Plumbers back gas heater ban

Master Plumbers wants portable gas heaters off the market, saying their risk to health is far too great.

The call follows a Stuff report last week, which stated portable gas heaters will be in the spotlight in rental properties later this year when the Government consults on new minimum heating requirements as part of the Healthy Homes Act 2017.

Under the act, landlords could be banned from providing portable gas heaters such as LPG cabinet heaters in rental properties, and tenancy agreements could stipulate that tenants are not allowed to use them.

However, the heaters will still be available in shops, Master Plumbers chief executive Greg Wallace said.

‘‘Whilst these relatively cheap heaters may appear to be costeffective heating solutions, you have to weigh this up against the risk to the public.

‘‘Surely, the health and safety risks are too great to continue their use.’’

Wallace’s calls for a blanket ban follow that of public health expert and Associate Professor Nevil Pierse, who last week said these cheap gas heaters produce toxins high enough to cause respiratory problems.

Portable gas heaters lack a flue or chimney to carry combustion products outside, which can lead to poisonous gases becoming trapped inside your home.

The heaters have been banned in Canada, some US states and in parts of Australia.

Master Plumbers, a membership organisation which represents plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades, believes New Zealand should follow suit.

As well as respiratory harm, Wallace said unflued gas heaters are a source of condensation, making homes damp.

‘‘New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. A 2007 study found that the health of children with asthma improved significantly when unflued gas heaters were replaced with cleaner heating sources.

‘‘It’s not safe to use portable gas heaters in sleeping rooms or small rooms such as bathrooms or hallways.

‘‘However, as they can easily be moved to any room in the home, it’s easy for you to put yourself or your family at risk by using them in these areas.’’

Wallace said manually connecting a LPG gas bottle inside your house also creates a serious fire hazard. ‘‘If you incorrectly connect your gas bottle to your outdoor BBQ it may not have catastrophic consequences – as it’s in an open space.

‘‘But if you make the same mistake with an indoor cabinet heater it certainly could.’’

‘‘It’s not safe to use portable gas heaters in sleeping rooms.’’

Master Plumbers chief executive Greg Wallace