Gas Plumber Springvale

Only licensed gasfitters

Gas work in Victoria must be done by someone who holds a gasfitting licence from the Victorian Building Authority. A plumbing licence alone is not enough. Every gas job we do is carried out by a licensed gasfitter, tested for leaks and, where required, certified with a compliance certificate that is lodged with the regulator and given to you.

Gas leaks

If you smell gas, turn the gas off at the meter, open doors and windows, avoid switches, flames and phones inside, and call from outside. We pressure-test your gas installation to confirm whether there is a leak, then track it down joint by joint with a detector and soapy water. Leaks in Springvale homes most often come from:

• perished rubber hoses on older cooktops and portable heaters
• bayonet fittings that have worn or been knocked
• old galvanised gas pipe that has corroded, especially underground between the meter and the house
• appliance gas controls that have failed

We repair or replace the faulty section, retest the whole installation and only then turn the gas back on and relight appliances.

Cooktops, ovens and wok burners

Cooking matters in Springvale. Plenty of households want a powerful wok burner indoors or a dedicated outdoor wok station. A high-output burner needs enough gas, which means the right pipe size from the meter, correct regulators and, indoors, proper clearances and ventilation. We install and connect cooktops, ovens, freestanding cookers and wok burners, check gas pressure with the burner on full, and test for leaks.

Outdoor cooking setups need appliances certified for outdoor use and connections that are protected from weather and knocks. We fit outdoor bayonets and fixed connections for barbecues, wok burners and heaters.

Gas heaters and carbon monoxide

Older gas space heaters and wall furnaces can produce carbon monoxide if burners are dirty, flues are blocked or the heater is faulty. You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, and it can make people very sick. Energy Safe Victoria recommends servicing gas heaters at least every two years. A service includes cleaning, checking the flue and ventilation, testing for spillage and carbon monoxide, and setting gas pressure. If a heater is unsafe, we disconnect it and explain why.

Gas hot water

We repair, service and replace gas storage and continuous-flow hot water units. Continuous-flow units need a large gas supply, and many older Springvale houses have gas pipe sized for a stove and a small heater. Before we install one, we check whether the existing pipe can carry the load.

Gas pipe sizing and new lines

When appliances light poorly, flames lift or continuous-flow units show error codes, the gas pipe may be too small for everything connected to it. We measure pressure at each appliance with the others running and calculate the load. The fix might be a larger pipe from the meter, a separate line to the biggest appliance or a meter upgrade with the gas distributor.

We run new gas lines for renovations, extensions, outdoor kitchens and second dwellings, using approved copper or multilayer pipe, and test and certify them.

Commercial kitchens

Springvale's restaurants rely on gas. Commercial cooking equipment needs correct gas supply, isolation valves, interlocks where mechanical exhaust is required and regular checks. We connect and move commercial appliances, find and fix leaks, upgrade gas lines for new equipment and work outside trading hours to keep kitchens running. We also coordinate with exhaust and electrical trades during fit-outs.

Gas meters and the distributor

The meter and the supply up to it belong to the gas distributor. If your meter is leaking, damaged or needs relocating or upgrading, the distributor must do the work, although we can arrange it and do the work on your side. If there is a leak at the meter, call the distributor's emergency number.

Going electric

Many households are switching to induction cooking, reverse-cycle heating and heat pump hot water. When gas appliances are removed, the gas lines must be disconnected and capped safely, and the installation tested. Once the last appliance is gone, you can ask your retailer to have the meter removed or the supply abolished. We plan the changeover with you so you are never left without hot water or a way to cook.

Renovations and new builds

During kitchen renovations, the gas point needs to be in the right place before cabinets and benchtops are installed. We rough in gas and water during the build and come back to connect appliances at the end. On subdivisions and townhouse builds, we install gas services for each dwelling to the distributor's requirements.

Gas safety checks for landlords

Victorian rental rules require landlords to have gas safety checks carried out every two years. We check every gas appliance and fitting, test for carbon monoxide, and give you a written report. Where a property has been without a check for some time, we start with the heater and cooktop.

Safety tips

• Never use outdoor gas heaters or barbecues indoors or in a closed garage.
• Keep heater flues and vents clear.
• Replace perished cooktop and heater hoses.
• If a flame burns yellow and sooty rather than blue, have the appliance checked.
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm near gas heaters.

Gas pipe in older Springvale homes

Many post-war Springvale homes have galvanised steel gas pipe running underground from the meter to the house, or under the floor. After sixty years, it can corrode and leak slowly, often without any obvious smell outdoors. A pressure test confirms whether the installation is tight. If it fails, we track the leak and replace corroded sections with modern approved pipe, often running a new line rather than patching the old one.

Wok burners done safely

High-output wok burners are popular in Springvale kitchens and backyards. Indoors, they need a range hood that can handle the heat and fumes, clearances from combustible materials and a gas supply that can deliver full flow without starving other appliances. Outdoors, they need a stable stand, protection from wind and a hose or connection approved for the job. We install them so the flame is strong, steady and safe.

Gas compliance certificates

For regulated gas work, including new appliance installations, pipework changes and disconnections, we issue a compliance certificate and lodge it with the Victorian Building Authority. Keep a copy with your home papers. Insurers, buyers and agents may ask for it, and it is your proof the work was done by a licensed gasfitter and tested.

Gas appliance servicing

Beyond heaters, gas cooktops, ovens and continuous-flow hot water units benefit from servicing. Burners clog, igniters wear and flame settings drift. A yellow, lazy flame or clicking igniters are signs it is time. We clean, adjust and test appliances and check every connection for leaks.

Ducted gas heating

Many homes in Springvale and nearby suburbs have ducted gas heating with the unit in the roof space or on an outside wall. We service the gas side, test for carbon monoxide and check burners and flues. For duct or fan issues we can refer you to a heating specialist.

New gas connections and meter upgrades

When you add a large appliance, such as a continuous-flow hot water unit, a ducted heater or a commercial-style cooktop, the existing meter may not be big enough. We calculate the total load and, if needed, arrange an upgraded meter with the gas distributor and retailer. We then connect the new appliances and test the installation as a whole so everything runs together without dropping pressure.

Townhouse and unit gas

In many unit blocks, gas meters are grouped in a bank, and pipes run long distances to each unit. If one unit's appliances light poorly, it may be a pipe size or regulator problem specific to that line. We trace the line, test it and fix the cause, without disrupting the neighbours more than necessary.

Gas heater replacement

When a gas heater is old or has failed a safety check, replacement may be the best option. We remove the old heater, cap or adapt the gas point, and install a modern room-sealed heater that draws air from outside and sends combustion gases outside, which removes the risk of spillage into the room. If you are moving to electric heating, we cap the gas point safely instead.

Smell gas at the meter?

A smell at the meter can be a leak at the meter itself, which belongs to the distributor, or on your side of it. Turn off the meter if you can do so safely, then ring the distributor's emergency line and us.

Gas leaks in outdoor kitchens

Outdoor kitchens and wok stations are exposed to sun, rain and knocks. Hoses perish and fittings loosen faster outdoors. Check hoses each season and call us if you smell gas or see a cracked hose. Replace any hose that is cracked, stiff or discoloured, and keep the gas bottle or bayonet tap turned off when the outdoor kitchen is not in use. If a burner will not light evenly or the flame lifts off the burner, have it checked before the next big family barbecue rather than in the middle of it.

Springvale ground and pipes

Springvale sits on a mix of sandy loam and heavier clay, and much of the suburb was built in the 1950s and 1960s with earthenware sewer pipes and galvanised or early copper water pipe. Clay joints shift over time and let roots in, rusting galvanised pipe slowly narrows and leaks, and drains under subdivided blocks are often shared between homes. We use drain cameras, locators and pressure tests to see exactly what is going on before anyone digs.

How we approach the job

From your call to the finished job