HEATING HEALTH CHECK
Timely advice from the Heating Helpline on the importance of boiler safety and efficiency.
4 October 2012 – Heating our homes and our water is the biggest energy cost households face each month, with 84% of energy bills spent on heating water and rooms. With energy bills stubbornly at record levels the average household dual fuel bill is now around £1200 – a big chunk of all household expenditure. And the UK has also been hit by some extreme cold weather spells over the last three winters, meaning boilers have been working flat out for days on end.
Many homeowners do not realise that a well-maintained boiler will burn less fuel, so having your boiler checked and your heating system serviced will save money and, most importantly, it could potentially avoid a terrible tragedy.
Gas is the most commonly used fuel for home heating systems across the country and, although completely safe in principle, a lack of routine maintenance means that around 50 people still needlessly die every year with hundreds more made seriously ill from preventable gas-related carbon monoxide poisoning.
Blane Judd, Chief Executive of B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association, who operate the free consumer advice service the Heating Helpline, comments, “Regrettably, too many homeowners rely on old or inefficient boilers or heaters and research shows that 1 in 4 these gas-fired appliances in use around the UK are potentially dangerous. More than two thirds of reported cases of carbon monoxide poisoning are connected to central heating appliances and half of these are older central heating boilers.
“If your boiler or other gas appliances like a cooker or gas-fired heater are more three years old or have been infrequently serviced in the past, we strongly advise that you contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to have them inspected and serviced.
“Whilst safety is the first priority it really is false economy to forgo what should be an annual service and safety check; a well maintained boiler burns up to 10% less fuel than a poorly maintained one – with energy bills at such high levels that can mean big savings.”
For more information on heating and boiler maintenance contact the free Heating Helpline on 0800 810 8303 or visit the website at: http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk. The Heating Helpline provides essential information on energy saving in the home and the importance of regular heating maintenance, and also offers dozens of money-saving solutions for homeowners.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
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