Gas safety check before exchange and after completion??

C_Mababejive

So the guy is a qualified plumber or a qualified heating engineer? Mending a leaky bog and designing and installing a CH system are two different things as you say. I now appreciate your concerns but i dont feel it makes any difference. You cant insist he does x/y/z. He will simply say no. It really depends on how keen either or both of you are to do the deal.

discplayer

The cooker's not an issue. It will (well, in the places I've had them) connect using a bayonet fitting just like a light bulb. The worst that will happen after the cooker's removal is that the valve in the fitting won't close and gas will leak. But as above, you'll smell this. Or indeed the people who remove it will and probably won't want their kitchen full of gas for the last few hours there, at least their removal men won't!

The boiler's another matter, if it bothers you pay to get it checked before or soon after moving. If you can't then get a simple CO detector from your local hardware shop and you'll soon know of a CO problem.

ryanhayes91

yeah to be honest if he is water plumber he wouldnt be qualified for gas. i work for a landlords department in a major gas company for homecare and unless he is a gas safe registered engineer then he shouldnt fit the boiler.

unclebulgaria

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Why do you think he fitted same himself and even so,how do you know his level of competence? I am not gas safe registered but i can perfectly competently and legally undertake such work in my own home.

Its true that a little knowledge is dangerous!
Who told you that you are competent? Where did you receive your training to judge yourself competent?
You only legally installed your own gas appliances until you kill someone with your arrogance then someone will rightly lock you up with all the other competent twits. How do you judge your own competence, it hasn't leaked yet, I didn't smell any gas, its not caught fire yet?!?!
There have been numerous instances of "competent" plumbers installing gas appliances and killing unsuspecting neighbour's or the house owners family! The fact you did not receive any monetary reward for carrying out your own gas work doesn't make you competent matey!

unclebulgaria

badgeraudio wrote: »

My Vendors have a LARGE freestanding oven and hob in their small kitchen. I dont want it so will not pay £300 for it, so they are planning on removing it and selling it once they move.

I have asked my solicitor to ask for a a safety check now and again once they have removed the oven.

I want a check one now as they have not had one done in a while, so feel I should have now before exchange incase of any obvius large problems.

I want one after the removal of the oven as I think this material change in gas system puts my family's safety at risk.

I know it will be difficult to ensure it happens after completion, and it will be difficult to claim any compensation, if it fails or anything but I still think it should happen!

However what surprises me is how this seems like a rarely done thing. I mean how often do people take light fittings, plug sockets etc, but then fail to get it done safely or at least prove it with the paperwork.
It just seems wrong to me. Which is why I am trying my hardest to get my vendor to prove the install is safe once he leaves with his oven!

Rant over! :-)

You are perfectly entitled to ask the vendor to prove his gas appliances are safe and that there are no gas leaks, I carry out loads of them for many buyers its not unusual in my opinion.
Whether you manage to get him/her to agree is another matter.
Pay your own gas engineer to carry out an inspection on your behalf and tell the vendor to cover the cost of any faults he finds that need attention! As far as I'm concerned that's perfectly reasonable.
If his cooker/oven is correctly installed, after he's removed the appliances the wall connection should self seal and not leak but, they can and do leak gas if only small amounts if they have dirt or debris in the fitting.
If he refuses to agree to an inspection then ask yourself what he's hiding, just because he's possibly good at DIY doesn't mean he's installed any of his gas appliances correctly or safely!
Follow your head and don't let him off the hook. You seem sensible to me despite what some have said on here.

sharpee

Then as already mentioned arrange and pay for it yourself

zappahey

ryanhayes91 wrote: »

yeah to be honest if he is water plumber he wouldnt be qualified for gas. i work for a landlords department in a major gas company for homecare and unless he is a gas safe registered engineer then he shouldnt fit the boiler.

If it's his own house, he can fit the boiler himself if he wishes.

badgeraudio

The Vendor has agreed to pay for at least one gas check.

What I am currently thinking is that if it passes the first check, and they can say that a quick release coupling was used on the oven, I think I will be happy without the 2nd check.

But if it was connected in solid copper, I will need a 2nd check.

Cheers for all the advice.