Don't pay the price for reduced gas safety

All gas carrying appliances, such as boilers, gas cookers and water heaters, need to be serviced annually by a CORGI registered installer to ensure they are working safely and efficiently. Appliances which malfunction are at greater risk of producing carbon monoxide, the odourless, invisible gas known as 'the silent killer'. Carbon monoxide is potentially fatal, and even low levels of the poison can leave you with lasting damage to your health. It kills around 30 people and injures hundreds more each year. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the 'flu', and can include: headaches, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, stomach and chest pains. If you feel ill whilst using an appliance, but feel better once you are in fresh air, you could be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning and should seek medical attention urgently. Nigel Dumbrell, Trust Manager of The CORGI Trust and Chair of the Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA), said: "The temptation may be for consumers to put off having boilers or other appliances serviced because of the increase in other bills but it is a potentially dangerous compromise. CORGI recommends that appliances should be serviced annually and that the work should be carried out by a CORGI registered installer. "Consumers can greater reduce their risk of exposure to carbon monoxide by simple regular maintenance. A serviced appliance will also be more efficient and will ultimately save money in the long run." You can check if a gas installer is registered with CORGI by asking to see their CORGI ID card. This proves they are technically competent and comply with safety standards. The things you need to check on the CORGI ID card are that the name of the person and the business are correct, the card hasn't expired and on the back of the card, that they are registered to do the work you require. It is extremely important to note that CORGI registration doesn't cover all areas of gas work so you need to find the CORGI registered installer that is right for you e.g. qualified in boiler servicing, or gas cooker fitting. A significant amount of work carried out by illegal gas workers has been found to have serious safety defects and with around 55,000 CORGI registered gas installers in the UK, you need never choose an illegal gas worker. An illegal gas worker is 32 times more likely to create a carbon monoxide incident than a CORGI-registered installer. If you would like to find a CORGI registered installer or check an installer's registration you can call CORGI on 0800 915 0485 or visit www.trustcorgi.com There is no substitute for having safe appliances but an audible carbon monoxide alarm should be installed as a secondary line of defence. These can be bought from most good DIY stores and some supermarkets and cost around £20. Do not use the 'black spot' detectors that change colour when carbon monoxide is present.