| By :
Martin Hofschroer
Homeowners are risking their lives by attempting DIY gas jobs just to save money. Research by the Gas Safe Register revealed that alarmingly 31 per cent of people would not hire a qualified engineer and fit a gas appliance in their property themselves in the hope of saving as little as £60. Furthermore, the study found that 75 per cent of homeowners confessed that they would rather DIY than leave it to the qualified professionals who have completed gas training courses, but disturbingly only 23 per cent thought they were competent enough to do it. Gas Safe Register has told people to seek advice before trying their hand at DIY because the results could have an affect on gas supply around the house. Homeowners should be wary of wallpapering over air vents, covering up or hammering into gas pipes as this could accidently result in a build up of deadly carbon monoxide, gas leaks, fires and explosions. Gas Safe Register employee Jamie Cooper said that people can enrol on plumbing courses and tiling courses to help improve their DIY skills but gas jobs should always be left to the professionals. "It will cost you more money to put a DIY job right. But more frightening is the fact that badly fitted gas appliances can lead to fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning," he said. Mr Coooper, who is well known for his work with BBC's Rogue Traders and Cowboy Trap, went on to say that DIY gas incidents killed 18 people in the UK last year and hospitalised a further 310. "During these hard economic times money is a big factor in household decisions, but when it comes to the safety of your family and home you can't put a price on that by risking DIY on gas," he added. While fitting a gas fire or cooker may look like a simple task but it should never be undertaken by people who have not passed the appropriate gas training courses or commercial gas courses. Homeowners should always use a Gas Safe registered engineer and check their Gas Safe ID card to make sure they are qualified to do the work that they want them to do. People who are looking to hammer or drill into a wall should buy a pipe detector to ensure they do not accidentally hit a gas pipe. There are around 123,000 engineers on the Gas Safe Register in the UK who have passed the necessary gas training courses.
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