What's Included in the Price
A standard gas fitting quote covers labour, pipe and fittings (copper Type B for internal, PE for underground), flexible connectors, pressure testing to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 Gas Installations requirements, and an electronic Certificate of Compliance (eCoC) lodged with the Office of the Technical Regulator. Appliance connections include gas supply hookup, leak testing at all joints using electronic detectors, and pressure verification. New line work includes pipe routing from the meter, wall penetrations (often through solid brick in Adelaide), support brackets, and full system pressure testing. Where plumbing connections are involved, work must also comply with AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and Drainage.
The eCoC must be submitted by the gas fitter within 30 days of completing the work. It is a legal requirement under the Gas Act 1997. Ask for the eCoC reference number before making final payment.
What Affects the Cost
- Existing gas infrastructure: Most Adelaide metropolitan homes have gas, so adding a new bayonet point near an existing line ($150–$400) is relatively affordable. Running new pipe from the meter across the property costs significantly more.
- Solid brick construction: Adelaide's older character homes (Norwood, Unley, Colonel Light Gardens, Prospect) are predominantly solid brick or stone. Wall penetrations for pipe routing require core drilling, adding $50–$150 per penetration compared to timber-framed plasterboard. External pipe routing along walls avoids this cost where appearance permits.
- Gas appliance type: Connecting a freestanding gas heater via bayonet is simple. Installing a built-in gas fireplace or ducted gas heating system requires more extensive gas fitting work, including larger pipe sizes and additional connection points.
- Flexible connectors: Must be replaced every 5 years (date-stamped, ~$30–$60 each plus labour). Any gas work should include an audit of all connectors in the property.
- LPG vs natural gas: Properties beyond Adelaide's natural gas network (Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Gawler fringe) run LPG, which requires different regulators, orifices, and test pressures. Converting appliances between gas types requires replacement jets and regulator changeover ($80–$150 per appliance for the conversion kit).
- After-hours and emergency work: Gas leak investigations outside business hours attract premium rates.
A straightforward appliance connection to an existing bayonet point in a modern Mawson Lakes or Golden Grove home with clear access sits toward $150. Running a new gas line from the meter to a rear extension in a solid brick character home in Colonel Light Gardens, with multiple core-drilled wall penetrations, aged galvanised pipework needing replacement, and connector upgrades across the property, pushes toward $3,400. Most Adelaide jobs land around $700 for a short new pipe run or connection with connector replacement.
Gas leaks require immediate action. If you smell gas, call Australian Gas Networks' emergency line (1800 427 427) to isolate the supply before calling a gas fitter. After-hours, weekend, and emergency gas work carries premium rates. Adelaide's cool winters from June to August create peak booking periods for gas heater servicing and connections. For non-urgent work like connecting a new cooktop or adding a BBQ point, scheduling during business hours and outside the winter peak saves money.
Adelaide-Specific Considerations
Adelaide relies on natural gas for heating more than most Australian cities, but the long-term economics are shifting. Understanding the local context helps you decide whether to invest in new gas work or switch to electric.
Character suburbs and solid brick construction (Norwood, Unley, Colonel Light Gardens, Prospect): These inner and middle suburbs contain Adelaide's densest concentration of character homes, built predominantly in solid brick or Adelaide bluestone from the early to mid-1900s. Gas infrastructure in these properties is often original, with galvanised steel or old copper pipework that may not meet current AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 standards. A good gas fitter will inspect existing pipes during any new work and flag corroded sections, non-compliant joints, or expired flexible connectors. Wall penetrations through 300–500mm solid stone walls are the most labour-intensive and expensive routing option. External pipe runs along walls, while visible, are significantly cheaper and faster.
Modern suburbs (Mawson Lakes, Golden Grove, Seaford Meadows): Infrastructure is modern, access is typically good, and gas fitting work is straightforward. These suburbs benefit from copper or PE internal pipework and standard timber-framed construction, keeping labour costs at the lower end of the range.
Beyond the gas network (Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Gawler fringe): AGN's natural gas distribution covers most Adelaide suburbs within 25km of the CBD. Beyond that, LPG is the standard, either 45kg swap bottles or a bulk tank. LPG gas fitting involves different regulators (2.75 kPa versus 1.13 kPa for natural gas), different test procedures, and different bottle storage setback requirements. Confirm your gas fitter has specific LPG experience if your property is outside the natural gas network.
The gas-vs-electric calculation in Adelaide: South Australia has historically favoured gas for heating due to the nation's highest electricity prices (~$0.44/kWh peak). However, with SA's rooftop solar penetration now exceeding 40% of homes (some suburbs over 50%), the economics are shifting. Running a heat pump hot water system or reverse-cycle air conditioner during solar hours costs effectively nothing. Before investing in new gas infrastructure, particularly a new gas line to a part of the house that does not already have one, consider whether an electric alternative powered by existing solar panels would be more economical over the system's lifetime. Your gas fitter can disconnect and cap existing gas lines as part of a changeover.
Hiring a Licensed Gas Fitter in SA
Gas work in South Australia requires a gas fitting licence issued by Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Technical compliance is monitored by the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR). Not all plumbers hold a gas fitting licence, so always confirm this separate qualification. The gas fitter must lodge an electronic Certificate of Compliance (eCoC) with OTR within 30 days of completing any gas work, as required under the Gas Act 1997.
Worth checking:
- The gas fitter holds a gas fitting licence issued by CBS (separate from a plumbing licence)
- An eCoC reference number is provided before final payment
- The quote specifies the gas type (natural gas vs LPG) and materials to be used
- For character homes, the gas fitter inspects existing pipework and connectors as part of the scope
- The site is inspected before a fixed-price quote is provided (phone estimates are unreliable for anything beyond a basic connection)
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current trade rates for licensed gas fitters in SA, adjusted for Adelaide labour costs and typical material prices. All figures include GST. Ranges cover appliance connections through to new gas line installations.