Gas

So you want to work in the gas industry? You might be wondering how you can get qualified, get some work experience, and get on the Gas Safe Register. There are a few different paths you can take to become a gas engineer, and the path you should take is usually determined by your current experience level. We'll talk you through the various different career paths and give you an insight into the different areas you can specialise in once you're qualified.

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28Nov2022

How Do You Become a Gas Engineer?

Lauren gas

Heating your property with gas is three to four times cheaper than heating it with electricity, but during winter months, your gas bill can easily skyrocket. With winter rolling in and the weather getting colder, we asked our most experienced gas engineers for advice. Follow these 5 tips from our experts to reduce your gas bills this winter.

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03Nov2022

Tips from a Gas Engineer: How to Reduce Gas Bills

Becks gas

The UK is currently in the eye of a storm called the Global Energy Crisis, but our tiny island seems to be taking harsh hits in comparison to other countries. In the UK, we're particularly affected because 85% of our households use gas boilers to heat homes, and 40% of electricity is generated within our gas-fired power stations. This is higher than any other European country.

Due to this, many people have been left wondering whether gas or electric is cheaper in an attempt to curb the increasing energy bills.

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01Nov2022

Energy Bills: Is Gas or Electric Cheaper?

Becks electrical, gas

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting many homes and families within the UK - inflation is at a high of 10.1%, and there is no denying that times are incredibly tough. Gas and electric bills in the UK have seen a huge increase, with most people paying around £1570 more per year to fuel their homes. With households majorly limiting their gas and electric usage, there's a possibility that best practices for safety surrounding these utilities could be put on the back burner. But why?

The Gas Safe Register has released that a third of homes do not have yearly gas safety checks due to the cost-of-living crisis. According to Checkatrade.com, the average cost of a gas appliance check is around £80. For many, this is a huge expense that can seemingly be avoided. It's a difficult situation wherein people are attempting to scrape back costs by sacrificing safety. Clare Nasir, Meteorologist and TV weather presenter stated:

'While planning to turn off your heating for the months ahead, it's imperative that homeowners are prioritising gas safety in their homes and ensuring they do not skip their annual gas safety checks. Although homeowners, understandably so, are concerned about the increased cost of living - there are real risks to health, wealth and safety linked to not servicing and safety checking their gas appliances and boilers.'

When Should I Have My Boiler Serviced?

Ideally, you should have your boiler serviced annually to ensure that it's working at peak efficiency, and to weed out any maintenance issues that could cause a risk to your safety.

A gas engineer will check the condition of the boiler, along with the flue and chimney, as well as checking the pressure and temperature settings. Most importantly, a gas engineer will check for any leaks, blocked vents or signs of erosion or corrosion to identify any carbon monoxide risks.

Why Should I Have My Boiler Serviced?

A boiler service is an extremely important preventative measure - whilst it costs money upfront, you could easily incur the price of a service, and more, through repair issues down the line if you choose to not have it done. There are many benefits to having your boiler serviced, which make it worth the upfront cost:

It keeps your boiler working efficiently
It will help you to avoid high costs of repairs in the future
It maintains the safety of your boiler
It ensures that your manufacturer's warranty remains valid

What Will Happen If I Don't Service My Boiler?

By neglecting your boiler and failing to get it serviced, your home can become a very dangerous place extremely quickly. In the worst case scenario, a faulty boiler could cause a small explosion and reap damage to your property, alongside causing serious injury to any inhabitants.

In summer this year, a house in Birmingham had an explosion due to a gas leak from internal piping within the boiler, ending the life of one woman.

Not only that, but you could also be at high risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which is potentially fatal.

At Access Training, we train our Gas Engineers to the highest possible standard for your safety

We believe in quality trade education that lasts, for the peace of mind of our students and any customers that they work for in the future. For more resources regarding Gas Safety, take a look at our resources below.

Gas Safety Tips Why Do Gas Engineers Have to be Gas Safe Registered?

18Oct2022

Is The Cost of Living Crisis Affecting Attitudes to Gas Safety?

Becks gas

Gas Safety Week 2022 starts today and runs until the 18th September 2022. Celebrating its twelfth year, this integral event aims to see industries come together for the same common goal: keeping the nation gas safe. During the Gas Safety Week campaign, thousands of businesses pledge to educate and raise awareness surrounding gas safety, helping to protect their customers and save lives.

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14Sep2022

Gas Safety Week 2022: Gas Safety Tips at Home

Becks access training news, gas

Gas engineer

Plumbing and gas engineering are two very attractive career paths. Both trades come with relatively lucrative salaries and good workplace flexibility.

If you're interested in becoming a gas engineer, you might have found your way to this blog post by researching about what kind of qualifications you need to get started. So, exactly what qualifications do you need to be a gas engineer?

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15Mar2022

Do You Have to Be a Plumber to Train as a Gas Engineer?

Danielle gas, plumbing

Gas boilers are an incredibly popular option for home heating. A whopping 78% of UK households use gas to heat their homes, with just the remaining 22% using alternatives like electricity and oil.

However, with modern science making us more and more aware of the adverse effects that gas can have on the environment, money is being poured into finding a plausible alternative.

Enter heat pumps.

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03Mar2022

Will Heat Pumps Replace Gas Boilers?

Danielle gas

Gas engineer in training

Gas-fuelled appliances can be very dangerous if they're not installed correctly. Because of this, gas appliances should ONLY be installed and serviced by competent, qualified gas engineers.

Here in the UK, gas fitters are legally required to join the Gas Safe Register before carrying out any gas work. The Gas Safe Register website makes it easy to...

Check whether your gas engineer is registered
Report illegal gas work

Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI in 2009, and since then, it has been the sole official gas registration body for the United Kingdom (as well as the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey).

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16Feb2022

Why Do Gas Engineers Have to Be Gas Safe Registered?

joel gas

am i too old to learn a trade

One question we get asked a lot here at Access Training is - am I too old to learn a trade? The short answer is no! Our courses are available to people of all ages and abilities and can work around your pre-existing responsibilities. Whether you're finishing school and looking to become an electrician through a full-time course, or 40 and hoping to become a plumber through one of our part-time courses, we can accommodate you.

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25May2021