Case Study: Gas Heater Fault in Bentleigh — Carbon Monoxide Risk Caught Before Winter

The Call

It was early May — Melbourne's first real cold snap of the year. A homeowner in Bentleigh called Around The Clock Plumbing after switching on their ducted gas heater for the first time since the previous winter. The heater fired up, but there was an unfamiliar burning smell coming from the vents. They weren't sure if it was just dust burning off or something more serious. They called us on 1300 282 758. We had a licensed gas fitter on site the same afternoon.

What We Found

Our gas fitter carried out a full Type A gas appliance inspection. The heater's heat exchanger had developed a hairline crack — a fault invisible to the naked eye and undetectable without proper testing equipment. A cracked heat exchanger allows combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to leak into the air circulating through the home. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless. The burning smell the homeowner noticed was an early warning sign. We also found the unit's flue was partially obstructed, compounding the risk.

What We Did

The heater was condemned and isolated immediately. We provided a full written report and explained the homeowner's options: like-for-like replacement, or an upgrade to a more efficient unit. Within two days we had installed a new ducted gas heater. The home was warm and safe well before the worst of the Melbourne winter arrived.

The Lesson

Gas heater servicing is not just about efficiency — it's about safety. A cracked heat exchanger produces no noise, no fault code, and often no obvious smell until the problem is serious. Annual servicing by a licensed gas fitter is the only reliable way to catch these faults early. ATC Plumbing carries out gas heater safety inspections across Melbourne's south-east including Bentleigh, Oakleigh, Carnegie, Moorabbin, and surrounding suburbs under BPC Licence #50694. Book your annual gas heater service before next winter — call 1300 282 758.

Related Reading

Are gas heaters safe? What every Melbourne homeowner should know. Do gas heaters produce carbon monoxide? How much does gas heater servicing cost in Melbourne 2026? See our gas heater service page at atcplumbing.com.au/services/gas-heater-service.