart safety features:
- Electronic controls that allow you to set and adjust the exact water temperature
- Child locks
- Flame failure devices that will automatically shut gas supply off if the flame goes out
- Double glazing on flame effect fires
- ‘Cool to touch’ external panels on gas heaters
- Bathfill controllers that shut the water off at a programmed level
- Overheat safety devices
- Water pressure relief valve
Hot water safety
Hot water should be no more than 55ºc at the tap. Your gasfitter should pre-set this temperature on your gas hot water appliance so the water will never be dangerously hot. And for another great safety feature, some units have controllers you can use to turn down the temperature as low as 37ºC. That’s the perfect water temperature to bath a child safely.
Keeping safe around your gas meter
There is an exclusion zone required by law around your gas meter box. Within this zone there can be no fixed sources of ignition such as electrical boxes, gas appliances, flues or heat pump units. Also, not allowed are openings into your home such as opening windows or doors including the garage. Contact us to talk about the gas meter exclusion zone - we can send you a location map.