Gas heater servicing and safety checks in Traralgon
Gas heater service in Traralgon: what a two-yearly Type A service covers, carbon monoxide spillage and negative pressure tests, flue types and rental checks.
Energy Safe Victoria recommends a gas space heater, wall furnace or central heater is serviced at least once every two years by a gasfitter registered or licensed for Type A appliance servicing. The service includes a carbon monoxide spillage test, because any gas heater, old or new, can leak carbon monoxide into the room. Gas work is not something to attempt yourself, and an independent local gasfitter quotes and carries out the service.
There is no published price band for this job on the site. Energy Safe Victoria says the cost varies with the type of appliance, the gasfitter and the location, so compare a few prices.
Which heaters need a regular gas service?
Energy Safe Victoria groups gas space heaters into three types by how they are flued, and its Be Sure campaign warns that all gas heaters can spill carbon monoxide.
| Heater type | How it gets rid of combustion gases | Main risk to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Flueless | Releases combustion products into the room | Indoor flueless heaters can no longer be newly installed in Victoria |
| Open-flued | Draws air from the room and sends gases up a flue | Can spill carbon monoxide into the room under negative pressure |
| Room-sealed | Takes air from outside and vents outside through a sealed flue | Still needs servicing to keep burner and flue in order |
Open-flued heaters are the ones most affected by how the rest of the house is ventilated, so the type matters when you book. If you are not sure which you have, a photo of the heater and its flue usually lets the gasfitter tell.
What happens during a gas heater service?
Energy Safe Victoria’s open-flued gas heater FAQ sets out what a service should include:
- A visual inspection of the appliance and its flue.
- A negative pressure and combustion spillage test, often called a CO test.
- Internal cleaning of the heater.
- Repair or replacement of worn or faulty parts.
- Running the heater to check it operates safely.
If the gasfitter finds carbon monoxide spilling because of a fault in the heater and cannot fix it, the Building and Plumbing Commission says the gasfitter must disable the heater. Since 2010, three Victorians have died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by open-flued gas space heaters, according to the commission’s carbon monoxide safety guide.
What is negative pressure, and why does it matter?
An open-flued heater relies on air in the room moving up its flue. When exhaust fans pull air out of the house faster than it can come back in, the pressure inside drops and the flue can reverse, pushing combustion gases back into the room. The Building and Plumbing Commission’s carbon monoxide guide gives this advice for open-flued heaters:
- Do not run extraction fans, including a kitchen rangehood, while the heater is on.
- Allow adequate ventilation while the heater is running.
- Before sealing or draught proofing the house, have a licensed gasfitter run a negative pressure and spillage test.
- If the gasfitter finds negative pressure, extra ventilation may need to be installed.
Renovating or weather-sealing a house that has an open-flued heater can change the ventilation the heater needs. If you have recently put in new windows, draught seals, a bigger rangehood or a roof fan, tell the gasfitter so the spillage test is run with those fans going.
What are the warning signs of carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide has no colour or smell. Energy Safe Victoria’s Be Sure campaign page lists the symptoms to watch for:
- Dizziness.
- Feeling sick or nauseous.
- Headaches.
- Several people, or pets, becoming unwell at the same time.
- Feeling unwell only when you are at home.
If you suspect carbon monoxide, leave the house, turn off gas appliances if it is safe to, and open windows and doors. Call 000 in an emergency, or speak to Nurse-on-Call or your doctor. Leave the heater switched off until a gasfitter has inspected it.
Energy Safe Victoria treats a carbon monoxide alarm as a back-up to servicing. If you choose a hard-wired alarm, a licensed electrician must install it.
Are older open-flued heaters still allowed?
Yes, if they were installed before the change. From 1 August 2022, Energy Safe Victoria prohibited the sale of old open-flued gas space heaters that lack a safety shutdown, including second-hand units. The Building and Plumbing Commission says the ban sits under the Gas Safety Act 1997 and that heaters already installed before that date are not affected, though they should still be serviced every two years. New compliant open-flued heaters shut themselves down if they spill combustion products for more than 15 minutes.
If you are thinking about retiring an old wall furnace or space heater rather than servicing it again, the gas to electric heating upgrade page explains that job. Ducted furnaces have their own page on gas ducted heating service and replacement.
What will a careful gasfitter refuse to do?
A gasfitter doing this work properly will not:
- Skip the spillage test because the heater “looks fine”.
- Leave a heater running that is spilling carbon monoxide through a fault they cannot fix.
- Test with all exhaust fans off when the household normally runs them.
- Service a heater outside the classes shown on the back of their licence card.
You can confirm a gasfitter’s Type A endorsement on the Building and Plumbing Commission’s practitioner search, or ask to see their card. The about page explains how enquiries from this site reach local businesses and where else to check licences.
If you would like to line up a service before the cold months, you can arrange a gas heater safety check now and mention the heater type.
How should I prepare for the gasfitter’s visit?
A service goes faster and the results mean more when the gasfitter can test the heater the way you actually use it. Before the appointment:
| Before the visit | Reason |
|---|---|
| Clear furniture, curtains and clutter from around the heater | The gasfitter needs room to remove panels and work safely |
| Find the manual or note the make and model | Helps with parts and the manufacturer’s service steps |
| Note which exhaust fans you run in winter | They should be switched on during the spillage test |
| Show the gasfitter any recent renovations or draught sealing | Ventilation changes can affect an open-flued heater |
| Let the heater cool if it has been running | Internal parts are cleaned and inspected cold |
| Write down anything odd you have noticed | Flame changes, smells or headaches point the gasfitter to the cause |
Ask for a written record of the service, including the spillage test result. It is useful for your own records and, in a rental, it helps the landlord meet record keeping duties.
What about gas heaters in rental homes?
Consumer Affairs Victoria requires a gas safety check in a rental every two years by a gasfitter endorsed in Type A appliance servicing, along with record keeping and disclosure duties. Landlords and renters can find the full set of obligations in the rental heating standards checklist.
Next step: describe the heater
To get a gas heater service quote, send your gas heater details with:
- The type of heater: space heater, wall furnace, log fire or central unit.
- The make and model from the data plate, and a photo of the heater.
- The flue type if you know it, or a photo of the flue or wall vent.
- When it was last serviced.
- Any symptoms: soot, a yellow or lazy flame, a smell, or people feeling unwell.
- Whether the property is rented, and your suburb.
Frequently asked questions
- Who can service a gas space heater in Traralgon?
A gasfitter registered or licensed with the Building and Plumbing Commission in the specialised class of Type A appliance servicing. The classes are on the back of the gasfitter's card, and the commission's online practitioner search shows them too.
- How much does a gas heater service cost?
Energy Safe Victoria says the price depends on the type of appliance, the gasfitter and the location, and suggests getting a few prices. This site does not publish a band for this job because no reliable published guide was found.
- Can I install a new flueless gas heater indoors?
No. Energy Safe Victoria says regulations stop new indoor flueless space heaters being installed in Victoria. Existing LPG flueless heaters may be replaced only in limited circumstances.
- Is a carbon monoxide alarm enough instead of a service?
No. Energy Safe Victoria describes a CO alarm as a back-up. Regular servicing with a spillage test is what finds the fault. If you want a hard-wired alarm, it must be installed by a licensed electrician.
- What happens if my heater fails the spillage test?
The gasfitter will try to find and fix the cause, such as a blocked flue or a faulty part. If carbon monoxide spillage cannot be fixed because of a heater fault, the Building and Plumbing Commission says the gasfitter must disable the heater.
- My open-flued heater was installed years ago. Do I have to remove it?
No. The 1 August 2022 ban covers selling old open-flued heaters without a safety shutdown. Heaters already installed before then are not affected, but the Building and Plumbing Commission says they should still be serviced every two years.