What's the Difference Between a Boiler Service and Gas Safety Check?
Gas safety checks are required on all gas appliances every 12 months. It involves a licensed engineer examining the general safety of gas and that it is working as intended.
Peace of Mind
A boiler service can give you peace-of-mind that your heating system can be used safely. You can also save money by ensuring your heating system operates as efficiently as it can. Regularly checking your boiler's condition will decrease the likelihood of it breaking down which can cause a significant hassle and expense to homeowners.
A gas safety certificate, also known as a CP12 is a valid document that guarantees the safety of your home's gas appliances and installations. A Gas Safe registered engineer will typically issue the certificate following an exhaustive examination and inspection. The CP12 certificate will include details about the property where the inspection was conducted and the name and registration number of the engineer who carried out the safety check.
While a gas safety certification is not an obligation for homeowners under the law however it is recommended to have one done annually. This will ensure that your boiler is safe and you don't face the danger of carbon monoxide or gas leaks. Additionally, certain home insurance policies require that you have a gas safety certification before they honor the warranty of your boiler.
Landlords on the other hand are legally required to have an annual gas safety test performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer every year. This is to ensure that all of the gas appliances fittings, flues, and fittings within the property are safe for tenants to use. Gas Safe registered engineers can be contacted to inspect and verify gas appliances.
Gas safety checks will check various things, including the pilot light in your boiler to ensure it is not burning yellow, orange or red. It will also examine the passages for ventilation to ensure that combustible gasses are being properly expelled from the building, as well as checking the burner pressure and gas supply. Additionally the gas engineer will examine the flues to make sure that they are free of obstruction and not blocked with the combustible material.
Legal Compliance
It is essential to comply with legal requirements, whether you're a landlord or the responsible person for an industrial facility. This will protect the safety of workers and occupants. This involves ensuring that gas appliances are in good order and safe. This means regular boiler maintenance and an annual gas safety checks. It's a great method to ensure the safety of your guests and keep your system running efficiently.
Landlords are legally obliged to conduct a gas safety test performed annually on all gas appliances including flues, fittings, and fittings in their properties. The safety check is conducted by an engineer registered with Gas Safe and is intended to ensure that all legal standards are met. Landlords are also required to submit an original certificate of gas safety before tenants move in and keep a record of each inspection.
A gas safety certificate every year is also a good idea for homeowners planning to sell their home in the near future. This document confirms that the boiler, and all gas appliances, have been inspected and are safe for use. It can be helpful when trying to sell your home or claim warranty repairs.
It is important to know the difference between a gas safety certification and the boiler service. Both procedures check and service gas boilers, but the scope, purpose and legal implications are different. The boiler service is maintenance, whereas the gas safety certification is a document that guarantees the safety of all gas appliances and installations within a property.
Understanding the differences between these two processes is vital for homeowners and landlords to maintain safety, efficiency, and legal compliance. If you are aware of the distinction between these two documents, you can be sure that your property is up to date with the latest gas safety regulations. Tradify has a large library of gas certificates and forms that you can create, fill out and sign online.
Energy efficiency
A boiler service is a great way to keep your heating system in top condition. Not only will it ensure that your heating system is safe and secure however, it can also help you save on energy bills. Inefficient boilers use more fuel than they need and can increase your energy bills substantially. If you maintain your boiler regularly, it will operate more effectively, which means you will not require the same amount of energy to heat your home.
Gas safety certificates are required by all landlords who own properties that have gas appliances. It is a legal document that confirms that the appliances and installations of a building are safe to use. The certificate also lists the engineer who carried out the inspection, and provides details of any issues that were found. This information is crucial to ensure that any hazards that could be a risk are identified and addressed in the shortest time possible.
It is important for landlords to obtain a gas safety certification. It is also recommended that homeowners obtain one. This will give them peace of heart about the security of their appliances and may even catch any issues early before they grow into larger ones. A gas safety check can be booked alongside a boiler service, or performed separately.

Gas safety checks are different from boiler services as they examine all gas appliances and make sure that they are safe for use. This includes examining for leaks, checking to see whether the flues are blocked, and ensuring there is sufficient ventilation.
A boiler service, on the other hand, is a more in-depth check of the boiler and its components. This will require taking off the front of the boiler and cleaning the inside. It will also include making sure that the burners are operating properly. The engineer will also examine the blue pilot flame and conduct readings on gas pressure and flow. They will also examine the seals and pipework for damage or corrosion, and make sure there is enough air flow around the flue terminals.
Safety
In the UK, it is a legal requirement for landlords to obtain a gas safety certificate and regularly maintain their tenants' boilers. Regular boiler maintenance can ensure that your boiler is operating at its best, thereby reducing energy bills and ensuring that your heating system is functioning efficiently and safely. It is mandatory for certain homeowners insurance policies.
An engineer will check that all gas appliances are safe for use. The engineer will check the boiler for signs like leakage or corrosion, and ensure that the pilot flame is always blue. The engineer will also check that the boiler produces enough carbon monoxide and has the correct pressure of gas. They'll also test the ignition system to ensure that the spark is strong enough to ignite the gas and that the heat exchanger and burners are clean.
A boiler service doesn't include a Gas Safety Certificate. This will require an appointment on its own. A gas safety certificate is a more thorough inspection of all gas appliances in a property which includes those that do not require maintenance. It also covers larger installations, such as central heating systems and fires.
In this regard landlords are legally required to obtain the Gas Safety Certificate before letting a property. The certificate must be given to each tenant and stored in a secure place to be consulted should there be any problems with the appliance.
Some property owners choose to use digital copies of their certificates, instead of storing them on paper. This helps with efficiency storage, security and efficiency. It's also easier to locate if needed, and it's less likely to get damaged or lost during the process of moving. It is also useful to have an electronic copy of the gas certification if you intend to sell your property. This makes it much easier to transfer ownership. It's even possible to upload it to your online tenancy tracker so prospective buyers can see the most recent Gas Safety Certificate when they visit.