Inbuilt and freestanding gas fireplace installs are coordinated work — flue rough-in with the builder, gas line size and route with the gasfitter, finished cabinetry by the cabinetmaker, and an ESV Compliance Certificate when the unit fires for the first time. Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting installs Heatmaster, Real Flame, Escea, Jetmaster and Regency fireplaces across Melbourne, with the gasfitting and flue coordination handled in-house.
One of the more common fireplace-install problems is a gas supply line specced too small for the unit's full-load demand on top of the existing appliances on the meter. A high-output fireplace at the end of a small-diameter run already feeding hot water and a cooktop can starve under load — flame quality drops, sometimes the burner doesn't hold. We size the gas supply against full-load demand from the start, including any other appliance you mention is coming. Fixing it later means opening walls.
The fireplace's peak gas demand (typically 25-50MJ/hr) is added to existing appliances on the supply (hot water, cooktop, heater) and checked against the meter's rated capacity. If the meter is undersized, we coordinate a meter upgrade with the gas distributor before the install proceeds. No starved burners.
Vertical flues, horizontal flues and balanced concentric flues each have manufacturer-specified clearances and weatherproofing requirements. We mark up the rough-in for the builder's framing, confirm the flashing plan with the roofer where vertical, and time the unit install for after the rough-in is complete but before the surround is finished.
Gas fireplace work is consumer gas appliance work — Type A gasfitter endorsement required, ESV Compliance Certificate issued on completion. The certificate names the unit, the gasfitter, the install date and Our licence number (#103414). PDF emailed for your records.
Before the builder frames the wall, we visit the site, agree the fireplace location, mark up the gas line route and the flue penetration, and provide the rough-in details to your builder. This is the cheap stage to make changes — once the wall is up, options narrow.
Gas line is run from the meter or existing supply to the fireplace location while walls are still open. Sized for the unit's peak demand plus the existing appliance load. Capped and pressure-tested at this stage so the builder can close the wall.
Builder frames around the flue route. We confirm the framing leaves the manufacturer-specified clearances, that the weatherproofing plan is aligned with the roofer, and that the surround cavity matches the unit's install dimensions. Issues caught here are cheap; issues caught later are not.
Once the rough-in is complete and the wall is ready to receive the unit, the fireplace is positioned, gas connected, flue connected, electrical connection made (most modern units have a low-voltage controller). Pressure test, leak test, full-output ignition.
Burner cycles tested, flame quality verified, controller paired with remote, manufacturer warranty registered. ESV Compliance Certificate issued. Surround installation hands off to the cabinetmaker or stonemason once we're clear of the unit.
We help you select the right size and configuration for your space and cooking style.
We confirm whether your bench requires modification before installation begins.
Clear access to the workspace and gas meter allows us to complete your installation smoothly.
The unit itself runs $2,500-$8,000 + GST depending on brand, size and style. Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting's install fee depends on the gas-line distance from the meter, the flue type (horizontal is cheaper than vertical), and any meter capacity upgrade required. Site visit + written quote is the only way to land a real number.
Before the wall is framed. The cheapest decisions about gas line route, flue penetration, and rough-in dimensions get made while everything is still open. Coming in after the wall is finished forces re-opening it, which is expensive and slow.
Inbuilt sits flush in a wall cavity — common in living rooms with a feature wall. Freestanding stands on the hearth — common in heritage homes or where the existing chimney is being reused. Different units, different rough-ins, different prices. We'll talk through which suits your build.
Most modern Melbourne residential meters cope with one fireplace plus existing hot water plus cooktop. Older meters (especially pre-2000) sometimes don't — we check rated capacity at the site visit, and where an upgrade is needed coordinate with the distributor.
Vertical (through roof) is the most reliable draft, suits most installs. Horizontal (through external wall) is cheaper and faster but constrained to certain unit models and certain wall positions. Balanced concentric flues are common on modern inbuilt units and offer flexibility on routing.
Yes — we coordinate with the builder or mason on the cavity cut and structural lintel. Existing brick chimneys can sometimes be re-used; sometimes the unit's flue spec doesn't match the existing flue diameter and a liner is needed.
Sometimes yes, often no. Modern gas fireplaces have specific flue requirements (diameter, material, terminal cap) that don't always match a 100-year-old brick chimney. We assess on the site visit and confirm whether the chimney is reusable, needs a liner, or whether a new flue route is the right call.
