With winter upon us, now is the time people start to cosy up their homes and fire up their gas heaters and fireplaces. But before you dust off that gas heater and switch it on, ask yourself: 'When was the last time I had this thing serviced?'
Gas heater safety means ensuring that gas heating appliances are regularly serviced by a qualified gas heating specialist, and is critical to preventing house fires and dangerous fumes from leaking into the air and causing carbon monoxide poisioning.
"Carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real problem during winter months as so many home owners with gas heaters and fireplaces don't realise that they need regular servicing. In the same way the fire department encourages people to note a date on their calendar every year to change batteries in their fire alarms - we want to actively encourage people to pop a date on their calendars for servicing their gas heating appliances," says Simon Wills, owner of specialist gas heater and fireplace servicing The Heater Man.
"The ideal time to service your gas heater or fireplace is just prior to usage in winter," says Simon. "They should be serviced at least once every two years but check the manufacturer's warranty and advice as some require checking more regularly."
If your gas heater is over ten years old, you should have it serviced every year to be safe. It's also important to ensure that the person who is servicing or testing your gas heater is an appropriately trained and licensed gasfitter.
Not only does regular servicing ensure that your heater is operating at its optimal performance, but it can also detect carbon monoxide spillage and gas leaks.
Carbon monoxide is a particularly dangerous gas as it is odourless, colourless and tasteless, which makes it very hard to detect. At high doses, it can be fatal for humans, and even at lower doses can do a lot of harm. Gas appliances, when performing properly, produce very small doses of carbon monoxide, and this is why it's critical to have them serviced regularly to make sure faults don't cause further spillage of the gas. Carbon monoxide detectors are useful for detecting high traces of the gas in your home.
Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning can include:
If you notice these symptoms, you should go to hospital.
There are a few signs you can look out for that may signal that your gas heater requires immediate servicing. If you see any of these, discontinue use until it has been inspected by a gas professional.
"We keep our clients updated as to when their gas heater or fireplace is due for a service, but we're aware that the majority of people don't think about them until there is a problem - and this can result in dreadful outcomes which is why we want to bring everyone's attention to the need for regular servicing", says Simon.
So, why not treat this as your reminder to book your gas appliances in for a service.