How often should a gas heater be serviced, and what should I ask?

Energy Safe Victoria recommends that gas heaters be serviced at least every two years by a qualified gasfitter, with the heater and installation checked, including carbon monoxide testing. Follow any more frequent servicing instructions that apply to the appliance or your circumstances, and investigate a concern when it occurs rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.

Keep the last service report with the appliance details. If you have moved into the home and cannot establish the service history, tell the person taking the booking. A note of the heater's model, location and previous findings gives the gasfitter a better starting point than an assumption that it was checked before the move.

Ask who will carry out the gas work and verify that the person holds the appropriate gasfitting qualifications for it. An electrical licence alone does not answer that question. Describe whether the appliance is a wall heater, decorative heater or ducted unit, and provide an accessible model photo where possible.

Clarify whether the booking is routine servicing, investigation of a particular fault, or follow-up of an earlier report. Ask for the scope and any additional work to be explained before approval. Cleaning a visible grille should not be confused with an assessment of the heater and its installation.

Tell the gasfitter about new windows, draught sealing, exhaust fans, kitchen alterations or other work that has changed the home since the last assessment. Ask whether those changes affect the installed heater's requirements. Do not block ventilation openings or alter the flue or appliance to pursue a suspected cause yourself.

ESV warns that carbon monoxide cannot be detected by smell and that an alarm is not a substitute for servicing. If you suspect a dangerous situation, get everyone out of the area and get help from a safe place. Do not keep operating or repeatedly restarting a heater that has been identified as unsafe.

Ask for the findings, work completed and any remaining action to be recorded. If the heater cannot be used, make sure the household understands that instruction and knows who will provide the repair or replacement proposal. A quotation awaiting approval should not be mistaken for clearance to resume operation.

If replacement is being considered, ask for separate options that address the rooms and routines you need to serve. An electric alternative also needs its own design and electrical assessment; it is not just an appliance swap. Keep the safety decision about the existing heater separate from the longer-term choice of heating system.