Heater warning issued after Melbourne housefire

By Alex Mitchell

May 23, 2021

As the winter chill begins to set in, builders are warning local residents to play it safe when it comes to their heaters.

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A Richmond housefire on May 18, believed to have been caused by a heater, left a man in hospital with minor burns, and serves as a reminder to all of the safety risks heaters pose.

The Victorian Building Authority reminded those with heaters to get them serviced regularly, with State Building Surveyor Andrew Cialini adding consumers should be aware of the risks.

“While heaters are a great way to keep warm in the colder months, they pose several risks to the safety of individuals and their families,” he said.

“Wood heaters can cause a fire if they are not cleaned property, and gas heaters pose the risk of carbon monoxide leaking into the home causing serious illness or death.”

The VBA said woodfire heaters should be serviced each year and gas heaters should be serviced by specialist plumber every two years to ensure lives were not being put at risk.

The authority added consumers should ask gasfitters for registration and licence details and must receive a compliance certificate if the work cost $750 or more.

Further information regarding the importance of smoke alarms, the risk of carbon monoxide and tips on maintaining wood heaters can be found on the VBA website.

By Alex Mitchell

Senior journalist