Fire Safety
Home Heating
It's cold up here for more than half the year! Read the advice below and make sure your home stays cosy and fire safe.
- Gas Safety
- Gas Fires
- Gas and Oil-fired Central Heating Systems & Water Heaters
- Storage Heaters
- Portable Heaters
- Open Fires & Stoves
- Further Information
Gas Safety
Gas is a clean and convenient way to heat our homes but make sure you, your family and your home stay safe while using it.
- have all your gas appliances - including portable gas heaters - checked by a registered CORGI plumber once a year
- keep the area around the gas meter and stop valve clear and make sure you can reach it easy in an emergency
Gas appliances can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning - it's a good idea to buy a carbon monoxide detector.
IF YOU SMELL GAS:
- turn off the gas supply at the meter if you can
- don't smoke or switch any lights or electrics on or off
- get out immediately, leaving doors and windows open if possible
- call the National Grid gas emergency helpline on 0800 111 999 (use a mobile, a neighbour's phone or a call box - don't go back inside)
Gas Fires
Gas fires are convenient and easy to use. Like any other item with a naked flame, they need to be treated with respect:
- always have them installed by a qualified CORGI gas plumber
- never leave a lit gas fire unattended
- keep furniture at least 1metre back (3 feet)
- don't dry clothes near a gas fire
- don't put mirrors over the fire - they encourage people to stand too close and their clothes could catch fire
- if you have children, put a guard around the fire while it's lit
- don't let children play with gas fires
- if you need to light it manually, get a flameless 'spark' lighter
- if there are any black or brown marks around the fire, DO NOT USE - have it checked by a qualified gas plumber
Gas and Oil-fired Central Heating Systems and Water Heaters
Modern gas and oil-fired central heating systems are clean, compact and efficient ways to heat our homes.
- have them checked at least once a year by a qualified engineer
- keep areas around fuel and gas stop valves clear
- keep the area around boilers and water heaters clear
- don't store things on top of boilers or water heaters
- any discoloration around boilers or water heaters could mean they're leaking poisonous carbon monoxide gas - have them checked by a qualified engineer
- keep the area around outdoor storage tanks clear of flammable materials
- don't light barbecues or fires near outdoor storage tanks
Storage Heaters
Storage heaters are very safe if used properly. Because they take advantage of cheap rate electricity, they save you money too. There are just a few points to remember:
- always have them installed by a qualified electrician
- don't dry clothes on or over a storage heater
- don't put anything on top of storage heaters
- don't let fabrics or furniture touch storage heaters
- if your storage heater isn't working properly, don't try and fix it yourself - get an electrician
Portable Heaters
Portable heaters give us heat when and where we want it. Oil-filled electric radiators are probably the safest to use. Because they're controlled by a thermostat, they can be cheaper to run too.
All portable heaters should be used carefully:
- don't leave a heater unattended while it's switched on
- switch off before you go to bed
- if it's really very cold, use a heater controlled by a thermostat on low power overnight
- don't dry clothes on any portable heater
- don't dry clothes near electric 'bar' type fires or portable gas heaters
- keep furniture and other flammable items well clear - at least 1m (3 feet)
- have gas heaters serviced by a qualified engineer once a year
- don't trail heater flexes where someone could trip over them
- electric heaters need lots of power - plug them straight in to a wall socket, not into an adaptor or power strip, to avoid overloading any wiring
Open Fires and Stoves
Read our section on safe use of open fires and stoves here.
Further Information
For further information and advice on home fire safety, contact your local community fire and rescue service.
You can also download the following information leaflet:
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