As the winter season is nearing, the issue of installing gas heaters in apartments in compliance with safety standards becomes topical.

In recent years, the number of carbon monoxide leak-related deaths has dwindled. Twelve incidents in the capital were found to have happened in rental apartments and business premises.

According to the specialists, the main reason for fatal accidents is an open-combustion water heater and improper installation of gas appliances.

In order to prevent fatal situations, the gas company advises renters to request an inspection of the gas appliances from landlords.

Salome Vardiashvili, the Energy Ombudsman, told GPB First Channel that the use of open-combustion water heaters has already been prohibited by law.

“The disasters that happened in previous years are practically over,” Vardiashvili said.

As per the law, failing to comply with the safety rules will result in the cutting off of the gas supply.

The Tbilisi Energy Distribution Service Coordinator, Davit Balavadze, stated: “Only 5% of the 200,000 users that were checked broke the law, which is a significant decrease from the previous year’s figures.”

Balavadze pledged Tbilisi Energy would continue strict monitoring.