Gas Fitting Safety: What Every Melbourne Homeowner Must Know

Natural gas powers millions of Melbourne homes, heating living spaces, cooking meals, and delivering hot showers. Used safely, it's an efficient and cost-effective energy source. But gas is also a serious hazard when appliances are incorrectly installed, poorly maintained, or connected by an unlicensed tradesperson. Here's what every Melbourne homeowner needs to understand about gas safety and licensed gas fitting.

What Is Gas Fitting?

Gas fitting covers all work involving the installation, repair, maintenance, alteration, and testing of gas systems and appliances. In Victoria, this includes natural gas and LPG. All gas fitting work must be carried out by a licensed gasfitter holding a current licence issued by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). This is not optional. Penalties for unlicensed gas work are severe, and more importantly, incorrectly installed gas systems can cause house fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

What Requires a Licensed Gas Fitter?

The following work must be performed by a licensed gas fitter in Victoria:

• Installing, connecting, or disconnecting any gas appliance including heaters, cooktops, ovens, hot water systems, and barbecues connected to reticulated gas
• Running new gas supply lines or extending existing pipework
• Installing gas meters and regulators
• Repairing gas leaks in pipes, fittings, or appliances
• Commissioning or decommissioning gas appliances
• Installing gas bayonet fittings
• Replacing flexible gas hoses on cooktops and ovens

Signs You May Have a Gas Leak

A gas leak is a serious emergency. Natural gas is odourless in its pure form, so the gas network adds a chemical called mercaptan that gives it a distinctive sulphur or rotten egg smell. Know these warning signs and act immediately if you detect them.

• A persistent smell of rotten eggs or sulphur, even a faint one
• A hissing or whistling sound near a gas appliance or pipe
• Dead or yellowing vegetation in a line across your garden (can indicate an underground leak)
• Unexplained increase in gas bills without a change in usage
• A gas appliance that won't stay lit or has an irregular flame

What to Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak

• Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, including lights
• Do not use a phone inside the building
• Leave the property immediately and leave the door open behind you
• Turn off the gas at the meter if it's safe to do so
• Call the gas emergency line: 132 771 (for Multinet Gas) or 13 67 78 (for AusNet Services)
• Call 000 if there's any immediate danger

Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Danger

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when gas appliances don't burn fuel completely. It's colourless and odourless, which is why it's called the silent killer. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and confusion that improve when you leave the property. Any gas appliance that produces CO in excessive quantities is a serious health risk.

Annual servicing of gas heaters, flued appliances, and hot water systems by a licensed gas fitter significantly reduces CO risk. If you have any unflued gas heaters or older appliances that haven't been serviced recently, have them checked. Installing a CO detector (separate from a smoke alarm) in rooms with gas appliances is strongly recommended.

Gas Appliance Servicing Schedule

Regular maintenance keeps gas appliances safe, efficient, and long-lasting.

• Gas heaters (flued and unflued): Every 2 years minimum. Older appliances should be serviced annually
• Gas hot water systems: Annually. Includes burner, flue, and all gas connections
• Gas cooktops and ovens: Every 2 to 3 years, or sooner if burner performance changes
• Gas barbecues (reticulated): Annually, including hose inspection and replacement if cracked or aged

Choosing the Right Gas Fitter

Always verify your gas fitter holds a current VBA licence before work begins. You can check a tradesperson's licence online at the VBA website. Our gas fitting team carries full licensing and insurance for all residential and commercial gas work. We also offer licensed plumbing and hot water system services.

We service Melbourne including South Yarra, Richmond, Fitzroy, Brunswick, Northcote, and all surrounding suburbs. Contact us to book a licensed gas fitter today.