Connection to mains services

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Is your home connected to any mains services?

Gas Safe
  1. Get an annual gas safety check - Get a Gas Safe registered engineer to check all gas appliances in your property once a year. They’ll also do a visual inspection of your gas pipework and a tightness test to confirm there aren’t any gas leaks. If you’re a tenant renting a property, make sure your landlord arranges a gas safety check.
  2. Find a Gas Safe registered engineer - You can use the Gas Safe online search or call 0800 408 5500 to find a registered engineer in your area.
  3. Check your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card - You’ll want to check the front and back - this is how you’ll know they’re qualified to do the gas work they’ll be carrying out.
  4. Look out for gas appliance warning signs - If your appliance isn’t working as it should be, there are certain signs to look out for like floppy yellow flames, extra condensation and black marks around the appliance.
  5. Know the signs of CO poisoning - You’ll want to look out for headaches, dizziness, nausea, and breathlessness. More severe symptoms are collapse and loss of consciousness.
  6. Buy an audible CO alarm marked EN 50291 - Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing the alarm, so if a CO leak occurs, you’ll be alerted to it.
  7. Ensure adequate ventilation - This is essential for gas appliances to burn properly. You’ll want to make sure that no air vents or chimneys are blocked.
  8. Only use gas appliances for their intended purpose - Don’t use an appliance for something it wasn’t meant for - for example, using a cooker to heat a room.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Fire Safety to find out more about gas safety.

Electrical Safety First

Electrical Safety First provide information and advice about electrical safety at home, including simple checks that can save your life, electrical DIY, recycling electric items and an online socket calculator to help you check that your sockets are safe. Visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk for more information.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Electrical safety to find out more about electrical safety around the home.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) provides information for the public on:

  • what to do in a plumbing emergency
  • plumbing health hazards
  • tips to cut energy bills and water waste

You can also find a plumbing or heating engineer. Find out more at Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering | CIPHE

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find out more general plumbing advice.

Have any of your services been disconnected?

There are a number of initiatives you can apply for or access information on through Lincolnshire County Council.

You can also get help and advice on things such as energy bills and income support:

  • Help for households from the government
  • Help with finances and debt from Citizens Advice
  • Help with financial and life changes from Wellbeing Lincs

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Charitable and Financial Support for more information about this and other support available.

There are a number of initiatives you can apply for or access information on through Lincolnshire County Council.

You can also get help and advice on things such as energy bills and income support:

  • Help for households from the government
  • Help with finances and debt from Citizens Advice
  • Help with financial and life changes from Wellbeing Lincs

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Charitable and Financial Support for more information about this and other support available.

There are a number of initiatives you can apply for or access information on through Lincolnshire County Council.

You can also get help and advice on things such as energy bills and income support:

  • Help for households from the government
  • Help with finances and debt from Citizen’s Advice
  • Help with financial and life changes from Wellbeing Lincs

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Charitable and Financial Support for more information about this and other support available.

Are you using any non-mains services in your home?

You could save money if you generate your own renewable electricity.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about different types of heating systems and options to improve or upgrade the energy efficiency of your home.

You could save money if you generate your own renewable electricity.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about different types of heating systems and options to improve or upgrade the energy efficiency of your home.

You could save money if you generate your own renewable electricity.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about different types of heating systems and options to improve or upgrade the energy efficiency of your home.

Renewable or sustainable energy is much cleaner than non-sustainable energy.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about different types of heating systems and options to improve or upgrade the energy efficiency of your home.

If you are the owner or occupier of a property, you can ask a provider to make a new connection for water that will be used for domestic purposes.

Domestic purposes include water used for:

  • washing – washing machines, dishwashers;
  • cooking; and/or
  • sanitary facilities – toilets, bathrooms, showers.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find out more about getting a domestic water supply.

If you are the owner or occupier of a property, you can ask a provider to make a new connection for water that will be used for domestic purposes.

Domestic purposes include water used for:

  • washing – washing machines, dishwashers;
  • cooking; and/or
  • sanitary facilities – toilets, bathrooms, showers.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find out more about getting a domestic water supply.

If you have a cesspool, you must maintain it and make sure it:

  • is emptied regularly (for example once a month) by a registered waste carrier
  • does not leak or overflow

If your system releases sewage into the ground or surface water, then it is not a cesspool. If you are not sure what your system is, ask a local installation or maintenance company.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find out more about cesspools, septic tanks and sewerage treatment or to find a registered waste carrier.