1 in 10 homes in Liverpool could be setting themselves up for a Christmas disaster

EVEN in the relatively mild Christmas forecast, the festive season can be ruined if boilers or central heating go wrong. Yet British Gas research found that almost a 3rd of residents don't check their heating is working ahead of the holiday period.

The poll also found that almost half do not get their boiler serviced and more than 42% do not bleed their radiators, putting themselves at risk of a Christmas calamity.

More than a 3rd of North West residents say family get togethers are their favourite festive activity. But engineers expect to be called out to almost 1,400 homes in the region next week, so engineers are urging families to check their homes are ready for the winter break.

Last year almost 60 homes in Liverpool faced a boiler breakdown on Christmas Day. Working over Christmas, Peter Knowles, a British Gas engineer in the region, is hoping to avoid crashing any celebrations. He says preparation is the key to steering clear of domestic disaster over the holiday period.

Peter said:- "Our priority is to keep our customers' homes and businesses warm, safe and working this winter, and engineers like me are on standby to visit homes and businesses over Christmas. Simple things like blocking draughts to stop heat escaping, or bleeding your radiators, can help keep your home warm, yet our research shows that very few people do them to prepare for the winter months. By carrying out a few quick checks, everyone can focus on enjoying the Christmas they've been hoping for."

Last winter, British Gas fixed more than 1.3 million boilers and made nearly 250,000 visits to fix problems with white goods and electrics in the home. During the same period, the company fixed almost 11,000 commercial boilers for small to medium sized businesses.