Table Of Contents
What Is A Gas Heater?
A gas heater is a space heater that supplies heat to an indoor or outdoor area. Typically, it is fuelled by natural gas or LPG. Generally, two types of home gas heaters exist, which are:
- Flued or vented gas heater
Flued gas heaters are designed to direct combustion gases outside of the house through a chimney or pipe. There are two types of flued gas heaters classified as either LPG or natural gas heaters.
A type of flued gas heater called the direct vent or balanced flue model draws air from outside the building. The quantity of air brought in from outside the house is balanced with the exhaust gas that goes out of the flue.
Flued gas heaters are less energy efficient compared to unflued gas heaters. They are also more expensive to buy and install due to cost of purchasing flue hardware and the installation charges.
They also have lower energy star ratings due to heat loss through the flue. Installing flued gas heaters should be handled by professionals who have the necessary competence and experience.
- Unflued or unvented gas heater
Unflued gas heaters have no flue and discharge water vapour and combustion gases directly into the home. Generally, unflued gas heaters are cheaper than flued gas heaters in terms of installation and maintenance cost.
They feature a 3m long hose that plugs into a bayonet socket and can be moved from one room to another. This makes them highly portable gas heaters. They are much more energy-efficient than flued gas heaters when used in the home, and they also have a higher energy star rating due to minimal heat loss through the flue.
Unflued gas heaters take less time to install compared to flued gas heaters. Since they do not feature a flue or a chimney, all residue gases are released directly into the home; they are capable of causing air pollution, resulting in health complications when poorly maintained.
To control potential risks that may arise from unflued gas heaters, the Australian government, through various agencies, has established safety regulations that govern the maximum level of indoor gases and water released by these gas heaters.
What Are Open Flued Gas Heaters?
Open-flued heaters are a great way to get the heat going in your living room without having a chimney sticking out of the roof. They’re perfect for campfires or fire pits because they can vent smoke away from you and out an open window if desired.
The only downfall is that you must have really good ventilation to use one, so keep an eye out when using an open flue gas heater; otherwise, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide build-up might occur leading to serious health complications.
Open-flued heaters are designed to take advantage of natural convection within a room. However, they require their combustion mechanism to be exposed to the outside for this system to work effectively. They are somewhat expensive compared to other types because their construction requires extra materials. To install one, you will need materials such as stainless steel or aluminium panels on either side near where air enters into your home’s interior space (upstream).
The negative pressure created when appliances such as bathroom exhaust fans kicks on can reduce airflow inside your house. When this happens, you may notice a reduction in the rate at which flames ascend towards the chimney shaft when burning less wood. Noting these drawbacks before installing one in your home.
If the negative pressure is sufficiently high, airflow through a flue may become restricted or even reversed. If the supply of fresh air to the burner gets cut off, then there will be an increased risk of exposure to carbon monoxide.
Many open-flued natural gas heaters are fitted with a draught diverter to ensure that the burner will continue to work as designed. This opening in the flue will cause combustion products to spill into your living space if it’s blocked or there is negative indoor pressure. They suck hot air past this point without trouble because when everything upstream works correctly, these fumes won’t make their way down through an entirely closed system.
A draught diverter is designed to redirect combustion products without interrupting airflow and reduce carbon dioxide levels. The product can be used in the living area, and there must be adequate ventilation when it’s running. This also ensures that replacement air doesn’t cause negative pressures or interfere with the regular operation of the heater due to excessive exhaust fan noise caused by inefficient energy use by the heaters.
When installing and servicing gas heaters, it is vital that the gasfitters test them for any combustion products.
Provide Proper Ventilation For Your Open Flued Gas Heater
When it comes to gas appliances, adequate ventilation and flueing are essential for safe operation. If you have an open-flued heater, then let fresh air flow through your home when those heaters are running – not just while in use but throughout their duration as well.
Open-flued heaters use air from inside the house – the same breathable, healthy air that you’re always taking in. They pull this fresh and out of your indoor environment into their system through an opening where it meets with a flame or electrical spark to form CO gas, which can quickly make people sick if they are overexposed. Still, even worse than just being injured by these fumes is the risk of death.
Safety Alerts On Open Flued Gas Heaters
The government has issued a safety alert for several open-flued gas heaters because the gas could potentially cause serious health risks to users. Building owners who own one of these appliances are urged not to use them immediately; instead, they should hold off until the government completes its investigation. The Safety Alert applies to:
- Regency i31 (bought after 1st January 2010) distributed by Fireplace Products Australia Pty Ltd.
- Nectre 2000 (made since 2007) distributed by Glen Dimplex Australia Pty Ltd.
- Vulcan Heritage or Pyrox Heritage distributed by Climate Technologies Pty Ltd.
- Regency F38 and FG38 (natural gas models only) distributed by Fireplace Products Australia Pty Ltd. The F38/FG38 was packaged and distributed by Masport before 2006.
- Cannon Fitzroy and Canterbury heaters (produced between 2001-2009) and distributed by Sampford IXL Pty Ltd and Sampford & Staff Pty Ltd.
- Glen Dimplex Australia Pty Ltd also distributed Real Flame Pyrotech (made since 2012).
Recalled Open Flued Gas Heater – What To Do
If you own a recalled gas heater, stop using it immediately! Testing has shown that they produce too much carbon monoxide under certain circumstances, which can potentially cause serious health risks.
The supplier will arrange for a qualified gas fitter to come to check out the safety and installation on this unit and make any necessary gas heater repairs or modifications to prevent any potential cases of CO poisoning from occurring at all.
If the heater spills dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide or other exhaust gases, it may have to be disconnected until it is repaired or replaced.
If your heater has been checked during previous safety alerts, you do not need to worry about this alert. It is advised not to use your heater until the supplier has reviewed it. If you need heating, look for other sources, but do not use outdoor gas indoors.
Goodbye Open Flued Gas Heaters
The presence of an open flue gas space heater in your home can be a dangerous and even deadly hazard. In 2010, three Victorians were killed after their faulty furnaces caused them to suffocate on carbon monoxide fumes released from faulty burners or pipes that led directly into the room where these appliances operated.
The coroner’s inquiry into the tragic death of Ms. Sofianolpoulos led to eight recommendations. Part of the report recommended developing a plan and strategy to phase out all open flued gas space heaters across Victoria by 2020.
The Victorian Government supported this recommendation in principle and committed to the phase-out of open-flued gas space heaters through a RIS process, which DELWP will deliver.
The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) on the phase-out of open-flued gas space heaters was released by DELWP in December 2020. Produced by Deloitte Access Economics, this informed consultation with critical stakeholders and identified their preferred approach to phasing out these appliances, including implementing fast-tracking implementation changes from Australian standards and adopting stringent new safety requirements for them beginning January 1st, 2022.
Safety Tips For Using Open Flued Gas Heaters
- Ensure that you service your gas space heater at least every 24 months by a qualified gasfitter. Hero Plumbing is a household name in gas related services in Sydney and adjourning towns. Contact them today for help with your gas heater service.
- Ensure that there is enough ventilation in your room. Always leave a window open and check that your permanent ventilation is precise.
- Never use the kitchen range hoods or bathroom exhaust at the same time as your heater. If you do, it can generate a hostile pressure environment, drawing carbon monoxide into living spaces.
- Never turn on your gas heater overnight or for extended periods.
- Pay attention to the working mechanism of the gas heater so that you can detect when there are changes. One standard change that is easy to observe is a colour change. If you observe a change in colour, contact Hero Plumbing or a reputable gas fitting company to help you inspect the setup. It could be a sign that your gas heater is leaking CO.
- If the gas heater is old, consider changing it.
- Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is a necessity.
- You should know how to detect CO poisoning and act fast when that is the case.
Consider Replacing Your Open Flued Gas Heater
Due to rising concerns over the safety of open flue gas heaters, it may be necessary that you consider replacing this gas heater in your home if you have one.
Having this heater in your home exposes you to a lot of health risks especially exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, which is detrimental to your well-being.
If you are looking at replacing this gas heater in your home, it is important to hire a reputable plumbing company that has the experience and expertise of dealing with gas installation.
