Gas Plumber & Gas Fitter Wollongong

Gas plumber in Wollongong: the work, the licence and the paperwork

Gas fitting shows up in our job records for Bellambi, Woonona, Thirroul, the Austinmer area, Wollongong, Lake Illawarra and Shellharbour City. Most of it falls into a handful of job types, and in NSW every one of them is licensed work. Whatever the job, the installation is tested before the gas is turned back on and appliances are relit.

• Connecting gas cooktops, ovens and other appliances, including new appliances as part of a renovation.
• Installing and replacing gas hot water, both storage and continuous flow, as explained on our hot water installation page.
• Connecting gas heaters and adding gas points where you'd like them.
• Running new gas lines, and extending or relocating existing ones.
• Disconnecting and capping gas points when an appliance is removed.
• Finding and repairing leaks in pipework and appliance connections; see gas leak detection.
• Servicing gas appliances in line with the manufacturer's specifications.

Why the licence matters

In NSW, only licensed gasfitters can carry out repairs or renovations involving gas, and that includes relocating or replacing a gas appliance. The rule exists for good reason: a poor connection can leak, and an appliance that burns gas incompletely can produce carbon monoxide. Before anyone starts work, ask to see their gasfitting licence, and check the details online through the NSW Government if you want certainty.

Plumbing and gasfitting are separate licence categories, so a plumbing licence on its own doesn't cover gas. Our guide does a plumber fix gas? explains the difference. The one routine job you can do yourself is changing over an LPG cylinder, which the rules exempt.

The paperwork you should receive

When gas work is finished, the gasfitter must give the owner a certificate. On natural gas from the network it's a certificate of compliance. On bottled gas it's a certificate of inspection, and the installation also gets a compliance plate. The gasfitter submits the certificate to Building Commission NSW within five business days of completing the work, so keep your copy with your property records.

Natural gas or LPG

Natural gas reaches homes through the street network, which in Wollongong is operated by Jemena. LPG is supplied in refillable cylinders and suits properties without a network connection, and the NSW Government also lists butane and tempered LPG as options in some locations. Before you buy a gas appliance, confirm which supply your home uses so the appliance matches it.

Getting ready for a gas job

• Know whether the property runs on natural gas or LPG, and where the meter or cylinders are.
• Keep the appliance's installation manual handy, as it sets out clearances and connection details.
• Check that a new appliance carries an Australian certification label; gas appliances must be tested, certified and labelled before they can be sold and installed in NSW.
• Clear a path to the work area and to the meter or cylinders.