Manage your home

Follow these simple tips and stay gas safe in your home. 

If you smell gas: 

• Turn off your gas supply at the mains 
• Switch off all appliances 
• Open doors and windows 
• Go outside and call National Grid Emergency on 0800 111 999 

Stay gas safe: 

• Never try to fix your gas appliance yourself 
• Make sure you know where your gas meter is and how to turn off the supply 
• Don’t block flues, chimneys or vents and never cover a gas appliance 
• Don’t install your own gas appliances without first informing us 

Know the signs: 

Safe and well-maintained gas appliances should not produce carbon monoxide, but it’s best to know the signs – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea and collapse. If you experience any of these symptoms, leave the house and contact us. 

If we smell gas or are concerned for your safety, we reserve the right to force entry into your home to take emergency action to protect you and your neighbours. 

Gas safety checks: 

It is essential and a legal requirement that we gain access to your property every 12 months to carry out a gas safety inspection in your home. If you do not let us in, you are taking a risk not only with the law, but potentially with your life. 

What we’ll do and when we’ll do it: 

• We will service gas appliances annually and provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to you 
• We will check and service smoke alarms and any carbon monoxide alarms 
• If we cannot complete the repair at the first visit we will contact you within 24 hours with a follow up appointment. This will usually be to fit parts we have ordered to resolve the problem 
• We will install a carbon monoxide alarm for any property with an open flued gas appliance 

• Where your central heating fails and a repair cannot be immediately undertaken, we will offer you temporary electric heaters 
• Our gas team will offer advice and/or assistance on the gas installation in your home 
• We will provide a specialist officer to assist customers with support needs during works. 

We are working hard to ensure our homes are as energy efficient as possible, but there are lots of great ways you can help make your home more energy efficient and be more environmentally friendly. 

Energy efficiency of your home: 

Your energy performance certificate (EPC) shows two things: 

• The energy efficiency rating of your home 
• The environmental impact rating – carbon dioxide emissions estimated from the efficiency rating of your home 

There are many ways you can save energy just by making simple changes. For tips and advice on saving energy, you can contact us to request a free copy of our customer energy guide. United Utilities are also offering a FREE shower saver pack which can save you up to £43 a year on your water bills. The pack includes a shower water regulator that only takes a couple of minutes to fit for a lifetime of savings, tips to save energy, water, and money, plus a water-audit checklist to help you identify other areas where you can save water. Apply for your free pack by visiting the website here. 

Cold water supply: 

The water supplied to your home must meet the standards set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000. The standards are strict and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) conduct regular quality tests to maintain standards. The areas covered are: 

• Bacteria chemicals (such as nitrates and pesticides) 
• Metals (such as lead) 
• The way water looks and tastes 

Here are some tips to help prevent bacterial growth and contamination of the water supply. 

Hot and cold water system 

If you have a domestic hot water cylinder in your home, ensure that the thermostat is set at 60ºC. Do not reduce this setting or the setting of your boiler thermostat, as bacteria can multiply at lower temperatures. If you have a combination boiler or multi-point water heater, do not reduce the hot water thermostat setting. If you are away from home for long periods (for example holidays or hospital stays), the water in your system can deteriorate if unused. When you return home, heat up your system to the normal temperature, open each tap and run for at least five minutes. Cold taps should be flushed until the water runs cold. When flushing taps and other outlets, open slowly and take care not to cause splashing or release of spray droplets to the atmosphere. Tap spouts on your bath, basin and sink may become contaminated from external sources. Clean tap spouts by wiping with a dilute bleach solution. If the tap is heavily scaled or contaminated, this can be dislodged using a nylon brush. 

Showers: 

If you have a shower fitted with a flexible hose, make sure that a hose-retaining ring is fitted to prevent the shower head falling into your bath water. Don’t use rubber push-on shower hoses on bath taps. 

Clean your shower head regularly using a nylon brush then soaking in a bleach solution. 

Little used taps/outlets: 

Over time the water in the pipework and fittings can deteriorate if a tap or appliance is not used. Open each tap and run for at least five minutes on a weekly basis to ensure that the water remains fresh. Cold taps should be flushed until the water runs cold. 

Other fittings and appliances: 

If you have an outside tap fitted, the installation must comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and incorporate a Backflow Prevention Device, usually a ‘double-check valve’. Any appliances you buy which are connected to the water supply must comply with the Water Regulations. All domestic appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers comply with the appropriate standards, but many commercial appliances do not and are not suitable for home use. If you have any concerns regarding any of the above in your home, please contact us.