Smell gas? – Call a South London gas engineer

Having gas installed for your heating or cooking at home, is very safe these days. However, from time to time, you do hear the odd nightmare story of gas explosions which demolish properties and are sometimes fatal. So, if you live in South London and you smell gas, what should you do? The answer is of course to call a South London gas engineer.

Gas has an additive to make it smell

Gas in itself is completely odourless. Because of this it can be inherently dangerous (if gas pipes of gas appliances were to develop a leak) so a harmless chemical called mercaptan is added, to give the gas a specific odour. The amount of mercaptan added to gas in proportion, is less than 1%. It gives the gas a smell which most people relate to rotten eggs or hydrogen sulphide.

Gas is a volatile, combustible material that can be ignited by a naked flame, or a spark, if the gas is allowed to build up in an enclosed area. Wherever you live or work, if you detect an odour of rotten eggs, which you think could be the result of a gas leak, act quickly and inform the right people.

Who to call if you smell gas

Who are the right people to call ? If you live in South London, or you are  landlord with a property in South London where a gas smell have been reported, you could call a South London Gas Engineer like us here us here at CW Services Plumbing Hand heating. We are of course, Gas Safe registered. If you live elsewhere here in the UK, or as an alternative if you are a South Londoner, you can call British Gas on 0800 111 999.

Carbon monoxide – an odourless gas to beware of

While we are talking about gas, it is worth mentioning carbon monoxide. In terms of carbon monoxide in the home, is doesn’t occur naturally, Not even if you have a gas leak. Carbon monoxide is a gas that is emitted when a fuel is not fully burnt.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is odourless, which makes it potentially very dangerous. If you have a faulty gas appliance that is emitting CO in an unventilated area, the build up can cause people in that space to fall unconscious. It’s a gradual process, so you might simply go to sleep. The danger is that you might not wake up again; or if you do, you could be left with permanent brain damage.

You can check out the warning signs of CO poisoning on the British Gas website.

Protect yourself with an annual service agreement using a South London gas engineer

The other thing you can do to protect yourself against either gas leaks, or CO emissions, is to ensure your gas appliances are serviced and maintained every year by a Gas Safe registered plumber like CW Services.

To make a 1-off appointment, or to set-up an annual service agreement, please call us here at CW Services Plumbing and Heating, on 020 7733 6812 or 07949 095 184.