Stay safe at home

gas are just some of the services supplied to your home or block which BHP's building services team are responsible for maintaining.

To make sure everything is working properly there are certain checks they have to carry out.But there are also things you can do to stay safe in your home.

Open fireplace's

Do you have an open fireplace in your home which may once have housed a gas fire?

When a gas fire is removed, the fireplace is usually boarded up so it can't be used. If this has not happened or you suspect your fireplace may once have housed a gas fire then do not use it to light open fires under any circumstance.

The chimney maybe unsafe or blocked or there may be a disused boiler hidden at the back of the fire opening. If you are unsure contact the building services team to check.

Conventional boilers & faulty thermostats

Most council properties are fitted with combination boilers. However, some homes can only have their water heated using conventional boilers.

How do I know what boiler I have?

A combination boiler is the white box (usually fitted) in the kitchen.

A conventional boiler is the white box (usually fitted) in the kitchen along with a water cylinder, most probably in your airing cupboard or roof space. The water temperature in a conventional boiler is controlled by a thermostat in the water cylinder that stops it from over heating.

If there is:

• warm water coming through your cold taps
• loud bubbling, banging or steaming noise's coming from your water cylinder cupboard
• moisture or steam in the roof space or airing cupboard then you may have a faulty thermostat.
  

This can either damage your cold water storage tank or allow legionella bacterium to grow.

Legionella

What is legionella?

Legionella is a type of bacteria which can cause a kind of pneumonia called legionnaires disease.

What can cause it?

Like all bacteria legionella has a preferred breeding ground.

You should keep an eye out for:

• dirty shower heads or taps in a poor condition
• warm water coming from your cold taps
• taps which are rarely used.
  

The presence of these conditions can allow legionella bacteria to grow which can

be harmful to your health.

Don't forget it is your responsibility to maintain a high level of cleanliness within your kitchen and bathroom water supplies.

If you think you may be affected by any of the issues raised or would like more information then please call the building services team immediately on 020 8937 2475.