What's the Difference Between a Boiler Service and Gas Safety Check?
Gas safety checks are required on all gas appliances at least once every 12 months. It is a process of a certified engineer checking general gas safety and ensuring that it's operating as intended.
Peace of Mind
A boiler service can provide you with peace of mind that your heating system is safe to use. It will also help you reduce your energy costs by making sure that your heating system is running as efficiently as it can. Regularly cleaning your boiler will lower the possibility of it failing which can be a huge headache and expense for homeowners.
Gas safety certificates, often referred to by the abbreviation CP12, are official documents that prove the security of gas appliances and installations within your home. A Gas Safe registered engineer will typically issue the certificate following a thorough examination and inspection. The CP12 certificate will include information about the property where the inspection was conducted and the name and registration number of the engineer that conducted the safety check.
While a gas safety certification is not required by law for homeowners, it is still highly recommended to have one annually. This will ensure that your boiler is safe and that you are not at risk of gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning. Some home insurance policies also require a gas safety certification before they can be able to honor the warranty for your boiler.

Landlords however are legally required to have an annual gas safety test carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer every year. This is to ensure that all the gas appliances fittings, flues, and fittings in a building are safe for tenants to use. Gas Safe registered engineers can be contacted to inspect and verify gas appliances.
A gas safety inspection will look at a variety of things, including the pilot light on your boiler to make sure that it is burning blue and not yellow, orange, or red. It will also examine the vents to ensure that combustible gases are properly ejected from the property, as well as checking the pressure of the burner as well as the gas supply. In gas safety certificate homeowner , the gas engineer will inspect the flues to make sure that they are clear and are not blocked by combustible material.
Legal compliance
If you're a landlord or a responsible party for an industrial establishment, meeting legal requirements is essential in ensuring the safety of occupants and workers. A key element of this involves ensuring gas appliances are safe and in working order, which means getting regular boiler services and annual gas safety inspections. In addition to ensuring the safety of your occupants, it's also a great method to ensure your system is operating at a high level and avoid costly repairs or replacements.
Landlords must have a gas safety inspection performed on all gas appliances, fittings and flues at their properties every year. The safety check is conducted by an engineer registered with Gas Safe and is intended to ensure that all legal standards are adhered to. Landlords must also provide new tenants with the gas safety certificate before they move in, and keep the records of each inspection over two years.
The annual gas safety certificate is a good idea for homeowners, especially if they plan to sell their home in the future. This document proves that the boiler and all gas appliances have been checked and are safe to use. This can be beneficial when trying to sell your home or claim back warranty repairs.
It's important to understand the distinction between a boiler service and gas safety certificates. While both procedures require the inspection and maintenance of a gas boiler, the scope, purpose, and legal implications of each are different. The boiler service is maintenance, while the gas safety certificate is a document that ensures safety for all gas appliances and installations within the premises.
Understanding the difference between these two processes is vital for homeowners and landlords to maintain security, efficiency, as well as legal compliance. You can ensure that your property are in compliance with the most current regulations by recognizing the differences between these two documents. Tradify offers a growing library of gas certificates and forms that are easy to create, fill in and sign online.
Energy efficiency
A boiler service is an excellent way to keep your heating system in good condition. It will not only ensure the safety and security of your heating system but will also save you money on energy costs. Inefficient boilers can cause your bills for energy to rise significantly because they use more fuel than is needed. If you keep your boiler in good condition regularly, it will run more effectively that means you won't need as much energy to heat your home.
A gas safety certificate is required for all landlords who have properties with gas appliances and is legal document that proves the appliances and installations within the property are safe for use. The certificate will also mention the engineer who performed the inspection and provide the details of any issues that were discovered. This information is essential to ensuring that any potential hazards can be identified and addressed quickly.
Getting a gas safety certificate is essential for all landlords, and it's recommended that homeowners get one as well. This will put their mind at ease about the safety of their gas appliances, and may even identify any issues before they become bigger problems. A gas safety inspection is a possibility to book along with a boiler service or done separately.
Gas safety checks are different from boiler services in that they inspect all gas appliances and make sure that they are safe for use. This includes examining for leaks, determining if the flues are blocked, and ensuring that there is sufficient ventilation.
A boiler service however is a more comprehensive inspection of the boiler and its accessories. This involves removing the front of the boiler and cleaning the inside. It also includes checking that the burners work properly. The engineer will also take readings of the gas flow and pressure settings, and verify that there is a blue flame for the pilot. They will also check for any corrosion or damage to the pipework or seals and ensure that there is sufficient air flow around the flue terminals.
Safety
In the UK, it is a legal requirement for landlords to get an gas safety certificate and to regularly service their tenants' boilers. Regular boiler maintenance can ensure that your boiler is operating at its best which can reduce energy costs and ensuring your heating system is operating effectively and safely. Some home insurance policies require it.
An engineer will ensure that gas appliances are safe to use. The engineer will inspect the boiler for signs of leakage or corrosion and make sure that the pilot flame is always blue. The engineer will also check that the boiler produces enough carbon monoxide and is operating at the proper gas pressure. They will also test the ignition system, to ensure that it is sufficient to ignite gas, and also ensure that the burners are in good condition.
It is important to note that a boiler service doesn't necessarily require a Gas Safety Certificate, and an additional appointment will have to be scheduled to do this. Gas safety certificates allow for an additional thorough inspection of all gas appliances within the house, even those that do not require maintenance. It also covers larger installations, such as central heating systems and fires.
Gas Safety Certificates are required by law before a landlord is able to rent out a property. The certificate must be handed out to each of the tenants and stored in a secure place to be able to refer to should there ever be a problem with the appliance.
Some property owners prefer digital versions of their certificates, instead of keeping them on paper. This is a great option to improve efficiency, security and storage. It's also easier to locate the document if it is required, and there's a lower possibility of it getting damaged or lost during the process of moving house. It's also beneficial to have an electronic copy of the gas certificate in case you are selling your property. This makes it much easier to transfer ownership. You can also upload it to an online tenancy tracking website so you can present prospective buyers with the current Gas Safety Certificate.