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Qualified gas engineers should always install and maintain appliances - including gas boilers, ovens and freestanding cookers.
Any work involving gas requires a fully qualified Gas Safe-registered gas fitter. Every trader on the Gas Safe Register carries an identity card. The work their gas engineers carry out can involve installing a gas cooker or fire, through to installing gas pipe work for a new boiler and annual maintenance inspections to ensure gas appliances operate safely.
A gas engineer has to have the necessary knowledge to install pipe work from the gas meter to, for example, a gas boiler located in the kitchen. This can include lifting up floorboards, drilling through walls and installing ventilation ducts through the exterior wall to provide ventilation for a gas appliance.
A Gas Safe-registered gas engineer may also be a competent electrician and registered with the Corgi building regulations electrical competent persons scheme. This enables him or her to install the necessary wiring and controls so heating installations meet building regulations requirements.
Anyone proposing to carry out work on a gas appliance is required by law to be on the Gas Safe Register. You can check an engineer or firm's registration on the Gas Safe Register website or by calling directly on 0800 408 5500.
Which? tests gas appliances
You should also keep gas appliances regularly serviced and safety-checked. Take a look at our review of boiler servicing companies, get our verdict on boiler servicing contracts and consult our free advice guide and video on getting a good boiler service.
We've gathered expert estimate on how long some common gas jobs should take in the Which? guide to tradespeople costs.
Gas fitter qualifications
To be qualified as a gas engineer, a trader needs to have studied and passed the N/SVQ 6012 and have passed the relevant units of the Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) for individual gas fitting operatives. Their ACS qualification has to be retaken every five years.
It is crucial that you ask to see their Gas Safe Register ID card. Some unscrupulous people claim to be a member when they are not, or their ACS qualification has lapsed.
Do not accept any excuses. Check that the date on the front of their card is valid (currently the registration period is annual) and that the rear of their card stipulates they are entitled to carry out the gas work you want them to undertake. A date next to a work category indicates that the cardholder can no longer work on that particular appliance after the date stated.
If you feel uncomfortable asking for these details, then contact the Gas Safe Register – you can verify whether someone is a registered member on its website.
If you smell gas
- Call the National Grid emergency line on 0800 111 999 (0800 002 001 in Northern Ireland). The service is free, 24 hours a day.
- If you are calling from a mobile phone, go outside or call from a neighbour’s property.
- Do NOT smoke.
- Do NOT turn light switches on or off.
- Do NOT do anything to create a spark.
- Turn off the supply at the meter (as long as you do not have to switch on a light to find it) and open doors and windows.
- Wait outside for the emergency services or tradespeople to arrive.
