Gas fitting and gas appliances in Byron Bay

Any gas job in Byron Bay, from moving a cooktop to connecting a new gas hot water unit or replacing an LPG regulator, must be done by a licensed gasfitter, who then gives you a certificate for the work. That applies to bottled LPG and to network gas alike. Through this site, your job details go to an independent licensed gasfitter in the area, and that business inspects, quotes and does the gas work under its own licence.

What gas work do Byron Bay homes need?

Many homes and holiday rentals in the Shire cook or heat water with gas. Some use bottled LPG in refillable cylinders against an outside wall, and others may be connected to a gas network. This page does not say which streets have network gas, so check your gas bill or look for a meter or cylinders outside before you enquire.

Typical requests:

• a new gas point for a cooktop, oven, outdoor barbecue or heater
• swapping an old cooktop for a new one in the same place
• connecting gas to a new or replacement gas hot water system
• relocating cylinders when a deck, extension or driveway goes in
• a new regulator or pigtail on an LPG cylinder setup
• capping off gas to an appliance being removed
• a smell of gas near cylinders, the meter or an appliance

Choosing between gas, heat pump and electric hot water is a bigger question with its own comparison in the guide to hot water systems in Byron Bay compared.

What rules apply to gasfitting in NSW?

The NSW Government page on using a gasfitter sets out the rules for households:

Rule	What it means for you
Always use a licensed gasfitter for any repair or renovation involving gas	That includes moving or replacing an appliance, not only new installs
Building Commission NSW regulates all gas connections and installations	One regulator for network gas and bottled gas
Appliances must be tested, certified and labelled before they can be sold or installed in NSW	Gasfitters may only install certified appliances, so check the label before buying online or second hand
A certificate of compliance is given for network gas work	It shows the licensee’s name and licence number
A certificate of inspection is given for bottled gas work	Same details, for LPG installations

Keep the certificate with your property papers. Insurers, buyers and holiday-let managers may ask for it. The licence must cover gasfitting, not only plumbing, and the about page explains how to look up a licence on the NSW register.

Gasfitters work to AS/NZS 5601.1, the Australian and New Zealand standard for gas installations. You do not need to read it yourself, but its requirements are often the reason a gasfitter says an appliance cannot go exactly where you hoped.

What should you do if you smell gas?

The NSW Government steps for a gas leak are:

1. Leave the building straight away and call 000, asking for Fire and Rescue NSW.
2. If it is safe, turn off the gas at the meter or the cylinder.
3. Turn off appliances, including electrical ones and pilot lights.
4. Open doors and windows if it is safe to do so.
5. Put out any naked flames and cigarettes, and do not use switches.
6. Contact a licensed gasfitter.
7. Contact your gas supplier, whose details are on your gas bill.

Do not use the enquiry form on this site for a leak. It is not monitored as an urgent line, and a leak needs the steps above first.

Bottled LPG and network gas compared

Point	Bottled LPG	Network gas
Supply	Refillable cylinders delivered and swapped by a supplier	Piped to a meter at the property
Certificate after work	Certificate of inspection	Certificate of compliance
Common jobs	Cylinder placement, regulators, pigtails, new appliance runs	Meter to appliance pipework, new points, appliance swaps
Things that limit location	Required clearances around the cylinders and room for delivery access	Pipe run from the meter, size of the existing line
Appliance setting	The appliance must suit LPG	The appliance must suit natural gas

Appliances are set up for a particular gas type. A cooktop bought for natural gas cannot simply be hooked up to LPG cylinders. Whether it can be converted depends on the maker’s instructions, and the gasfitter decides that on site.

If you have taken over old cylinders with a property you have just bought, the questions below explain when they can be refilled.

What will a careful gasfitter check or refuse?

Before connecting anything, a careful gasfitter will:

1. confirm the gas type and check the appliance data plate matches it
2. check the existing pipe is large enough for the extra load, since adding a hot water unit to a line built for a cooktop can starve both
3. measure clearances around cylinders, flues and openable windows
4. pressure test the pipework and check for leaks on every joint
5. light and adjust the appliance and check the flame
6. issue the certificate with their name and licence number

They will refuse to install an uncertified appliance, refuse to connect a cooktop with an unsuitable hose, and refuse to leave a gas line open to an appliance that has been removed. If you bought the appliance yourself, have the model number ready so the gasfitter can check it before the visit.

How much does gas fitting cost in Byron Bay?

A published Byron Bay price estimate puts a gas fitting at $260 to $680 per point for each gas point. A new run from cylinders on the far side of the house, a wall that has to be opened, or work under a raised floor will push a job toward the top of that band or beyond. For a gas storage hot water unit supplied and installed, the same estimate gives $1,250 to $3,675. Removal of the old unit, a new flue or a change of position can add to it. See the Byron Bay plumbing cost guide for other common figures before you request a gas fitting quote.

What happens on the day of an appliance swap?

For a like-for-like swap, such as an old cooktop out and a new one in, the gasfitter isolates the gas, disconnects and caps the old appliance, and checks the existing connection point is sound and in the right place for the new model. The new appliance is connected, the joints are leak tested, and each burner is lit and checked for a clean, steady flame. If the new model needs a different connection height or a longer run, the gasfitter will tell you before cutting into the benchtop or wall. Leave clear space around the work area and have the installation manual for the new appliance on the bench.

Gas work in holiday lets and older homes

Holiday rentals in Byron Bay often have outdoor barbecues and cooktops that get heavy use over summer. Older beach houses may have gas lines that were extended a piece at a time over the years. In both cases it pays to have a gasfitter look at the whole setup when one appliance is replaced, rather than only the new connection. Flood-affected gas appliances need checking before they are used again, and the plumbing checks after a flood guide covers that order of work.

Next step

For a gas enquiry, name the appliance and its model number, say whether the property runs on bottled LPG or network gas, estimate the distance from the meter or the cylinders to where the appliance will go, and note whether an old appliance needs to be removed and capped off. With those details, send a gas fitting enquiry and include a photo of the cylinders or meter.

Send a job enquiry