Gas safety and carbon monoxide: what a service involves

Gas appliances are the part of a home where a small fault has the largest consequences. Carbon monoxide has no colour and no smell, and the early symptoms of exposure - headache, nausea, tiredness - are easy to mistake for something else. That is why gas work is restricted to qualified people and why a service is more than a visual once-over.

Who is allowed to do the work

Servicing gas appliances requires a Type A service gas fitter. HomeSafeGV has Type A service gas fitters on staff, which means the person who attends your property is qualified to inspect, service and sign off on the appliance rather than just look at it.

What the service covers

The exact scope depends on the appliance, but a gas heater service typically involves dismantling and cleaning the unit, inspecting the heat exchanger and combustion chamber, checking the flue and its seals, testing operating pressure, and testing for carbon monoxide spillage with a calibrated analyser.

• Appliance dismantled and cleaned
• Heat exchanger and combustion chamber inspected
• Flue and seals checked
• Operating pressure tested
• Carbon monoxide testing with a calibrated analyser

Signs worth acting on straight away

Do not wait for a scheduled visit if you notice any of the following: a yellow or lazy flame where it should be blue, soot or brown staining around the appliance, a strong smell when the heater runs, condensation appearing on windows when it is on, or anyone in the house feeling unwell only when the heating is running. Turn the appliance off and call a gas fitter.

Rentals and owner-occupiers alike

For rental properties, gas safety checks are part of the rental provider's obligations and the resulting documentation belongs on file. For owner-occupiers there is no one requiring you to do it - which is exactly why it gets missed. The appliance does not know the difference.

To book a gas appliance service or a carbon monoxide test in the Goulburn Valley, call 03 5897 7188.