Is your gas heater safe? Be Sure.

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All gas heaters can spill carbon monoxide (CO) – a gas you can’t see or smell that can make you seriously sick or kill you.

To be sure your gas heater is safe, you should:

• have it serviced at least once every two years, by a qualified gasfitter
• check for safety advice – some heaters need fresh air flow to operate safely.

Service your gas heater for winter

You won’t be able to tell if your heater is leaking carbon monoxide – because you can’t see it or smell it.

Be sure your gas heater is safe. Have it serviced at least once every two years by a qualified gasfitter.

Are you a homeowner?

Find a qualified gasfitter as if you would find your local tradesperson – online or in your local paper. Check their licence to make sure they have the required qualifications to complete the service and testing. See Type A gasfitters below.

Are you renovating your home?

If you have renovated or weather-sealed your home and kept your open-flued gas heater, you may have inadvertently altered the ventilation your home needs to clear carbon monoxide from your gas heater. This might be sealing dangerous carbon monoxide in your home.

Be sure that your gas heater is safe. Have it serviced by a qualified gas plumber.

Are you a tenant, rental provider or real estate agent?

Victoria’s new rental laws came into effect on 29 March 2021.

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is the agency responsible for these regulations. The CAV website provides detailed summaries and guides; see 2021 Victorian rental laws changes (CAV).

Under the new laws rental providers (previously referred to as landlords) have certain responsibilities for gas and electrical safety.

The rental provider must ensure a gas safety check of all gas installations and fittings on the premises is conducted every two years by a licensed or registered gasfitter who is endorsed in the specialised class of Type A gas appliances servicing work (Gas Serving Type A on the Plumbers Identity Card).

Find out more about your rights and responsibilities under the new rental laws.

Use your gas heater safely

• Check if a safety alert has been issued for your gas heater.
• Don’t use kitchen rangehoods or exhaust fans at the same time as your heater. This can create what is known as a negative pressure environment, where carbon monoxide is drawn into living spaces.
• Don’t leave your gas heater on overnight, or for extensive periods.
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm as a back-up measure.
• If your heater is very old, consider replacing it.
• Never bring portable outdoor gas appliances indoors.

Learn more about heating your home safely with gas.

Is carbon monoxide (CO) making you sick?

CO building up inside your home can make you sick for a short time, have long-term health effects or even kill you and your family quickly.

Some of the symptoms are similar to cold symptoms, common in winter. This can make it difficult for a doctor to diagnose that you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, they could be caused by carbon monoxide leaking from your heater.

• Dizziness
• Feeling sick or nauseous
• Headaches
• People and/or pets getting sick at the same time
• Feeling unwell only when you’re at home.

Act quickly if you think your heater could be making people sick

• Call Nurse-on-Call, see a doctor or dial 000 in an emergency
• Leave the house immediately and get into the fresh air
• Turn off all gas appliances straight away, open windows and doors to let fresh air into the house
• Do not use your heater until you’ve had it checked by a qualified gasfitter.

Finding a licensed gasfitter

Read more about finding a gasfitter.

Gasfitters have different types of licences depending on the work they are qualified to do. All registered and licensed plumbers are issued with a Photo ID card that lists the type of work they can do.

When searching for a gasfitter, you will need to check their qualifications and areas of expertise. Contact them and ask if they are licensed for the service required. When they attend the site, ask to check their licence card and the registered classes listed on the back of the card.

• Use Google or another search engine to find a plumber or gasfitter in your area
• look in local newspapers and Facebook pages, or
• you can try the Find a practitioner (VBA) service.

Type A gasfitters

There are two different types of gas appliances – Type A and Type B appliances

Type A appliances include domestic and light commercial type appliances such cookers, space heaters, central heaters, water heaters, catering equipment and leisure appliances. So, when looking to service and repair your gas heater, be sure it’s done by a licensed gasfitter endorsed in the specialised class Gas Servicing Type A.

To conduct routine servicing and CO checks, the licence needs to show the ‘Gas servicing type-A’ (circled in red below) accreditation.

Look out for the licence/s below when choosing a gasfitter to carry out the work. Check that they are qualified to carry out Type A appliance servicing.

The benefits to you

• Training and competency – to be a licensed gasfitter, a person must have undertaken the appropriate training to complete gas work safely, including having passed exams for competency and being registered with the VBA.
• Licensed gasfitters must have insurance – providing a six (6) year warranty on the work they perform.
• Preserve your manufacturer’s warranty conditions – if appliance installation work is carried out by a licensed tradesperson, your manufacturer’s warranty conditions are not breached.