Gas Fitting and Appliances Explained

Some of the first things to know about Gas Fitting and installing gas appliances, piping, and regulators is that we follow a strict code of practice.

This means that all gas works are required to be performed by a licensed gas fitter.

Upon completing the installation a gas fitter will supply a certificate to the owner.

A client can obtain a certificate for pre-existing work as a new installation.

Checking for Gas Leaks

The safest way to check for gas leaks is to use soapy water on the joins or piping. If you detect a leak noticeable small bubbles will start to appear.  Smelling an odor in also a great way to check for gas leaks.

Did you know that Gas in its natural state has very little or no smell at all. it is for safety purposes a gas called Mercaptan is added so that it can be detected by smell in the event of leakage.

What Gas types are there?

In Australia the two main types of gas are (LPG) Liquid Petroleum Gas and Natural Gas.

Installing your Gas Appliance

Can we advise some prep work for you?  One of the most common roadblocks that could stop your Gas Appliance from being installed is the kitchen overhead heights.

This means the distance from the appliance trivet which is the highest part of your stove to the kitchen overheads.

The clearance over your cooktop and/or stove to cupboards and range hoods.  Often kitchen manufacturers install the overhead cupboards and rangehood too low. The minimum clearance is measured from the highest point being the trivet where your pots sit on is 650mm.  There is also a minimum horizontal distance from the burner to a combustible surface that is 200mm.

Note: If your Gas Appliance is free-standing and the benchtop is combustible the stove will need to be 10mm higher than the benchtop.

Warning: Another important thing to know. just because the minimum standard says 600mm this is not always the case. In the event you have a higher output burner, the manufacturer can override the minimum Standard up to 650mm or more.

How do you know what the correct clearance is for a Gas Appliance?

The Best way to Check for the required clearances is in the appliance manual for the Manufacturer’s requirements. Or if in doubt, call the appliance manufacturer and ask for technical support.

Appliance Gas Type and Conversions for Gas Fitting

If your gas type is LPG, and you have just bought a new appliance in most cases it comes set for natural gas. This will mean your gas fitter will need to convert it to LPG.

Quite often when we are starting an installation we find that the jets are missing. In most cases, the client calls the supplier and informs them they were not in the box. My best advice is not to open the box when you bring it home. It can be very exciting to show the family – If you can please wait for the Fitter as there are small parts which are easy to lose.

Things that can go wrong when you buy a Gas Appliance

When installing an appliance from well-known suppliers the installation proves to go well. The opposite is true of appliances bought at auction, secondhand, or from a non-reputable source (Online).
It might be important to know that before a gas fitter installs a gas appliance it’s sighted and checked that it’s Certified. This means if you buy a unit without a correct Certification it cannot be legally installed.

Over the past decade, Gas Hobs from China have found a new home in the rubbish tip. They are not legal to be installed without the Certification.

One other tip that may be of help to you. If you buy a second-hand unit, even if it is certified and has a brand name you know. It must clearly have the certification numbers visible. If the numbers are not visible, the appliance may not be installed also. unless it can be proven in another manner to be compliant.

Certification Search Sites

Sometimes the certification number can expire. If an organization that applied approval to your appliance may have done so for a given time period. Speak to a Gas Fitting expert for some clarity.

Some of the Gas certifiers in Australia are:

• AGA Australian Gas Association
• SAI Global
• IAPMO

What Gas Appliance brands are good?

In gas stoves some of the best units are:

• Bosch
• Fisher & Paykel
• Electrolux
• Smeg
• Omega

In hot water services, the following brands are high on my list:

Rinnai instantaneous 26B	Bosch instantaneous B	Rheem Stellar 330
Priced From $900	Priced From $850	Priced from $1250

Maintenance on Gas Appliances

In many cases a Gas Fitting call out to repair a unit is only a matter of cleaning it or adjusting the jets. One thing to be careful of is the jets. If removing the burner to clean underneath. It’s likely that you could block the small hole in the jets. You will know if this happens as there will be very little or no flame from that burner.

Another thing that is common to fail is the thermocouple when units are a little older. A thermocouple is a safety device to make sure the pilot light or Burner is running. It will turn the gas off if it is not detecting heat.

How Does a Thermocouple Work?

There are two different metals in a little rod that sits just inside the pilot flame. When it’s heated, it creates a small electrical current. This Current travels to the other end of the thermocouple and charges a small magnet. When operational, this magnet holds a valve open to the main burner. If the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple magnet will release and close the valve to the burner shutting off the gas.

Thermocouple failure

Thermocouples in operation that are constantly sitting in a flame.

Installing a coupling in just the right position so as to not make it too hot is the key.

How to know when it’s time to change a thermocouple?

You’ll know it needs changing when the unit starts to drop out while in operation or you are unable to keep the pilot light on at all.