What's the Difference Between a Boiler Service and Gas Safety Check?
Gas safety checks are required on all gas appliances every 12 months. A certified engineer will check the general safety of gas and ensures that the appliance is functioning in the way it was intended to.
Peace of Mind
A boiler service will provide you with peace of mind that your heating system is safe to use. You can also save money by ensuring your heating system operates as efficiently as it can. Regularly servicing your boiler will reduce the chance of it breaking down, which is a major headache and expense for homeowners.
Gas safety certificates, often referred to by the abbreviation CP12, are official documents that confirm the security of gas appliances and installations within your home. It is usually issued by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer following a thorough inspection and assessment. The CP12 will contain information about the property where the safety check was carried out and also the name and registration number for the person who carried out the safety check.
Although a gas safety certificate is not an obligation for homeowners under the law however it is recommended that you have one every year. This will ensure that your boiler is safe and you are not at risk of gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, certain home insurance policies require that you have a gas safety certificate before they can honor the warranty on your boiler.
Landlords are legally required be required to undergo an annual gas safety inspection performed by an Gas Safe registered technician. It is essential to ensure that the gas appliances, flues and fittings in a house are safe for use by tenants. If a landlord doesn't have their gas appliances checked and certified by a Gas Safe registered engineer, they could face sanctions or even a criminal prosecution.
A gas safety inspection will examine a wide range of things, including the pilot light on your boiler, to ensure that it is burning blue and not orange, yellow, or red. It will also check the ventilation passages to ensure that combustible gases are effectively ejected from the building and also check the pressure of the burner and gas supply. The gas engineer will check the flues, to ensure they are free of combustible material.
Legal Compliance
It is crucial to adhere to the legal requirements, whether you are a landlord or the responsible person for an industrial installation. This will protect the safety of workers as well as occupants. A key element of this involves ensuring gas appliances are safe and in good working in good working order. This means having regular boiler maintenance and annual gas safety checks. As well as guaranteeing the safety of your occupants as well as a good method to ensure your system is operating at a high level and avoid costly repairs or replacements.
Landlords are legally required have a gas safety inspection done annually on all the gas appliances fittings, flues, and fittings within their homes. The safety check must be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and is designed to ensure that the appliance is conforming to all standards set by law. Landlords are also required give a copy of the certificate of gas safety before tenants move in and keep a record of every inspection.
A gas safety certificate each year is also a great idea for homeowners planning to sell their house in the near future. This document proves that the boiler and all gas appliances have been checked and are safe to use. This could be helpful when trying to sell a house or claim back warranty repairs.
It is crucial to understand the difference between a gas safety certificate and a boiler service. Both processes check and service gas boilers but the scope, purpose and legal implications are distinct. The boiler service is a maintenance process while the gas safety certificate is a legal document that guarantees the safety of all gas appliances and installations in a property.
Understanding the difference between these two processes is vital for homeowners and landlords alike to maintain security, efficiency, as well as legal compliance. You can ensure that your property are in compliance with the most current laws by knowing the distinctions between these two documents. Tradify offers a growing library of gas certificates and forms that you can easily create, fill out and sign online.

Energy efficiency
A boiler service will ensure that your heating system is running smoothly. It will not only ensure the security and safety of your heating system but also help you save money on energy costs. Inefficient boilers consume more fuel than necessary and can increase your energy bills significantly. If you maintain your boiler regularly, it will operate more effectively and you won't need as much energy to heat your home.
A gas safety certificate is required for all landlords who own properties with gas appliances, and is legal document that proves the appliances and installations within the property are safe for use. The certificate also lists the person who performed the inspection and gives specific details of any issues that were discovered. This information is important to ensure that any hazards that could be a risk are identified and corrected as quickly as possible.
Getting a gas safety certificate is essential for all landlords, and it's recommended that homeowners obtain one as well. This will put their mind at ease regarding the safety of their gas appliances, and it may even catch any issues in the early stages before they become bigger problems. A gas safety inspection is a possibility to book in conjunction with a boiler service or done separately.
Gas safety checks are different from boiler services in that they examine all gas appliances and ensure that they are safe to use. This includes checking for signs of leaks, inspecting the flues to ensure they're not blocked, as well as making sure there is adequate ventilation.
A boiler service, on the other hand is a more comprehensive examination of the boiler as well as its components. This involves taking off the front cover of the boiler, ensuring that the inside is clean, and ensuring the burners are functioning correctly. The engineer will also conduct readings of the gas flow and pressure settings, and ensure that there is a blue pilot flame. They will also examine any seals or pipework for corrosion or damage as well as ensure that there is adequate air flow around the flue terminals.
Safety
In the UK, landlords are required to carry out a gas safety test and maintain their tenants' boilers on a regular basis. A regular boiler service can help maintain optimum performance, thereby reducing energy bills and ensuring that your heating system is working efficiently and safely. It's also a requirement of some homeowners insurance policies.
A boiler service usually involves the engineer checking that all the gas appliances in the property are safe to use. The engineer will examine the boiler for signs of leakage or corrosion, and ensure that the pilot flame is always blue. The engineer will also make sure that the boiler is operating at the correct gas pressure and isn't producing excessive carbon monoxide. They'll also test the ignition system to ensure that the spark is strong enough to ignite the gas, and that the burners and heat exchanger are clean.
A boiler service will not include the Gas Safety Certificate. This will require an appointment on its own. Gas safety certificates are an additional thorough inspection of all gas appliances in the house, even ones that don't require maintenance. It also covers larger installations such as central heating systems and fires.
For this reason landlords are legally obliged to get the Gas Safety Certificate before letting a property. The certificate must be provided to each tenant and kept in a safe location to be consulted should there be any problems with the appliance.
Some property owners prefer digital copies of their certificates instead of conserving them on paper. This is a great method to increase efficiency, security and storage. The document is also easier to locate when required, and is less likely to be lost or damaged during moving. The electronic copy of your gas certificate is useful if you intend to sell your property and simplifies the process to transfer ownership. You can also upload it to an online tenancy tracking system so that you can present prospective buyers with an up-to-date Gas Safety Certificate.