Are Gas Heaters Safe? What Every Melbourne Homeowner Should Know

The Short Answer: Yes — When Properly Maintained

Gas heaters are a safe and efficient way to heat a Melbourne home when they are serviced regularly by a licensed gas fitter. The risks associated with gas heaters are real, but they are almost entirely preventable with annual inspections and prompt attention to warning signs.

The Main Risk: Carbon Monoxide

The most serious risk from a poorly maintained gas heater is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is produced when gas doesn't combust completely — and it's colourless, odourless, and potentially fatal in enclosed spaces. The most common cause of CO leakage is a cracked heat exchanger — the component that separates combustion gases from the air circulating through your home. A hairline crack is invisible to the naked eye and produces no error code. Annual servicing by a licensed gas fitter includes testing for this specifically.

Warning Signs Your Heater May Not Be Safe

Call a licensed gas fitter if you notice: a persistent burning or unusual smell when the heater runs, yellow or orange flames instead of blue, soot or black marks around the heater, condensation on windows when the heater is on, symptoms like headaches or nausea that improve when you leave the house, or any fault codes on the unit.

How Often Should a Gas Heater Be Serviced?

Every 2 years as a minimum — annually if the heater is your primary heat source, if it's more than 10 years old, or if anyone in the home has respiratory conditions. ATC Plumbing's licensed Type A gas fitters service ducted and wall-mounted gas heaters across Melbourne's south-east under BPC Licence #50694. Book a gas heater safety inspection: call 1300 282 758.