Article from Energy Safe Victoria Website
Gas safety around the home
Your home is a place where you and your family need to be safe – taking care of your gas appliances is important to ensuring your family’s health and well-being.
Servicing gas appliances
ESV and the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) recommend that all gas water heaters, space heaters and central heaters are serviced at least every two years by a registered or licensed gasfitter to ensure they are working properly.
The gasfitter who services your appliances must use a CO analyser to test for carbon monoxide spillage.
Registered gasfitters may be found by searching online or via the VBA.
Gas appliances need regular servicing as:
• Burners in water heaters or space heaters can become blocked with dust or lint and then soot up the heat exchanger and flue passageways,
• Air filters, air ways and fans can become blocked by lint and dust, leading to overheating and burner problems, and
• Safety controls can wear out and fail.
Always follow the manufacturer’s service plan and keep a record of the date of service.
Operate gas appliances correctly
Use gas appliances only for their intended purpose and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never tamper with safety valves or other fittings and do not use excessive force to open or close gas control knobs.
• Never use an oven to heat a room or as a clothes dryer.
• Turn off your radiant gas heater when you leave the house or go to sleep.
• Always supervise young children near heaters or any gas appliance.
• Clean your oven, grill, cook top and rangehood regularly to prevent the build-up of spilled fats and burnt foods and reduce the risk of fire
Remove clothing and paper from around gas appliances.
• Items such as clothing and paper left close to or on gas appliances are a fire risk.
Don’t get distracted in the kitchen
• If you have something on the stove and are called away, turn off the burners.
• Never leave frying chips unattended, as the oil may boil over and start a fire.
Read more on our Cooking safely with gas page.
Take care using flammable products
• Do not pour petrol near a gas appliance or flue outlet – petrol fumes may be ignited by the appliance flame.
• Do not fill your mower with petrol near a gas appliance or flue outlet.
• Do not spray aerosols near operating gas appliances – the flammable gas in aerosols pressure packs can be a fire hazard.
• Do not store chemicals or pressure packs on or near a gas appliance – heat may cause them to react or explode.
• Never use or store flammable materials such as petrol, mineral turpentine, paint or combustible cleaning solutions near a gas appliance.
• Turn off any pilot burners before using tile adhesive or solvents near a gas appliance.
Be careful near your gas supply
Before carrying out any excavations, call Dial Before You Dig on 1100.
Take care when using lawn mowers, brush cutters or digging in the garden so you do not damage gas pipes or your gas meter assembly.
Contact Energy Safe Victoria
If you have any queries in relation to gas safety in the home, please contact ESV on 03 9203 9700 or by email on info@energysafe.vic.gov.au or contact your gas retailer.