Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions and have your gas appliances serviced regularly by a licensed gas fitter or the appliance manufacturer. The gas fitter should hold an unrestricted licence which enables issue of technical direction and certification of his/her work. A well adjusted natural gas flame burns blue. A flame which continuously burns yellow indicates the need for servicing. (Note that some gas lights and decorative log fires are designed to burn safely with a yellow flame.)

Regularly check that flues are not corroded and have not been blocked - if a flue is damaged, call a licensed gas fitter to have it repaired.

When lighting a gas burner, light the match or press the ignition button before turning on the gas. If it won't light, turn off the gas and wait for the gas smell to clear before trying again.

If painting in small, poorly ventilated spaces, using solvent based paints, turn off gas appliances in the room until the paint is dry and the solvent smells have disappeared.

Teach children not to light or play with the controls of a gas appliance.

Never use or store aerosols, laundry or cleaning aids near operating gas appliances.

Keep combustible materials like paper, fluids, paint, curtains, clothes and rags away from gas cookers, room and water heaters.

Never use a gas cooker as a room heater - it is not designed to operate safely for this purpose.

When using an insect bomb to fumigate your house, read and strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions on the package. The propellant used in these products is often flammable and vapours may ignite from gas appliance burners or pilots.