Safety is the priority with any gas installation, especially the ones in our homes. Every year there is an explosion in private homes. This is why it is so important to maintain proper maintenance and comply with mandatory audits. According to various IDAE reports, natural gas still accounts for 25% of the total energy consumption in the residential area of Spain. However, as pointed out by consumer organizations such as the CECU, they are convinced that “the days of gas are numbered” and remember that in terms of heating systems, there is already help to change this system for other systems such as geothermal energy. When is the review due? Inspections of gas facilities, those of private homes, are mandatory every 5 years and must be performed by a certified technician if the inspection is performed by the distribution company or by a licensed installer if the consumer hires a licensed company. In the case of gas boilers, this is done once every two years, and in the case of other fuels, every year. What is a gas review? The technician checks the operation and tightness of the meter, pipes, switches and rubber. In addition to checking the state of preservation. With this test, first of all, you want to verify that there are no leaks or cracks. Who does this service? The gas check is carried out by the distributor himself (Naturgy, Endesa, …) and the consumer must be notified 3 months before it is carried out. The consumer has the right to contract with a qualified company that is different from the marketing company. If the distributor does not receive the documents, he adds them from the OCU, he will make his own check, notifying him several days in advance. How is this service paid for? In no case is the inspection paid directly to the technician, payment is made through the gas bill that the marketer sends us regularly. This is also true, if what we do is hire our own company for the examination, according to this consumer organization. Payment for their services must be made through the distributor. Two concepts are taken into account when paying it: the expenses of managing the distributor, which is repaired, and the inspection itself, if it is with a specialized company other than the one that supplies us with gas, the price will be that. We agree. If the check is carried out by the distributor, its price is regulated by the autonomous communities, although in OCU they have estimated that “it is usually around 30 or 35 euros, but the differences are significant”. How do we avoid fraud? picaresque accompanies many aspects of life and is still more common than desirable individuals who, under pretense of supposed basic revisions, under threat of being cut off, charge for supposed inspections or revisions. Many of these scams target the elderly, Sedigas warn. From the OCU they warn that for many consumers “misinformation” is a breeding ground for deception and deception. Especially in the case of the elderly. “Butane fraud has changed, where people in overalls and a rubber band change your installation to these scams where they go house after house offering fraudulent inspections of boilers or fixtures,” they note from this consumer organization as they warn that “ Hacker” Inspector can leave the installation wrong, and even steal. How do you avoid it? First of all, they advise Sedigas to inform us by phone or other means with our marketing or distribution company if any scheduled campaign is in progress. If there are doubts, it is better to refuse the service provided and seek appropriate advice. More information Note No This will be the new price for the butane cylinder starting tomorrow. company expressly contracted by the consumer), the customer must receive prior notice, and then decide later whether to carry out with their own distribution company or hire a licensed installer to do so. In addition, the technician who comes to our house must hold the accreditation of his company, and upon completion of the audit, the consumer must obtain a certificate with the result, and above all, they remind OCU and Sedigas that there is no payment to the inspector on site. Payment will be made through your supplier on your gas bill. What do we need to be aware of to detect anomalies? You must be careful that the combustion is correct, and that the ventilation holes and outlet pipe are not blocked. In addition to complying with regulatory inspections. If you notice a smell of gas emitting, you should proceed to open the windows and not turn on any electronic devices or light switches, because a tap may occur, and contact our gas company emergency service. Do gas inspectors have to be certified? Yes, they should be. The Spanish Gas Association (Sedigas) is the main accreditation body in Spain for gas receiving facility inspectors. This employer alone has about 3,000 certified professionals. Every 3 years they must renew their certification and thus update their technical knowledge.
