Gas appliances in the home and your health

Gas appliances can release indoor air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.

These pollutants from gas are invisible in the air and mostly odourless, which makes them hard to detect.

These pollutants can cause people with asthma or respiratory illnesses to suffer more often from cold symptoms and asthma attacks if exposed for long periods of time.

Unflued gas heaters versus flued gas heaters

Unflued gas heaters that don't have a chimney or flue can release air pollutants into the room that may affect your health. If rooms are poorly ventilated, carbon monoxide poisoning may also occur.

If you use gas for heating during winter, make sure you purchase a flued gas heater. A flue or chimney makes sure air pollutants and water vapour go outside the home to reduce health risks.

Gas cooking

Gas cooktops are known to release pollutants that can irritate the airways and trigger asthma symptoms.

Reduce your exposure

Consider using electric heaters and electric appliances for cooking which produce no indoor air pollution.

If you use gas, it's important to use an exhaust extraction canopy that flues to the outside of the house. This will help to take pollutants outside. Also, open a window to let in fresh air.

If you use an unflued gas heater:

• never use it overnight in the room where you sleep
• check that the room you are heating has air vents that are not blocked – if you don't have air vents, keep a door or a window open to allow the movement of air in and out of the room and reduce potential build-up of pollutants in the room
• regularly clean and maintain your heater to make sure it works properly – appliances in poor working condition can release higher amounts of pollutants.

Further information

• Asthma Australia gas appliances (external site)