Protect Your Family With Our FREE Gas Safety Checklist
It’s only a matter of time until the first cold snap of the year has you warming your hands in front of the trusty family gas heater. But are you protected against the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
No one wants to think about a potential gas leak in their home, but with heater usage going up throughout the colder months, it’s crucial you know how to protect your family. Read on to discover how.
When the days get shorter and the Melbourne nights start getting colder it’s second-nature to pop on the gas heater and get cosy.
A nightly routine for millions of Aussies each year, the family heater is a place of warmth, comfort and competition for spots if you’ve got kids or pets, but your heater may also be placing your health at risk.
Although gas heaters are more energy efficient than their electric counterparts, the resulting exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide (CO) that poses a threat to your health. Colourless and odourless, CO can reach dangerous levels when trapped inside without adequate ventilation and your living room provides the perfect environment to trap excess CO fumes.
To protect your family from serious illness or death, make sure you:
- Schedule a service from a qualified gas fitter once every 24 months
- Follow a gas safety checklist to keep your home and family safe from harm
At Reed Plumbing and Drainage Solutions we’re passionate about gas safety and awareness. Our team of skilled gas fitters have been helping Melbourne customers stay warm and healthy for 5 years and counting, and we’re as committed as ever to keeping our customers safe.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about CO testing.
How Do Gas Heaters Work?
Gas heaters are common throughout Australia, keeping you and your family warm on those chilly Melbourne nights that make a warm heater and a night on the couch sound like heaven.
Thanks to the number of homes connected to gas piping (known as ‘gas reticulation’), roughly 70% of Australian homes are enjoying reliable gas connectivity with the two primary types of heaters including portable and flue.
And no, we don’t mean the type of ‘flu’ that keeps you in bed all day. A flue is a pipe that carries exhaust fumes from your gas heater to the great outdoors, which helps keep the air inside your home safe.
If your home enjoys a flue heater it’s easy to assume you’re in the clear, but a poorly installed flue or damaged flue can leave CO leaking into your home and putting you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
How Much Does Gas Leak Repair Cost?
Only qualified and licensed gas plumbers or gas fitters can carry out gas leak detection and repair.
Finding an affordable gas repair service in Melbourne is easiest when you compare quotes and contact multiple gas leak experts. Typically, your location and the severity of the leak will impact the quote you receive.
As a general rule, expect to pay a call-out fee or service fee (typically between $40 to $100) prior to a full service quote. At Reed Plumbing and Drainage Solutions we’re committed to keeping your costs low, which is why we offer no-obligation quotes to help you save on call-out fees and compare gas leak repair prices to find the best deal for you.
Looking for a fast, FREE quote? Click here to speak to a member of our Melbourne leak detection team
How Do You Know If Your Heater Is Leaking Gas?
When it comes to a gas leak, your nose will typically lead the way.
In addition to the smell of sulfur, or rotten eggs, be on the lookout for the following warning signs your gas heater is leaking and in need of urgent repair.
- Hearing a low hissing noise
- Higher than usual gas bills
- Dying or dead indoor house plants
- Gas pilot light keeps going out
- Seeing moving dust or a “cloud”
- Scorching in an unusual spot on your heater
As CO can cause carbon monoxide poisoning you’ll also need to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of CO poisoning. If you smell gas, it’s vital you turn off the gas at the meter right away.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide building up in your home has the potential to make you feel sick in the short-term, as well as pose serious long-term health risks and even the risk of death if not caught in time.
Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can mimic the common cold. This makes it tough to differentiate between the two during the cold winter months when the sniffles seem to be going around.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, you may be dealing with a carbon monoxide leak in your home:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Trouble Breathing
- Vomiting
If you’re experiencing these symptoms along with your family members (and even your pets) it’s crucial you seek medical attention and, when appropriate, take steps to service your gas heater to avoid any further leaks.
BONUS: Gas Safety Checklist
In most cases, you won’t know if your gas heater is leaking carbon monoxide, as the escaping gas has no smell or sound. This can leave you and your family at risk throughout the chilly winter months when your heater is working overtime.
Prevention is better than a cure, so follow our simple gas heater safety checklist to stay warm and healthy this winter:
- Avoid using the kitchen rangehood or exhaust fans at the same time as your gas heater: Using these appliances whilst running your heater may create a negative pressure environment which draws carbon monoxide into your living spaces.
- Avoid leaving your gas heater on overnight: Leaving your gas appliance on for extended periods of time can increase the chances of a carbon monoxide leak.
- Consider replacing old heaters: The older your appliance, the greater the risk of internal breakdown and carbon monoxide leaks. Servicing every 2 years will ensure faults are found and repaired before leaks occur.
- Schedule a gas heater service: At Reed Plumbing and Drainage Solutions we provide a series of tests to ensure your CO levels are are at 0.0 points per million (ppm). When your health is at stake, trust your next gas heater service to the best.
Like all gas appliances, a gas heater is an affordable and efficient way to heat your home when the mercury drops. With regular servicing and maintenance, you can enjoy your nights in front of the heater without worrying about gas leaks.
To ensure your gas appliances are leak-free, schedule a carbon monoxide test with Reed Plumbing and Drainage Solutions today. Our licensed and qualified gas fitters are available to conduct CO testing to identify any small leaks or faulty signs and measure the level of CO in your home.
Our detailed gas heater service includes checking your exhaust system to ensure all CO is discharged correctly, plus complimentary cleaning of any grime and dust buildup inside your heater, wiring harness checks, pressure checks, injector size checks, plus burner chamber and thermal fuse cleans.
Whether you’re looking to have your gas heater or fireplace repaired or serviced, we’ve got the fast, reliable service to match.
Hire a Good Plumber in Melbourne
The factors that make an excellent plumber include a considerable portfolio of services, five stars Google ratings, as well as being easy to communicate with.
At Reed Plumbing and Drainage Solutions, we are fully licensed and certified, have more than 15 years of experience.
If you think we can be of service, please give us a call on 9331 6633, book online through the website (book online here), email us (office@reedpds.com.au) or reach out on our social media social media, etc. https://reedplumbingsolutions.com.au/contact-us/)
We are experts in all areas of plumbing, so give us a buzz and we’ll able to discuss the options with you to find the best solution in the quickest time.
