Results of a national survey show homeowners are not clued up on gas safety in their homes.

More than nine in 10 homeowners in Oxford reported being confident they could spot the signs and symptoms of unsafe gas in their homes, and almost all (99 per cent) said their home would be up to the challenge if a gas engineer were to knock on their door and do a gas safety spot-check.

But when the national survey commissioned by Gas Safe Register put 2,000 homeowners through its nine-step Gas Safety Challenge, just four (0.2 per cent) passed the test.

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With an increasing number of cash-strapped homeowners nationally feeling forced to skip annual safety checks due to pressures on household budgets, experts are urging people to get more clued up on the signs and symptoms of unsafe gas appliances and simple, free ways they can make sure their home is gas safe this winter.

Based on Gas Safe Register’s new Gas Safety Challenge, the national survey quizzed people on nine key things to know, including how flames on gas hobs should appear, flue blockages, boiler error codes and smells, sounds and sights around the home that signal something could be wrong. Despite the vast majority of people claiming such high levels of confidence, over half of homeowners in Oxford relying on gas for heating, hot water and cooking were unable to identify where to turn off the gas supply in an emergency.

Almost two in five in Oxford couldn’t correctly spot the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Additionally, 63 per cent of those surveyed in Oxford don’t have a carbon monoxide alarm in their home, or, if they do, can’t be sure it works as it’s not tested regularly.

Further, 36 per cent of people surveyed in the city have taken on the job of inspecting their homes’ flue – something that should only be done by a gas safe registered engineer – with 4 per cent of those attempting to remove a blockage themselves.

It was also found that almost a third of homeowners in Oxford were unable to identify that a gas hob flame should burn a crisp blue colour.

Bob Kerr, Gas Services Director at Gas Safe Register, said: “What’s clear from our research is that there’s a misguided confidence amongst the UK public – what they think they know and how that plays out in their homes is very different.

“We’re all feeling pressure on our finances at the moment but taking our Gas Safety Challenge this Winter is a fast, fun and free way to brush up on what you know and to check there are no dangers hiding in plain sight in your home. To refresh your knowledge on home gas safety, take the Gas Safety Challenge here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSrzGYeD6-E.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1