Gas heater servicing and safety checks in Warragul
Gas heater servicing in Warragul for wall furnaces, space heaters and gas log fires: carbon monoxide testing, open-flued heater risks and rental safety checks.
A gas room heater, whether a wall furnace, a freestanding space heater or a gas log fire, should be serviced at least every two years by a licensed gasfitter, and the service should include a carbon monoxide spillage test. That advice comes from Energy Safe Victoria and applies to new heaters as well as old ones. In Warragul, the service is booked with and carried out by an independent local gasfitter who prices it after hearing the make, model and age; this site only forwards your request.
Why does a room heater need a carbon monoxide test?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas you cannot see or smell, produced when gas burns without enough air or when combustion products do not leave through the flue properly. Energy Safe Victoria’s page on heating your home with gas says any gas heater can spill CO, old or new. A heater can look and feel normal while it spills, which is why the test is done with instruments while the heater runs.
Three conditions raise the risk:
- Open-flued heaters. These draw combustion air from the room and rely on a natural draught up the flue. Energy Safe Victoria says they can spill CO more easily than other types, which makes them more dangerous.
- Negative pressure. When a rangehood or bathroom exhaust fan runs while the heater is on, it can pull air down the flue and push exhaust back into the room. Energy Safe Victoria advises not running those fans with the heater on.
- Blocked ventilation. Permanent wall or floor vents covered over during renovations, or by furniture, starve the heater of air. Keep them clear and open a window if the room is tightly sealed.
What are the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Energy Safe Victoria’s Be Sure campaign page lists these warning signs:
- dizziness
- feeling sick or nauseous
- headaches
- people or pets falling ill at the same time
- feeling unwell only while you are at home
If those symptoms appear with a heater running, act straight away. Get everyone out of the house into fresh air, switch off all gas appliances, and open doors and windows. Call Nurse-on-Call or see a doctor, or ring 000 in an emergency. Do not use the heater again until a qualified gasfitter has checked it.
Is my heater on a safety alert?
Energy Safe Victoria keeps a list of particular heater models with safety alerts on its gas heating page. If you own an older wall furnace or log fire, look up the brand and model on that page. Owners of listed heaters are told to contact the supplier and have the heater checked by a qualified gasfitter immediately. Have the brand and model from the data plate ready before you search; it is usually behind a lower panel or on the side of the unit.
Can I buy or sell a second-hand open-flued heater?
Not an old unsafe one. Energy Safe Victoria prohibited the sale of old, unsafe open-flued gas space heaters from 1 August 2022, and the ban covers second-hand units as well as new stock. If you are selling a house with an old open-flued heater, or buying one, ask a gasfitter whether the heater has a safety shutdown and whether it should be replaced.
What does a room heater service involve?
| Item | What the gasfitter does |
|---|---|
| CO spillage test | Runs the heater, with exhaust fans on where relevant, and measures CO near the heater and draught diverter |
| Flue and draught | Checks the flue is intact, clear of nests and debris, and drawing correctly |
| Burner and pilot | Cleans the burner, checks the flame picture and the pilot or ignition |
| Safety devices | Tests the flame failure device and any oxygen depletion sensor or shutdown |
| Gas connection | Checks for leaks at the connection and the isolation valve |
| Ventilation | Checks permanent vents are present, sized correctly and not blocked |
| Fan and filter | Cleans the fan and filter on a fan-forced wall furnace |
| Record | Writes up what was tested, the readings and any defects found |
If the heater fails the CO test, the gasfitter should tell you it is unsafe and not to use it until it is repaired or replaced. Some heaters cannot be fixed economically, and parts for older models can be hard to find. Ask for the service record in writing so you have it for the next service or for a rental inspection. If you want to compare a service against swapping the heater out, ask for a gas heater service quote and mention whether you would consider replacing it.
Who is allowed to service a gas heater?
Space heaters are Type A gas appliances. Energy Safe Victoria says servicing or repairing them should be done by a gasfitter licensed for Type A work, and suggests asking to see the gasfitter’s licence card and checking the classes listed on the back. Gasfitters are registered and licensed by the Building and Plumbing Commission, whose find and check a practitioner search shows whether someone’s licence is current and what work it covers. The full licence-checking steps are in the heating and cooling quote checklist.
What applies if you rent?
Energy Safe Victoria says a rental provider must ensure a gas safety check is done every two years. If you rent in Warragul or Trafalgar and cannot remember a gasfitter visiting, ask your agent or rental provider for the date of the last check and a copy of the report. Renters should not book their own gasfitter for the landlord’s heater without agreement, because making sure the check happens is the rental provider’s responsibility.
From 1 March 2027, a broken gas space heater in a rental home that cannot be repaired must be replaced with an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner. Owner-occupiers are not affected by that rule. The 2027 gas heating rules page sets out who it covers.
What does a gas heater service cost?
No published service price band for a gas room heater in Gippsland or Melbourne was found from a cost guide, so this page does not give one. Gasfitters usually price a room heater service after hearing the type of heater, the make and model, how easy it is to reach, and whether more than one heater is being done on the same visit. Doing two heaters, or a heater and the hot water service, in one booking may cost less than separate visits, so mention every gas appliance in the house.
Room heaters versus central heating
This page covers individual heaters in a room. If your house has a central gas ducted unit in the roof or under the floor, the gas ducted heating service page explains that job, including filters and ducts. In Trafalgar, as in other Baw Baw towns, an older house may have both: a wall furnace in the lounge and a ducted system added later. Tell the gasfitter about each appliance so they bring the right parts and allow enough time. The Trafalgar area page covers local enquiries from that town.
Next step
Write down the type of heater (wall furnace, space heater or gas log fire), the brand and model from its data plate, roughly how old it is and when it was last serviced. Mention whether the house is rented, whether the heater has a flue through the wall or roof, and anything unusual such as a yellow flame, soot marks or headaches when it runs. Then arrange a gas heater safety check with your suburb, and an independent Type A gasfitter can reply with a price.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a new gas wall furnace still need servicing every two years?
Yes. Energy Safe Victoria's advice to have gas heaters serviced at least every two years covers new heaters as well as old ones, because any gas heater can spill carbon monoxide. A new heater may also have servicing conditions in its warranty, so check the manual and keep each service record.
- What is the difference between an open-flued and a room-sealed heater?
An open-flued heater takes the air it burns from the room and relies on the flue to draw the exhaust away, so it can spill if the room is short of air or a fan pulls air down the flue. A room-sealed heater takes its air from outside and vents back outside through a sealed flue. Your gasfitter can tell you which type you have.
- Do gas log fires need the same safety check?
Yes. A gas log fire is a gas space heater and needs the same two-yearly service and carbon monoxide test by a Type A gasfitter. Decorative log fires with an open front can be sensitive to ventilation, chimney condition and exhaust fans, so ask the gasfitter to check the flue or chimney as part of the visit.
- Can I fit a carbon monoxide alarm myself?
Battery CO alarms are sold for home use and can be placed following the maker's instructions. Energy Safe Victoria is clear that an alarm does not replace servicing, so keep booking the two-yearly check. Ask the gasfitter where an alarm should sit in relation to the heater and the bedrooms.
- The heater flame has turned yellow. Can I keep using it?
No. Energy Safe Victoria treats any change in the way a heater runs, a flame that has changed from its usual colour being one example, as a reason to have a qualified gasfitter look at it. Switch it off and book an inspection. If anyone feels unwell, follow the carbon monoxide advice: leave the house, get fresh air and call 000 in an emergency.