Feeling unwell at home?
If people or pets in the house get sick at the same time, or you only feel unwell when you're home, treat it as possible carbon monoxide. Energy Safe Victoria says to leave the house immediately, turn off all gas appliances, and open windows and doors. Ring Nurse-on-Call or see a doctor, or call 000 in an emergency. The heater stays off until a qualified gasfitter has tested it.
How does carbon monoxide get into a room?
Burning gas makes exhaust, and the flue (the pipe or channel to the outside) is there to carry it away. When that fails, exhaust spills back into the room. ESV says any gas heater can do this, old or new, ducted or not.
Some designs are riskier. ESV says open-flued heaters spill carbon monoxide more easily than other types, and Seeley says unflued heaters raise indoor pollutant levels and need open windows or doors.
Your house plays a part too. ESV warns that renovating or weather-sealing can change the ventilation needed to clear carbon monoxide, and that rangehoods or bathroom fans running with the heater can pull it into living areas.
When to book a test
- At every service. Better Health says gas heaters should be serviced at least every two years.
- When the flame looks different, or burns yellow and sooty (a decorative log fire aside).
- After draughtproofing, new windows or other sealing work.
- If you have one of the open-flued models on ESV's safety alert.
- When symptoms improve as soon as you leave the house.
How a gasfitter tests for it
The gasfitter runs the heater as you normally would and measures for carbon monoxide in the room and around the flue with a gas analyser. A thorough test also checks the conditions that make spillage worse, like the rangehood running or internal doors shut, because of the negative pressure ESV describes.
If the heater fails, expect a straight answer: don't use it until it's fixed, whether that means a clean, a flue repair, a part or a new heater.
Look for a gasfitter who does heater servicing and spillage testing every week. It's a different skill from running gas pipes.
Why an alarm doesn't replace the test
A carbon monoxide alarm is worth fitting. ESV recommends one as a back-up, but says it should never take the place of regular servicing. An alarm sounds once there's a problem in the room; a test can pick up a flue or burner fault before it gets that far.
Your part, and the gasfitter's
You can
- Fit a carbon monoxide alarm and test it as its instructions say.
- Keep exhaust fans off while the heater runs.
- Notice the flame colour when the heater is healthy, so a change stands out.
- Switch the heater off and air the house if anyone feels unwell.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Measuring carbon monoxide at the heater and the flue.
- Inspecting, clearing or repairing the flue.
- Cleaning and adjusting the burner.
- Deciding whether the heater is safe to go back on.
What we'd do
If it were our home
We'd ask for a carbon monoxide test at every service, with the result written down. With an open-flued or unflued heater, or a house that's just been sealed up, we'd book the test before lighting it again this winter.
