Gas Fire Service
in the North East
What our customers say
Reviews from homeowners across the North East.
What a gas fire service involves
First we watch the fire running as you normally use it. Then we check the flue or chimney is pulling properly with a spillage test, using smoke to make sure fumes are going up and out, not back into the room.
The fire is then taken apart as far as it needs to be. Coals or the fuel bed come out and are checked for damage and correct layout, the burner is cleaned, and the pilot and thermocouple, or the flame safety device on your model, are checked so the gas shuts off if the flame goes out. We check the gas pressure and look at the ventilation the fire needs for the room.
You get a written record of what we tested and what we found.
Why a gas fire needs a yearly service
Gas fires are simple and last for years, which is exactly why they get forgotten. Meanwhile the chimney or flue can collect soot, debris or even a bird's nest, coals can break up and sit wrongly on the burner, and the parts that shut the gas off can wear. None of that is obvious from the settee. A service once a year is the way to know the fire is burning cleanly and venting safely.
What we check
- Flue or chimney: a flow test and a spillage test so fumes clear the room.
- Burner and injector: cleaned and checked for a steady, correct flame.
- Coals or fuel bed: inspected, replaced if broken, and laid out as the maker specifies. Wrongly placed coals can make a fire produce soot and carbon monoxide.
- Pilot and thermocouple: tested so the gas turns off if the flame is lost.
- Ventilation: checked against what your fire needs, as some types must have a permanent air vent in the room.
- Gas pressure and connections: checked for correct pressure and tightness.
Signs to stop using the fire now
Turn the fire off and do not use it again until it has been checked if you notice:
- Black sooty marks on the wall, the canopy or above the fire.
- Flames that look lazy, yellow or orange on a fire that normally burns crisp and blue, or flames that look different from usual on a living flame fire.
- A smell of fumes, or headaches, dizziness or sleepiness when it is on.
- A pilot light that keeps going out.
If you smell gas, turn off the supply at the meter if you can, open doors and windows, do not use switches, and call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999.
Carbon monoxide alarms
Carbon monoxide has no smell and no colour. Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm in the room with the fire, following the alarm maker's instructions on where to put it, and test it regularly. It does not replace a service, but it will warn you if something changes between visits.
Fires with a back boiler behind them
Many older North East homes have a fire in the living room with a back boiler hidden behind it, heating the water and radiators. The fire and the back boiler share the fireplace and flue, so both need checking. If yours is getting old or parts are hard to find, our back boiler replacement page explains what swapping it for a modern boiler involves.
Landlords
If you let a property, every gas fire in it must be included in the annual landlord gas safety record. We can check the fire and the boiler in one visit. See our landlord boiler service page.
What it costs
We confirm the price for your fire when you book, so you know before we arrive. If your boiler is due as well, we can service both on the same visit, which saves you a second appointment. Our boiler servicing page has the details for the boiler side.
Six things we test on a gas fire
A fire service is more than a clean. These are the checks that keep the room safe.
Where we service gas fires
We work across the North East from our base in Houghton le Spring, covering Sunderland, Durham, Washington, Chester le Street, Seaham, Peterlee, Gateshead, Newcastle and South Shields.
If your fire runs on bottled or bulk gas, see our LPG fire service page instead.
To book, call 0191 540 2051.
Gas fire service questions
What people ask us before booking a gas fire service or safety check.
How much does a gas fire service cost? +
What is the difference between a gas fire service and a gas safety check? +
How often should a gas fire be serviced? +
My fire has started leaving black marks on the wall. Is it safe? +
Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm with a gas fire? +
I have a back boiler behind my fire. Can you service that too? +
Do you service LPG gas fires? +
Can you include the fire in my landlord gas safety certificate? +
Guides from our engineers
Short, plain reads on boilers, faults and heating.
Guides
Boiler Problems
Boiler Problems
Other gas work we do
Related gas services
Gas engineers near you
- Gas engineer in Sunderland
- Gas engineer in Durham
- Gas engineer in Newcastle
- Gas engineer in Washington
- Gas engineer in Houghton le Spring
Have a question about your fire before booking? Call 0191 540 2051.