Most homes in Victoria have a gas heater in the living area to warm up this much used area of the home. There is nothing better than snuggling up on the couch on a cold winters night with the gas heater blowing out warm air, be it a gas wall or ducted heater.

Gas heaters have come a long way since the early sixties when briquette fireplaces were standard in most Australian homes and it has only been the last decade that open fireplaces have come back into vogue, but even some of these models are fuelled by gas while still giving the appearance of an open log fire.

Just like your car, gas heaters needs regular servicing and, at times, repairs, to ensure they are running efficiently and keeping your fuel costs down but the biggest reason to keep up with regular maintenance of your gas heater is that it could just save your life or the life of a dearly loved family member.

Gas heaters give off carbon monoxide gases which are vented out through the flue fitted to the heater but if an obstruction occured in the venting process then that gas could be pushed out into the living area and with carbon monoxide being odourless, you wouldn’t even know you are inhaling this toxic poison.

Try and think back to a time when you were lying back watching television with the heater on and you all of a sudden complained of a mild headache or feeling nauseous. These are classic symptoms of CO poisoning and it is happening in thousands of Australian homes each Winter.

I am sure you do not need reminding of the tragic story of two young children in country Victoria perishing in the bedroom of their home after succumbing to the effects of just this. This devastating story prompted the parents of the children to appear in television commercials pleading with us all to have regular gas heater repairs or at the very least, a gas heater service.

So you see, having a gas heater service not only saves you dollars, it could just save your life.