Quick answer: can a plumber do gas work in Sydney?
A plumber can only carry out gas work in NSW if they hold a separate gasfitting licence — plumbing, draining and gasfitting are distinct licence categories, and unlicensed gasfitting is illegal regardless of the size of the job. So before anyone touches your cooktop, heater or gas hot water unit, ask for their NSW gasfitting licence number. Rectify Plumbing holds both plumbing and gasfitting licences across Sydney and the Central Coast — call 0400 073 180.
What is the difference between a gas fitter and a gas plumber?
They describe the same licensed work from two directions. “Gasfitter” is the term used in NSW licensing and in the Gas Supply Act 1996; “gas plumber” is what homeowners type into Google when they want a plumber who can also legally work on gas. The job title is not what protects you — the licence category is.
Plumber, drainer or gas fitter: which licence covers what
| The job | Licence category needed | Can a general plumber do it? |
|---|---|---|
| Replace a tap or toilet | Plumbing | Yes |
| Clear or repair a sewer or stormwater line | Draining | Only if licensed for draining |
| Install or connect a gas cooktop | Gasfitting | No — gasfitting licence required |
| Run a new gas line or gas point | Gasfitting | No |
| Find and repair a gas leak | Gasfitting | No |
| Swap an electric hot water unit for gas | Plumbing + gasfitting | Only with both |
| Install a gas space heater | Gasfitting | No |
| Commercial or industrial gas installations | Type B gasfitting authorisation | No — separate authorisation |
What counts as gasfitting work in NSW?
Gasfitting work is defined broadly by the Gas Supply Act 1996 and covers far more than most homeowners expect. If gas flows through it, or could, it is gasfitting.
- Connecting, disconnecting, altering or relocating any gas appliance
- Installing or modifying gas piping, meters, regulators and gas points
- Converting an appliance between natural gas and LPG
- Leak detection and repair on a gas installation
- Commissioning and testing an appliance after installation
- Decommissioning and capping a redundant gas line
NSW Government makes the licensing position plain: you need a licence or certificate for any plumbing, draining or gasfitting work, regardless of the value of the work or whether it is residential or commercial.
What happens if unlicensed gas work is done on your home?
The penalties are the least of it. Unlicensed gasfitting is a breach of the Home Building Act 1989 with fines up to $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a company — but the real risk is a gas leak or carbon monoxide from an appliance that was never commissioned properly.
- Insurance. A claim arising from unlicensed work can be refused.
- Warranty. Appliance manufacturers void warranties on installations without a compliance certificate.
- Selling the property. Undocumented gas work becomes a problem at contract stage.
- Safety. An incorrectly sized line or unflued appliance can produce carbon monoxide, which you cannot smell.
How do you check a gas fitter is licensed?
It takes two minutes and it is the single best thing you can do before booking. Ask for the licence number, then verify it yourself rather than relying on a logo on a website.
- Ask for the licence or certificate number in writing — a text message is fine.
- Check it on the NSW Government licence check and confirm gasfitting is listed, not just plumbing.
- Confirm the licence is current and in the name of the business or person attending.
- Ask whether the work is notifiable and whether you will receive a gas compliance certificate.
- Get the quote in writing before work starts.
NSW Government also publishes the compliance obligations gasfitters must meet — worth a skim if you want to know what your gasfitter is signing off on.
What gas jobs does Rectify Plumbing do most often?
Our licensed gasfitters work through Epping, Ryde, Hornsby, Berowra, Mount Colah, Thornleigh, Pennant Hills, St Ives, Parramatta and up to Gosford, Wyoming, Erina and the wider Central Coast. The bread-and-butter jobs are these.
- Gas hot water installs and changeovers — continuous flow and storage units, including electric-to-gas conversions. See our hot water services.
- Cooktop and oven connections during kitchen renovations
- New gas points for heaters, outdoor kitchens and BBQs
- Gas leak detection and repair, including pressure testing the installation
- Appliance servicing and safety checks, especially older space heaters
- LPG to natural gas conversions where the street main is available
- Decommissioning and safely capping redundant gas lines
What does a gas fitter check on a safety inspection?
A proper gas safety check is more than a sniff test. We pressure-test the installation for leaks, inspect flueing and ventilation, check the burner flame is blue and stable rather than yellow and sooting, verify appliance clearances, and confirm the meter and regulator suit the total appliance load. Older unflued heaters get the closest look, because that is where carbon monoxide risk sits.
Signs you should book a gas safety check now
- A yellow or orange flame instead of a crisp blue one
- Soot or black marks around an appliance or its flue
- A faint gas smell that comes and goes
- Headaches, nausea or drowsiness when a gas heater is running
- A pilot light that keeps going out
- Gas bills climbing with no change in how you use gas
Why homeowners use Rectify Plumbing for gas work
We are a family-run Sydney and Central Coast plumbing business based at Berowra Heights, licensed and insured for plumbing, draining and gasfitting. Gas work is done by our own tradespeople, you get a fixed price before we start, and you get the compliance paperwork for notifiable work without having to chase it. If a job needs a Type B authorisation we will tell you rather than take it on.
- All plumbing and gas services
- Gas and electric hot water
- Plumber Berowra, Epping, Hornsby and Gosford
- About our team and licences
Need a licensed gas fitter in Sydney?
Whether it is a cooktop connection, a gas hot water changeover or a leak you are worried about, call Rectify Plumbing on 0400 073 180 and speak to a licensed gasfitter today, or request a call back. If you can smell gas right now, turn it off at the meter, get outside, and call Jemena on 131 909 first.
Gas plumbing FAQs
Do plumbers do gas work in NSW?
Only if they hold a gasfitting licence. Plumbing, draining and gasfitting are separate licence categories in NSW, so a general plumber cannot legally work on your gas unless they are licensed for gasfitting as well. Most experienced plumbing businesses, including ours, hold both — but you are entitled to ask for the licence number before any gas work starts.
What is the difference between a gas fitter and a gas plumber?
In practice they describe the same licensed work. “Gasfitter” is the licence term used in NSW legislation, while “gas plumber” is what most people search for when they want a plumber who can also work on gas. What matters is not the job title but whether the person holds a current NSW gasfitting licence or certificate for the work they are doing.
Do I need a licensed gas fitter to install a gas cooktop?
Yes. Connecting, disconnecting or altering any gas appliance is gasfitting work under the Gas Supply Act 1996 and must be done by a licensed gasfitter, no matter how small the job or how cheap the appliance. That includes cooktops, ovens, gas hot water units, heaters and outdoor kitchens plumbed to natural gas or LPG.
Can I connect my own gas appliance or BBQ line?
No. Unlicensed gasfitting work is a breach of the Home Building Act 1989 and carries fines of up to $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a company. A portable BBQ on a hose-and-regulator gas bottle is fine, but any fixed gas point, new line or appliance connection needs a licensed gasfitter.
What should I do if I smell gas in my home?
Do not touch light switches, appliances or anything that could spark. Turn the gas off at the meter or bottle if it is safe to reach, open doors and windows, get everyone outside, and call your gas provider’s emergency line — Jemena’s natural gas faults line for Sydney is 131 909. Once the leak is isolated, call a licensed gasfitter to find and repair it. We take gas emergency calls on 0400 073 180.
How do I check my gas fitter is licensed in NSW?
Ask for their licence number, then look it up on the NSW Government’s free licence check. The licence should list gasfitting specifically, not just plumbing, and should be current. A legitimate gasfitter will hand the number over without hesitation and will give you a compliance certificate for notifiable gas work.
What is a gas compliance certificate and do I need one?
It is the document your gasfitter issues to certify that notifiable gasfitting work meets the standards, and it is your proof the work was done legally. Keep it — it matters for insurance claims, for appliance warranties, and when you sell the property. If a gasfitter will not provide one for notifiable work, that is a red flag.
How often should gas appliances be serviced?
Every two years is the general guidance for domestic gas appliances, and annually for older gas space heaters, where incomplete combustion can produce carbon monoxide. If an appliance is burning with a yellow rather than blue flame, sooting, or the room smells stuffy when it runs, stop using it and have it checked straight away.
Can a gas fitter convert my hot water system from electric to gas?
Yes, and it is one of the most common jobs we do across Epping, Ryde, Hornsby, Berowra and the Central Coast. It involves running a suitably sized gas line to the new unit, sizing the appliance to the household’s hot water demand, checking the meter or LPG supply can carry the extra load, and disconnecting the old electric unit. Both the plumbing and gasfitting parts must be done under the right licences.