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Why Your Ducted Heater Isn't Heating All Rooms A ducted gas heater that warms some rooms well but barely heats others is one of the most common heating complaints we get at ATC Plumbing. In most cases, the problem isn't the heater unit itself — it's the distribution system. Here are the most common causes. Zone Dampers Closed or Faulty Most modern ducted systems use zone dampers — motorised flaps inside the ductwork that control airflow to different areas of the home. Check your zone controller first. If a zone shows as open but the room still isn't heating, the damper motor may have failed or the damper may be physically stuck. This requires a technician to inspect and fix. Blocked or Closed Outlet Vents It sounds obvious, but furniture placed directly over floor vents is one of the most common causes of cold rooms. Check that every vent in the affected room is fully open and unobstructed. Floor vents can also be manually adjusted — some have louvres that slide open and shut. Duct Leaks or Disconnected Sections In older Melbourne homes, flexible ductwork runs through subfloors and ceiling cavities. Over time, sections can pull away from outlet boxes or develop tears, dumping heated air into the ceiling or subfloor instead of the room. A licensed technician can inspect the duct run with a camera or by pressurising the system to find leaks. Dirty Filter Restricting Airflow A clogged return air filter forces the heat exchanger to overheat and may trigger the limit switch, reducing output across all zones. Check your return air filter — it's usually a slide-out panel at the return air grille — and clean or replace it if it's clogged with dust. This should be done every 3–6 months. System Too Small for the Home If the home has been extended since the heater was installed, the system may not have sufficient capacity for the additional floor area. A licensed technician can carry out a heat load assessment to determine whether an upgrade is required. ATC Plumbing diagnoses and repairs ducted gas heating systems across Melbourne's south-east. Call 1300 282 758 to book a diagnosis.

The Call 6:45am. A family of five in Cheltenham woke up to cold water only. Their storage hot water system had failed overnight. With morning routines for five people, school drop-offs, and a work-from-home parent on back-to-back calls, this wasn't a situation that could wait. They called Around The Clock Plumbing at 7am. A licensed plumber was on site by 9. The Diagnosis The unit was a 13-year-old gas storage hot water system. Our plumber found the sacrificial anode had completely deteriorated. Without it, the tank had corroded through — rust-coloured water was visible in the pressure relief valve outlet. This is not an uncommon failure mode. Most hot water systems last between 8 and 12 years. Anodes should be inspected every 5 years — something most homeowners don't know. Repair wasn't viable. The tank needed replacing. The Replacement We discussed options on the spot: same-capacity gas storage, continuous flow gas, or a heat pump system eligible for the Victorian government rebate. Given the household size and existing gas connection, the family chose a continuous flow gas unit. Our plumber sourced the unit from a local supplier, returned to site, decommissioned the old unit safely, and had the new system installed and commissioned by 2pm. Hot water for the evening. Done. The Takeaway Hot water system failures rarely give much warning. If your system is more than 8 years old, it's worth having a plumber inspect the anode and overall condition before it fails completely. ATC Plumbing carries out emergency hot water replacements across Melbourne's south-east including Cheltenham, Mentone, Highett, Moorabbin, and Mordialloc. No hot water? Call 1300 282 758. We're available 24/7. Related Reading How long do hot water systems last? How much does a hot water system cost to replace in Melbourne 2026? What size hot water system do I need? See our hot water systems service at atcplumbing.com.au/services/hot-water-systems.

The Call 2:17am. A homeowner in Murrumbeena heard a constant low rushing sound and woke to investigate. Outside, their front garden was flooded and water was streaming from under the front fence line. The water meter was spinning at full speed. They turned it off at the meter, then called Around The Clock Plumbing. Our emergency line was answered immediately. We had a plumber on site at 3am. What Happened The copper supply line running from the water meter to the house had failed at a fitting — a pinhole failure that had almost certainly been developing slowly before giving way. Cold overnight temperatures in Melbourne's winters put additional stress on older copper fittings and can accelerate these failures. The pipe run was under about 400mm of soil and the front garden path — not a complex excavation, but one requiring care to avoid a nearby conduit. The Fix Our plumber excavated, located the failed section, cut out the damaged fitting, and installed a new copper run with a compression joint suited to the ground conditions. The trench was reinstated and compacted. Water was back on by 5:30am. The homeowner went back to bed. Total time from call to job completion: just over three hours. What to Know About Burst Pipes Knowing where your water meter is and how to turn it off is genuinely important — it limits damage significantly while you wait for a plumber. ATC Plumbing is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for genuine plumbing emergencies across Melbourne's south-east. We quote before we start and there is no additional call-out surcharge based on the time of day. Plumbing emergency? Call 1300 282 758 any time. Related Reading How to turn off your water meter. Plumbing emergencies 101 — 5 urgent issues and how to respond. Our Murrumbeena plumbing services. See our emergency plumbing page at atcplumbing.com.au/services/emergency-plumbing.

The Call A family in Oakleigh had been putting up with a sluggish shower drain for about six weeks. They'd tried every supermarket drain cleaner on the shelf. Nothing worked for more than a day or two. When the shower stopped draining completely on a Sunday morning, they called Around The Clock Plumbing. We were on site within the hour. The Initial Assessment Our plumber ran a high-pressure water jet through the drain to clear the immediate blockage and restore flow. But clearing a blockage is only half the job — the real question is what caused it and whether it will come back. We deployed our CCTV drain camera to inspect the pipe from the shower to the main drain. What we found told the whole story: a mature tree root had infiltrated a clay sewer pipe joint approximately four metres from the house. The root mass had been slowly accumulating debris until the pipe was completely choked. The Solution The immediate blockage was cleared with the high-pressure jet. For the root intrusion, we offered two options: excavate and replace the affected section, or reline it using CIPP technology with no digging required. The homeowner chose pipe relining. We inserted a flexible liner coated in epoxy resin, inflated it against the pipe wall, and cured it in place. The result is a seamless, root-resistant pipe within the original pipe — stronger than the original clay and carrying a 35-year manufacturer warranty. Total time on site: under four hours. No excavation, no damage to the garden or driveway. Why This Matters Tree root intrusion is one of the most common causes of recurring blocked drains in Melbourne's older suburbs. High-pressure jetting without a CCTV inspection is just treating symptoms. ATC Plumbing uses CCTV inspection on every recurring or unexplained blockage to find the actual cause. Blocked drain that keeps coming back? Call ATC Plumbing on 1300 282 758. Same-day service across Melbourne's south-east. Related Reading Blocked drains caused by tree roots — Melbourne's most common problem. CCTV drain inspection — what it is, when you need it, what it costs. Is pipe relining worth it? See our blocked drain service at atcplumbing.com.au/services/blocked-drain-plumber.

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.

Our Licences and Accreditations ATC Plumbing — Around The Clock Plumbing Pty Ltd — operates under all required Victorian plumbing and gas fitting licences. When you engage ATC Plumbing, you're hiring a fully licensed, insured, and accredited trade business. Here's exactly what we hold and what it means for you. Plumbing Licence — VBA BPC #50694 Our Victorian Building Authority (VBA) plumbing licence number is BPC #50694. This licence is issued by the VBA and authorises ATC Plumbing to carry out all classes of plumbing work in Victoria, including water supply, sanitary plumbing, stormwater drainage, and gasfitting. You can verify this licence at any time on the VBA's public register at vba.vic.gov.au. Under Victorian law, all plumbing work must be carried out by or under the direct supervision of a licensed plumber. Unlicensed plumbing work is illegal and can void your home insurance. When you call ATC Plumbing, every job is performed by or supervised by a VBA-licensed plumber — no exceptions. Type A Gas Fitting Licence All gas work at ATC Plumbing is carried out by Type A gas fitters — the highest classification of gas fitting licence in Victoria. Type A accreditation covers all gas appliance work including ducted heating, space heaters, hot water systems, cooktops, and gas line installation. This is the licence required to carry out gas heater safety inspections, heat exchanger testing, and appliance commissioning. Public Liability Insurance ATC Plumbing holds comprehensive public liability insurance. This protects you as the property owner in the event of any accidental damage or injury arising from our work on your property. We carry and maintain this insurance as a non-negotiable part of operating a professional trade business. Certificate of Compliance For notifiable plumbing work — which includes most significant plumbing and gas installations — ATC Plumbing issues a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) upon completion. This certificate is lodged with the VBA and provides legal documentation that the work was carried out by a licensed plumber to the required standard. You should keep this document with your property records. Why This Matters Hiring unlicensed plumbers — whether through cash jobs, unregistered contractors, or handymen — puts your home, your family, and your insurance at risk. Gas work carried out by unlicensed operators is particularly dangerous and is a leading cause of carbon monoxide incidents in residential properties. ATC Plumbing's licences aren't just paperwork — they're your guarantee that the work is done safely, legally, and to the standard required by Victorian law. Have questions about our credentials? Call ATC Plumbing on 1300 282 758 — we're happy to discuss our qualifications before you book. Related reading: Read our customer care charter to understand our commitment to you, see our transparent 2026 plumbing pricing, and learn about our independent plumbing inspection services. Book online at https://www.atcplumbing.com.au/book-online.

Gas Heater Not Working? Start Here Before calling a plumber, there are a few things worth checking yourself — they resolve the problem more often than you'd think. Work through these in order. Step 1 — Check the Gas Supply Check whether other gas appliances in your home are working — the stove, another heater, or the hot water system. If nothing gas-powered is working, the issue may be with the gas supply to the property rather than the heater itself. Contact your gas supplier (in Victoria, usually Multinet Gas or Australian Gas Networks) before calling a plumber. Step 2 — Check the Thermostat Make sure the thermostat is set above the current room temperature. For battery-powered thermostats, replace the batteries — low batteries are a surprisingly common cause of a heater appearing completely dead. For smart thermostats, check it hasn't lost its Wi-Fi connection or reset to a factory schedule. Step 3 — Check the Return Air Filter A clogged return air filter causes the heat exchanger to overheat and the heater to shut down on its safety limit switch. Locate your return air grille — usually a large louvred panel in the hallway ceiling or wall — and check if the filter is clogged with dust. If so, clean or replace it and try again. Step 4 — Look for a Fault Code Modern gas heaters display fault codes on their digital panel when they shut down due to an internal fault. Note the code number and check your user manual. Common codes relate to ignition failure, flame sensor faults, or pressure switch issues. These almost always require a licensed gas fitter & heater service. Step 5 — Pilot Light (Older Heaters) If your heater has a standing pilot light, check whether it has gone out. Your user manual will have relighting instructions — typically holding a reset button while lighting the pilot. If it won't stay lit after several attempts, the thermocouple has likely failed. This is a quick and inexpensive repair for a licensed gas fitter. If none of these resolve the problem, call ATC Plumbing on 1300 282 758. We carry out gas heater repairs across Melbourne's south-east under BPC Licence #50694.

Updated May 2026 — Around The Clock Plumbing Pty Ltd, Oakleigh South. Ducted and wall gas heaters serve the same basic purpose — heating your home — but they work differently, suit different homes, and have different servicing, repair and replacement considerations. If you're deciding between heater types, or trying to understand what you already have, this guide explains the key differences and what each means in practice. How Ducted Gas Heating Works A ducted gas heating system has a central furnace unit — typically in a roof space, under-floor void or utility cupboard — that burns gas to heat air, then distributes that warm air through a network of ducts to outlets in each room. The system is controlled by a central thermostat and, in zoned systems, individual zone controllers that let you heat selected rooms independently. Ducted systems are well suited to larger homes where whole-home or multi-zone heating is needed. They're the most common gas heating type across Melbourne's family homes built from the 1970s onward. The main ongoing requirement is annual servicing — and because the furnace unit is often in a roof space or concealed location, the heat exchanger condition is particularly important to check, since visual inspection alone won't reveal cracks. How Wall Gas Heaters Work A wall gas heater — sometimes called a wall furnace or space heater — is a self-contained unit mounted on or recessed into a wall, heating the room it's in directly. Older models use a standing pilot light and manual controls; more recent units have electronic ignition and thermostats. They don't use ducts, so they're simpler to install and suited to heating individual rooms or smaller homes. Wall heaters are common in Melbourne's older housing stock — particularly in units, townhouses and period homes where ducted systems were never installed. Many are significantly aged. An older wall furnace that hasn't been serviced in several years is a higher CO risk than a well-maintained ducted system, because the heat exchanger in a wall unit is smaller and more susceptible to cracking from thermal cycling. Key Differences: Ducted vs Wall Gas Heater Coverage — Ducted systems heat multiple rooms simultaneously via outlets. Wall heaters heat one room or open-plan space directly. Installation — Ducted systems require ductwork and a concealed furnace. Wall heaters require only a gas connection and a flue through the wall. Running cost — Both burn gas, but ducted systems heating a whole home will cost more to run than a wall heater used for spot heating. Zoning reduces this significantly in ducted systems. Servicing — Both require annual servicing by a licensed Type A gas fitter, including a heat exchanger integrity test. The test method differs between types but the requirement is the same. Repair vs replace threshold — Ducted systems have a longer serviceable life (15–20+ years with proper maintenance). Older wall furnaces over 15 years old with any faults are generally better replaced than repaired, given parts availability and safety considerations. Which Type Is Right for Your Home? If you're in a larger home and want whole-home heating with zone control, ducted gas is the practical choice — provided you have the roof space or under-floor void for the installation. If you're in a smaller home, unit or apartment and want to heat one or two rooms efficiently without major installation work, a modern wall heater or a reverse-cycle split system are both reasonable options. We give honest advice rather than defaulting to the more expensive recommendation. Fast arrival → accurate diagnosis → permanent fix applies here too: if you call us about a heater problem, we'll assess what you have, tell you honestly whether it's worth repairing, and give you a fixed-price quote before any work starts. Common Questions: Ducted vs Wall Gas Heater Can I convert from a wall heater to ducted gas heating? Yes, in most homes. It requires installing a central furnace unit, running ductwork through the roof space or under-floor, and fitting outlets in each room. It's a significant installation job but gives you whole-home heating from a single unit. We can assess your home's suitability and provide a fixed-price quote. How often should a ducted gas heater be serviced? Annually for residential use. Every two years is the legal minimum for rental properties. Annual servicing catches heat exchanger faults and combustion issues before they become safety problems. My wall heater is 20 years old — should I repair or replace? At 20 years, replacement is usually the better call — particularly if the unit hasn't been serviced regularly. Parts availability declines for older units, and the heat exchanger in an aged wall furnace is a legitimate safety concern. We'll inspect it and give you an honest assessment. Do both ducted and wall heaters need a heat exchanger test? Yes — both types have a heat exchanger and both require an integrity test as part of a proper service. The test method differs between types but the safety requirement is identical. Written and reviewed by Christopher Unwin — founder, Around The Clock Plumbing Pty Ltd, Oakleigh South. BPC Licence #50694, Type A gas, 22 years' experience. National Council member, Master Plumbers Australia & New Zealand.

Gas Heater Service Costs in Melbourne — 2026 Guide Gas heater servicing costs in Melbourne vary depending on the type of heater, its age, and how long since it was last serviced. Here's an honest guide to what you should expect to pay in 2026. Ducted Gas Heater Service A standard annual service for a ducted gas heater — covering safety inspection, heat exchanger integrity test, flue inspection, combustion analysis, filter clean, and burner inspection — typically costs $360–$440 in Melbourne's south-east. This is the full service, not just a function check. If the service uncovers a fault requiring parts, those are quoted separately before any work proceeds. Wall Furnace and Space Heater Service Wall-mounted gas heaters and space heaters are generally quicker to service than ducted systems. Expect $360–$440 for a standard service on a wall furnace, including the safety inspection and combustion check. Any parts required are quoted additionally. What's Included in a Proper Gas Heater Service? A thorough service should include: visual inspection of the unit and flue, heat exchanger integrity testing, combustion gas analysis, burner inspection and clean, gas pressure check, ignition system check, thermostat verification, and filter inspection. If a plumber just runs the heater and checks it turns on — that's not a service. At ATC Plumbing, every service is comprehensive and includes a written report. Is It Worth Servicing an Old Heater? Generally yes, up to about 15 years of age — provided the heat exchanger is sound. If the exchanger has cracked, the heater must be replaced. For heaters over 15 years old, a service combined with an honest condition assessment makes sense — a good plumber will tell you if spending money on a service isn't worthwhile. ATC Plumbing services ducted heaters, wall furnaces, and space heaters across Melbourne's south-east under BPC Licence #50694. Call 1300 282 758 or book online. Related reading: how to get a fair plumbing quote

Updated May 2026 — Around The Clock Plumbing Pty Ltd, Oakleigh South. In Victoria, all gas work on domestic appliances — including gas heater servicing, repair and installation — must be carried out by a gasfitter holding a Type A gas licence issued by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Understanding what that licence means, why it matters, and how to verify it before you book takes about two minutes and could prevent a genuinely dangerous situation. What Is a Type A Gas Licence? Gas appliances in Victoria are classified into two categories. Type A appliances are those designed for use by the general public — including domestic gas heaters, hot water systems, cooktops and ovens. Type B appliances are industrial or commercial pressure vessels and process equipment. A gasfitter licensed for Type A work is authorised to service, repair and install domestic gas appliances. A plumber without a gas licence — or one holding only a general plumbing licence — is not legally permitted to touch your gas heater. The licence is issued by the VBA (Victorian Building Authority) under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2014 and recorded on the VBA's public BAMS register. It is separate from a general plumbing licence. A plumber who services gas heaters without a Type A gas endorsement is performing unlicensed gas work — which is illegal under Victorian law regardless of their experience or intentions. How to Verify a Gas Fitter's Licence Before You Book The VBA's BAMS (Building and Plumbing Approvals Management System) register is publicly accessible. You can search by practitioner name or licence number and confirm that the licence is current and includes a gas endorsement. It takes under a minute. Go to bams.vba.vic.gov.au and search for the practitioner's name or licence number. Confirm the licence status shows as current (not expired or suspended). Confirm the licence classes include a gas endorsement — specifically Type A gas fitting. ATC Plumbing holds BPC Licence #50694 with a current Type A gas endorsement. Christopher Unwin is verifiable on the BAMS register. We carry our licence details on every job and are happy to provide them on request before booking. Why Unlicensed Gas Work Is a Serious Risk Gas appliance faults — particularly a cracked heat exchanger — can produce carbon monoxide inside a home with no visible sign: no smell, no noise, no error code. A licenced gasfitter performing a proper service includes a heat exchanger integrity test and combustion gas analysis specifically to detect this. An unlicensed operator — or a licensed plumber without gas endorsement doing a quick visual check — will not perform these tests. The result is a heater returned to service with an undetected fault. Beyond the immediate safety risk, unlicensed gas work has insurance implications. If a gas-related incident occurs and the work was carried out by an unlicensed person, a home insurance claim may be denied. For landlords, unlicensed gas work also creates serious liability exposure under the Residential Tenancies Act, which requires gas appliances in rental properties to be serviced by a licensed gasfitter. What to Ask Every Gas Fitter Before They Start What is your VBA licence number? (Should be able to provide it immediately.) Does your licence include a Type A gas endorsement? (Not just a plumbing licence.) Will you perform a heat exchanger integrity test and combustion gas analysis? (Not just a visual check.) Will I receive a written service report? (Required for rental compliance.) A reputable licensed gasfitter will answer every one of these questions clearly and without hesitation. Fast arrival → accurate diagnosis → permanent fix begins with arriving at a job legally qualified to do it properly. Common Questions About Gas Fitter Licensing Is a plumber allowed to service my gas heater? Only if their plumbing licence includes a Type A gas endorsement. A general plumbing licence alone does not authorise gas appliance work. Always verify on the VBA BAMS register before booking. How do I check a gas fitter's licence in Victoria? Search the VBA's public BAMS register at bams.vba.vic.gov.au using the practitioner's name or licence number. Confirm the licence is current and includes a gas (Type A) endorsement. What happens if unlicensed gas work causes an incident? Home insurance claims may be denied where work was carried out by an unlicensed person. Landlords face liability under the Residential Tenancies Act. The unlicensed operator faces penalties under the Plumbing and Drainage Act. What is ATC Plumbing's gas licence number? BPC Licence #50694, Type A gas endorsement, held by Christopher Unwin. Verifiable on the VBA BAMS register. Written and reviewed by Christopher Unwin — founder, Around The Clock Plumbing Pty Ltd, Oakleigh South. BPC Licence #50694, Type A gas, 22 years' experience. National Council member, Master Plumbers Australia & New Zealand.

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. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector A CO detector is a worthwhile investment for any home with gas appliances. Install one on each floor, particularly near bedrooms and living areas where gas heaters operate — CO is slightly lighter than air and spreads quickly in enclosed spaces. Detectors are available from hardware stores for $30–80 and should be tested monthly by pressing the test button. A CO detector is a last line of defence — not a substitute for annual servicing. A slowly developing heat exchanger fault may produce sub-threshold CO levels for extended periods before an alarm activates. The detector catches acute exposure; the annual service catches the fault before it produces any CO at all. Additional Warning Signs to Watch For Beyond the warning signs covered above, also watch for: condensation on windows in the room where the heater is running (can indicate incomplete combustion exhausting moisture into the room rather than through the flue); soot or black carbon deposits around the heater grilles or on walls near the unit; and recurring fault codes or error lights that reset but keep returning. Any of these warrants an immediate call to a licensed Type A gas fitter — not a reset and wait.

Yes — But Only When Something Is Wrong All gas appliances produce carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion. Under normal operation, a correctly maintained gas heater vents these gases safely through a flue to the outside. The risk occurs when combustion is incomplete or when CO escapes into the living space rather than being vented out. When Does a Gas Heater Become a CO Risk? The two most common causes of CO leakage are a cracked heat exchanger — which allows combustion gases to mix with circulated air — and a blocked or damaged flue, which prevents exhaust gases from escaping the building. Both faults are undetectable without professional testing equipment. This is why annual servicing by a licensed Type A gas fitter is so important. A cracked heat exchanger produces no smell, no noise, and no error code. It is found during inspection — or not at all. Symptoms of CO Exposure Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and confusion. Symptoms often improve when you leave the home — which is the key signal. If multiple people in the household experience these symptoms simultaneously, leave the building immediately, get fresh air, and call emergency services. Should I Install a CO Detector? Yes. A carbon monoxide detector is a worthwhile investment for any home with gas appliances. Install one on each floor, particularly near bedrooms and living areas. CO detectors are available from hardware stores for $30–80 and should be tested monthly. However, a CO detector is a last line of defence — not a substitute for annual servicing. Call ATC Plumbing on 1300 282 758 to book a gas heater safety inspection across Melbourne's south-east.