Why you should get your gas heater serviced regularly

The idea that ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’ doesn’t apply to gas heaters in your home.

Think of it this way. Do you get your car serviced every 10,000 km? Does the mechanic change the oil and filter and check the brakes? We certainly hope so!

Well, the same is true for your gas heater. Actually, it’s probably even more necessary as gas heaters in NSW usually sit dormant for more than half the year and are then dragged out and cranked to the max as soon as the cooler weather arrives.

How confident would you be starting your car after not using it for half the year and then racing around a circuit at Warp Factor 9?

Exactly.

How to know if your gas heater needs servicing

Given the seasonal nature of the temperatures in regional NSW the safest option is to get your home gas heater serviced proactively, just ahead of the winter months. Doing so will also ensure it’s working efficiently and pumping out the maximum heat with the least amount of gas.

Regardless, there are still some signs to keep an eye on that could indicate your trusty home heater needs a service by a qualified heating specialist, like the team we have here at Parrish Plumbing in the Shoalhaven.

1. Does the pilot light keep going out?
2. Are there any signs of heat damage on the home heater or walls?
3. Is the flame a dirty brown, red or yellow colour?
4. Does the home gas heater have any grimy stains on it?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then it sounds like you should stop using your home gas heater and get it serviced by a licensed plumber immediately.

Dangers of not servicing your home gas heater

We don’t want to be overly dramatic, but some things can’t be overstated.

Your home heater could be a silent killer. One of the by-products of burning gas in home heaters is carbon monoxide (CO). It’s a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas that can be lethal to humans.

Each year in Australia, numerous people experience serious health issues or die of CO poisoning in their home. But don’t stress, it is avoidable. Actually, there are two key ways to prevent this happening in your home:

1. get your gas home heater serviced regularly
2. install a CO monitor in your home

As you might expect, any professional plumbing service can help you with both of these tasks. If you want to install your own CO monitor they’re available at Bunnings and don’t cost the earth.

But price shouldn’t be the deciding factor when we’re talking about carbon monoxide. Think of it this way … what price do you place on your life?

So if you’d like to ask one of our team about servicing your existing portable gas heater, choosing a new one or having a CO monitor installed, contact Parrish Plumbing and we’ll be happy to help.