Safety tips from our experts

If the winter temperatures take hold, it’s vital to ensure our homes remain 
safe and warm.

There is nothing more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our customers. So, to help you stay safe this winter, we sat down with our Heating Compliance Manager, Dave Brown, and Electrical Compliance Manager, Alex Atkinson, to gather their expert advice on your heating and electrical appliances. 

Dave’s key heating safety tips for winter 

Please ensure you’re available for your annual boiler service and gas safety checks when you’re offered an appointment, and if not let us know and we’ll work around you. 

We’re now in the time of year where the heating is on more often and it’s important one of our Gas Safe registered engineers can access your home to check on your heating appliances and flues once every 12 months. This ensures that your appliances are working correctly with no leaks or issues, keeping you and your family safe. 

Also, there are some golden rules of heating and gas safety you can follow to help us ensure your 
home is safe. 

• Please never put clothes on or over your heating appliances.
• Don't block or obstruct fixed ventilation grills or air bricks.
• Never paint the boiler or gas fire fronts.

All of these things can cause fires. Another important thing to note is the location of your gas valve, so 
that you can turn it off should you smell gas. 

Alex tells us how you can stay safe with electrical devices

Please make sure we’re able to access your home once every five years to carry out our electrical safety checks, they only take a few hours and give you peace of mind that everything is working as it should for the foreseeable future.

• Test your smoke alarm each month. You can do this by just pushing the button on the alarm.
• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Don't overload extension leads of plug sockets.
• If you're using a portable heater, make sure it's in a clear space and not covered, and it has a kitemark.
• If you use a tumble dryer, regularly cleaning the lint filter, avoiding overloading the dryer and ensuring proper ventilation can significantly reduce the risk of fires.
• Make sure to unplug electrical devices when not in use and don't leave appliances running when nobody is home. This not only keeps you safe but also helps save money.
• Keep candles away from decorations and never leave them unattended.
• Watch out for faulty batteries and chargers, especially those in e-scooters, e-bikes, and other electrical items. Faulty imported lithium-ion batteries and chargers have been identified as the main cause of fires in these devices. 

General winter safety tips

What to do if… 

• You smell gas and think you have a gas leak  

Call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you are deaf or hearing impaired and have a Minicom or Textphone, call 0800 371 787. Once it has been made safe, contact Karbon Homes so we can conduct an assessment, and fix or repair any faults that fall under our responsibility.  

• You think there’s a risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning 

Do the same as if you smell gas and see your doctor immediately or go to hospital. All of our homes (except those that are electrically heated) are installed with Carbon Monoxide detectors. If you think your home doesn’t have one, please contact us.  

• Your gas appliances are not working properly  

Turn them off, then call our usual number 0808 164 0111 to report the problem. 

• Your power goes out 

Head over to northernpowergrid.com/be-prepared to see information for advice and guidance if there’s a power cut in your area.  

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a safe, warm, and worry-free winter. For any concerns, or if you have any questions about gas and electrical safety, please contact us by email at info@karbonhomes.co.uk or by calling 0808 164 0111.