When planning a new gas installation, be it a cooktop, hot water system, or BBQ connection, one question cuts through the noise: who installs gas lines?
The answer is non-negotiable: a licensed gas plumber. Not just any tradie, not a general plumber, and certainly not a DIY attempt.
In this guide, you’ll learn who is qualified for this high-risk work and the eight key reasons why hiring a professional is the only way to do this.
When you need gas line installation, you can hire either a licensed gas fitter or a licensed gas plumber. Both are professionals who can do the job safely.
A licensed gas fitter specialises exclusively in gas systems. They’re trained to install, test, maintain, and fix gas lines, appliances, and related equipment.
They’re experts in:
On the other hand, a licensed gas plumber is trained in both plumbing and gas fitting. Many plumbers in Australia take extra courses to become gas fitters so they can help their customers more.
Their expertise covers:
Whether you hire a licensed gas fitter or a licensed gas plumber comes down to their availability, experience with your specific needs, and if they can provide that compliance certificate.
How about doing it yourself? No, that’s not an option. It’s strictly illegal and highly dangerous. Only a licensed gas fitter or plumber can be the one who installs a gas line in your home.
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Here are some of the main reasons why you should hire a gas plumber to install a gas line:
Gas is safe if you handle it right, but it can be unforgiving if you get it wrong. And the biggest risk isn’t always a big explosion, but carbon monoxide—an invisible by-product of poor installation.
Licensed gas fitters do more than just tighten pipes. They also figure out the ventilation so your home doesn’t turn into a gas trap.
On the flip side, unprofessional installation can result in issues like the furnace smells like gas without warning. By the time you feel dizzy or nauseous, the damage is already done.
Did you know gas work is governed by strict national laws, specifically Australian Standard AS/NZS 5601? These are mandatory legal requirements, not just guidelines.
If an installation breaches these rules, regulators may scrutinise both the installer and the property owner. Non-compliance can result in rectification notices or fines in the thousands.
Hiring a licensed professional takes the stress off you. They give you a compliance certificate showing the work meets AS/NZS 5601, so you’re protected from fines and legal issues.
Many homeowners think “gas is gas”. But that’s not how it works. Pipe size matters. Every appliance needs a certain amount of fuel, measured in megajoules (MJ).
If a handyman guesses the pipe size, it creates a bottleneck. So, when you turn on the heater, your shower gets cold. Or worse, your stove flame flickers and goes out with hot water. This is a sign of ‘gas starvation’.
A licensed gas fitter does detailed hydraulic calculations before laying any pipe. This makes sure your system can run all appliances at once and ensure no issues like leaking gas meter and many more.
This relates to legal compliance, but it goes further. Licensed gas fitters have public liability and professional indemnity insurance. If something goes wrong, their insurance covers it.
This protection is for you too. If your family gets hurt or your property gets damaged because of the gas fitting work, their insurance helps with compensation.
A licensed gas fitter doesn’t just install it; they stay for the long haul. They back their work with a warranty, usually six years. If a seal fails or something comes loose later, they’ll return to fix it at no cost.
Did you know different gas line materials suit different environments? Copper’s good in some homes but rusts fast near salt air. Black steel is strong but can rust if wet.
If you hire an amateur, do you think they’ll give you those details? The answer is almost always no. They’ll use whatever materials they have on the truck that day.
So, why risk it? A licensed gas fitter specifies materials based on your home’s specific conditions, soil type, and local regulations, guaranteeing a system that lasts decades, not just years.
While a warranty covers defects for free, regular maintenance is a paid service.
Now, who is better equipped to service your system than the person who built it? Think about it: do you want a stranger guessing where your pipes run, or the professional who installed them?
Licensed gas fitters record your system’s layout, pipe sizes, and quirks, saving time on diagnostics. When an emergency happens, they can troubleshoot faster, giving you priority service when you need it most.
After accepting an offer, signing the contract, and booking removalists, your solicitor sends a compliance checklist. That’s when you realise you don’t have a Gas Certificate of Compliance.
This stalls your settlement. You’ll need to find the original installer or hire a licensed gas fitter to inspect and test the system again. These delays can cost thousands in loans, storage, and a lower sale price.
Getting a licensed gas fitter from the start can help you avoid surprises. You need to think about this.
We don’t recommend DIY gas work, but many homeowners try anyway to save some money. They forget about the real cost: their time.
Gas fitting needs special tools, precise calculations, and parts you won’t find at a hardware store. What a licensed professional can do in three hours might take an amateur three weekends.
A licensed pro’s efficiency pays off. They have the right parts, tools, and experience to get it right the first time. That saves you days of hassle and the extra cost of fixing mistakes later.
Here are some of the questions that most homeowners always ask dealing with who install gas line.
Yes, many do, but not automatically. In Australia, a plumber handles water and waste, while a gas fitter works with gas. Many tradespeople hold dual licences, but you need a plumber with a current gas fitting endorsement on their licence.
Only if they are licensed gas fitters. A qualified gas plumber can handle the entire job: sizing the pipes, running the new line from your meter, installing pressure regulators, and connecting your appliances. They also perform the mandatory pressure testing to ensure the new line is leak-free.
No. Gas fitting needs a separate qualification (Certificate IV in Gas Fitting) and a specific licence. A standard plumber without this training is illegal to work on gas. Always ask to see the back of their licence card to verify the ‘Gas Fitting’ tick.
Gas work offers no second chances. A poor connection, undersized pipe, or unskilled handyman can turn your home into a hazard unexpectedly.
The eight reasons we discussed are safeguards for gas line installation, from preventing carbon monoxide leaks to maintaining your insurance. Licensed gas plumbers offer protection no ‘mate’s rate’ can match.
When you’re ready for a new gas installation, contact us at Melbourne Gas Plumber to figure out what you need, give you an accurate price, and do the work following Australian Standards.
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MGP! Thank you for help, honest pricing and high quality work. Thank you to Joe for pricing and the boys involved for replacing my hot water tank and fixing my gas leak for a reasonable price. 5 star response, 5 star service and 5 star price.
Joe was great. Very professional and quick. Gas hot water heater needed replacing, he was honest and upfront about what our options were. System was sourced and replaced within a couple of hours.
Fantastic service very responsive Joe is highly recommended and works very clean and neat..... good job well done....very happy... will use again and again
At Melbourne Gas Plumber, we're here to handle all your gas plumbing needs throughout Melbourne. With over 40 years of experience, we bring extensive local knowledge and expertise to every job.
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