Related plumbing topics: Gas Fitting, Gas Leak Detection, Carbon Monoxide Testing.
Alister here, owner of Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting. Gas work in Victoria, appliance installs, gas line work, leak detection, pressure tests, compliance certification, is licensed work, restricted to a Type A Gasfitter (Class 1). We hold the Type A endorsement and the BPC plumbing licence (#103414). Every gas job leaves with a Compliance Certificate lodged with the Building and Plumbing Commission.
Gas work runs across four practical buckets: appliance installation, gas line work, leak detection, and compliance testing. The job that turns up at your door depends on the prompt. A new cooktop install? Appliance + line check. Gas smell? Detection + repair + re-cert. Property sale? Whole-property compliance test. Insurance claim or worksafe? Pressure test + certificate.
Common signals that you need gas work: smell of gas anywhere on the property, a pilot light that keeps going out, yellow flame on a gas heater (incomplete combustion, CO risk), an undersized line you discovered during a renovation, or an old appliance that has not been serviced in years.
Gas is regulated separately from plumbing. The Plumbing Regulations 2018 plus the Gas Safety Regulations 2018 require Type A Gasfitter (Class 1) endorsement for any work connecting, disconnecting, altering or testing a gas installation in a domestic or light-commercial setting. That endorsement is a separate qualification from a base plumbing licence, many plumbers do not hold it.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is the regulator. Every gas Certificate of Compliance is lodged electronically with ESV and a percentage are audited each year. Working outside that framework (handyman, electrician, unlicensed trade) is illegal and uninsurable: if the appliance fails, the homeowner carries the liability.
Gas connections, pipe sizing, regulators, flues, ventilation clearances, pressure testing, and appliance commissioning all comply with AS 5601. Pipe sizing is calculated from total appliance load (MJ/hr) and run length. Pressure decay test holds 7 kPa for 5 minutes, any decay over 10 Pa is a fail.
Appliance installation requirements: clearance to combustibles, flue termination distances, ventilation openings, and electrical interlocks (where required) all comply with AS/NZS 5263. We confirm the appliance is approved for sale in Australia (check the GMK or AGA approval number on the data plate).
Plumbing work above the $750 threshold gets a BPC Compliance Certificate (under our licence #103414). Gas work gets a separate Certificate of Compliance lodged with the Building and Plumbing Commission. Both are issued same-day at job completion and emailed to the homeowner. Conveyancers and insurers commonly request these on property sales.
On the booking call we ask the appliance make, model and age (or for line work: the appliance you're trying to fit). For leaks: where the smell is, how long it's been there, whether you've turned off at the meter. From this we know whether to bring the leak detector, the combustion analyser, or the line-sizing kit.
On arrival we isolate gas at the meter, inspect the existing installation (line size, regulator, flue, clearances), check for visible damage at fittings and joints, and confirm the work scope. For leak calls we do an immediate electronic-detector sweep before any other work.
You get the quote on site, in writing, before any work proceeds. For line upgrades we explain the line route, why the existing line is undersized, and the labour split between line work and appliance fitting. No verbal estimates, no "we'll see what it is" pricing.
Appliance install: isolate gas, run or test the line, fit the appliance, connect, commission, pressure-test the new joints. Leak repair: locate, isolate the leaky section, replace the fitting or flex line, re-pressurise, test again. Whole-property test: pressurise the whole installation to 7 kPa, time-stamped decay test, document.
BPC Compliance Certificate and Gas Compliance Certificate issued same-day. Both list the work performed, the standards applied, the test results (where applicable), and the date. Stored in our records and emailed to you. For insurance claims or property sales, this is your documentation.
Information you collect before booking determines how accurate our quote is and how quickly we can complete the work. The four steps below cover the common preparation that saves time on the day.
The data plate on the appliance (or on the gas meter for line work) shows make, model, gas type (NG or LPG), and rated input in MJ/hr. Take a photo. For new appliance installs, also have the manufacturer install instructions on hand, they list flue clearances and ventilation requirements specific to the model.
Continuous-flow units flash an error code on the controller. Codes vary by brand but most translate to specific failure modes, flame failure (low gas pressure or worn igniter), overheating (flow restriction), flue blockage. For leak calls: note when the smell started, how strong, and where in the property.
We need clear access to the gas meter (isolation valve) and the appliance being worked on. Move pot plants, garden tools, washing baskets and any obstructions before we arrive. For roof-space line runs, ensure manhole access is unblocked.
If you had recent plumbing or gas work near the affected area, tell us. Sometimes a leak shortly after another job points to disturbed connections. Knowing this helps narrow diagnosis quickly.
Yes, the Plumbing Regulations 2018 require a Compliance Certificate for any plumbing or gas work valued over $750. Prime Plumbing & Gasfitting issues them on every compliant gas job regardless of value: a BPC Compliance Certificate under licence #103414 plus a Gas Compliance Certificate lodged with the Building and Plumbing Commission under our Type A endorsement.
30-45 minutes on a single appliance (isolate, pressurise to 7 kPa, hold for 5 minutes, check for decay over 10 Pa). A whole-property compliance test, multiple appliances, meter to outlet, is typically 1-2 hours depending on house size and number of fittings.
No. Gas connection is licensed work in Victoria, restricted to a Type A Gasfitter (Class 1). Electricians, handymen, and general trades can't legally connect gas. The penalties for unlicensed gas work include personal liability if the appliance fails. Always check the gasfitter's licence number before booking.
Strongly recommended, especially on open-flue gas heaters and units over 10 years old. Energy Safe Victoria recommends annual carbon-monoxide testing on open-flue appliances because flue blockages and worn burners can leak CO into the room. A typical service includes flue inspection, combustion analysis, gas pressure check, and burner clean.
Yes. Older Melbourne homes were typically piped for a 15 MJ/hr hot water burner, which won't support a modern 6-burner cooktop (often 24+ MJ/hr) or instantaneous gas water heater. We size, run and pressure-test new gas line back to the meter to AS 5601. We'll quote the line upgrade alongside the appliance install so there are no surprises.
Don't operate any electrical switches, lights or appliances, even a doorbell can be an ignition source. Open windows to ventilate. If you can safely access the meter, turn off the gas at the main valve. Then call AusNet's emergency line on 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532) for the network response. Once safe, call us to find and repair the leak and re-test the line for compliance.
Yes, gas-powered hot water units (storage and instantaneous) are covered under our Type A endorsement. We replace, relocate, decommission, and certify the install with both plumbing and gas compliance paperwork. See the hot water replacement service page for the full process.
Two: a BPC Compliance Certificate (issued under our plumbing licence #103414) and a Gas Compliance Certificate (issued under our Type A Gasfitter endorsement and lodged with the Building and Plumbing Commission). Both certificates list the work performed, the standards applied (AS 5601 etc.), and the date of compliance. Conveyancers and insurers commonly ask for these on property sales.
Most gas appliances have a working life of 8-20 years, storage hot water units 8-12 years, instantaneous units 15-20, cooktops and ovens 10-15 with normal use, ducted heaters 12-18.
Signs it may be time to replace a gas appliance:
We replace appliances like-for-like (same model or current equivalent) or upgrade-spec when the existing line and flue can support it. Old appliances are decommissioned and disposed of according to ESV requirements, gas lines capped at the regulator, electrical disconnections lodged with the compliance paperwork. For ducted heating replacement we coordinate with HVAC trades where ductwork needs alteration.
Not every failure means replacement. Common gas appliance repairs we attend:
If the appliance is under 10 years old and parts are available, repair is usually cheaper than replacement. Over that age, we present both options in the quote so you can decide on long-term cost vs short-term fix.
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