SKY Blues legend Dion Dublin has joined industry experts encouraging Coventry’s householders to avoid a ‘new home danger zone’ after research showed unsafe gas appliances are most commonly found in properties that have recently changed hands.
The new analysis was conducted by Gas Safe Register, the UK’s official registration body for engineers and businesses in the field, who have teamed up with Dion and other organisations to help more people become more gas safety savvy at home and to prevent potentially fatal hazards.
One in four Coventry homes hold potentially dangerous gas appliances, and experts are warning of the dangers recent homeowners face when putting on the heating for the first time as the winter months arrive.
Research shows that 17 per cent of British properties in which faulty gas appliances have been found by inspectors had changed hands in the past year.
In addition, 94 per cent of the country’s 1,700 Gas Safe engineers want more to be done on gas safety during the home moving process.
Engineers believe new owners become ‘gas-stumped’ and are unaware of key information around the issue.
Dion advised people to get their appliances’ safety checked during the move, ensure they know where the latest safety and maintenance records for all gas appliances are and ensure they know where the gas Emergency Control Valve is, so it can be switched off in an emergency.
He added: “As colder weather approaches, you may start to feel those unwanted drafty spots in your new home, where the insulation isn’t great, or you may be adding on a few extra layers to keep warm during the first winter in your new home.
“From buying and selling properties over the last 20 years, I know just how stressful moving can be as well as keeping a property up and running – especially in the colder months.
“But the excitement of finally getting those keys and dreaming about your interior decorating plans can mean that less exciting aspects of a move – like health, well-being and safety, unintentionally take a backseat.”
