Gas Fitting

Natural gas has an odourant added so a leak gets noticed. Carbon monoxide doesn't - it's produced by incomplete combustion and can build up with no smell, colour or taste. Symptoms look like the flu (headache, nausea, dizziness) and often affect several people in the house at once, easing when they leave and returning when they're back. Open-flued gas heaters carry the highest risk, particularly in homes that have since had a rangehood or exhaust fan added, which can pull flue gases back into the room instead of letting them vent. Energy Safe Victoria recommends testing gas heaters for carbon monoxide at least every two years.

If you smell gas: don't touch switches or light anything, open windows and doors on your way out, get everyone outside, and call from there. Ring 000 if the smell is strong or anyone feels unwell.

A common fault we find isn't the appliance at all - it's an undersized gas line struggling to feed everything connected to it, showing up as a hot water unit running cold when the cooktop's on, or a heater that won't reach temperature. Adding an appliance means assessing the whole installation's load, not just running a new line to it. For landlords, Victorian rental minimum standards require regular gas safety checks by a licensed gas fitter with records kept - we carry these out, supply documentation, and can invoice the agency directly.