'Silent killer' could be lurking in your home when you move house

As many UK families prepare to move house this autumn, experts are urging new homeowners to add this life-saving safety check to their moving to-do list.

While packing up and moving home is a detailed and painstaking process, ensuring your new home is gas safe should be a top priority. The expert reminder comes as Gas Safety week, which runs from September 8 to 14, drives awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and faulty gas appliances.

Adam Knight, lead engineer at BOXT says now is the ideal time for movers and homeowners to prioritise gas safety. “Checking the gas safety of your new home should be right up there with changing the locks,” says Knight.

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“You’d never drive a new car without checking it’s safe and has an MOT - so why would you move into a house without confirming the boiler’s not dangerous?”

Failing to check your boiler or gas fire can expose you to serious risks - including carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), approximately 40 people die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales - with 440 hospitalised in 2022 alone.

Knight explains that the onus of gas safety falls on homeowners but aren’t legally required. “Unlike landlords, homeowners aren’t legally required to service a boiler or carry out a gas safe inspection when buying or selling.

“This means there are systems which may not have been properly looked at in years. The boiler may look fine, but you can’t see carbon monoxide. You can’t smell it or hear it.”

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel-burning appliances like boilers, gas fires, or cookers don’t burn properly. This can be the result of either faulty installation or poor maintenance.

Carbon monoxide is also widely known as the “silent killer” because the gas is invisible, odourless and tasteless. But you can make your home safer for you and your family by adding a few tasks to your buying and move-in checklist.

Ask about the boiler

Before signing anything, there are a few key questions about the boiler you should ask including: When was the boiler installed? When was it last serviced? If the boiler is still under warranty, make sure that gets transferred to you.

If you’re opting for a new boiler, you could also try to get a boiler service included in the sale.

Buy a carbon monoxide alarm

They’re inexpensive, and could save your life. Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm that meets European Standard EN 50291.

Familiarise yourself with the gas control valve

Every homeowner should know how to shut off the gas supply in an emergency. It’s typically a large, brass lever or handle located next to your gas meter, which is often found under the stairs, in a cupboard, garage or outside in a meter box.

The handle typically sits in line with the pipe when the gas is on and turns 90 degrees - so it's across the pipe - to switch it off.

Moving home is an exciting endeavour, and while these extra tasks may seem tedious, they could save your life. Knight adds: “People are often surprised to learn it’s not a legal requirement to service your boiler when you move in. But just because it’s not law doesn’t mean it’s not essential.”