Two plumbers in any part of the country can be different in a variety of diverse ways, never mind in their areas of speciality. That doesn’t mean that no two plumbers are alike but it does mean that there will be some uniqueness about them that makes them perfect for handling the upkeep of general plumbing in Perth. So, for this reason, it is a safe answer to say that gas plumbers and general plumbers are different, but you may find a plumber who offers both these services in one. Even though one works with gas and the other works with water, you may discover that these two avenues cross in more ways than one. You may need a licensed gas fitter to handle the installation of your economical hot water system. Both gas fitters and plumbers are trained to operate on similar types of enclosed pipe systems and that means they can relate in the works they do. Both of these experts are ultimately plumbers, however, each specialisation in the services they offer may need special training as well as a special certificate to be a gasfitter.
Plumbing work, according to 2021 national standards and regulations, is an expert licensed to work on the connection, installation, replacement, repair and maintenance of a system of clean water pipes and fixtures and waste management systems. In simple terms, that’s the guy who is qualified to fix your taps, shower, drains and other water fixtures on the premises. This “guy” isn’t just an average person equipped with a tool belt. Plumbers have very strict requirements to meet before they can legally qualify as one. Plumbers are meant to find solutions that permanently deal with normal household plumbing issues like burst pipe call-outs or to discuss plans for your new stunning bathroom renovation.
A proper plumbing company shouldn’t be a one-and-done installation company, like the team at Historic Plumbing, it should also offer repairs, servicing and complete replacements when they are due. This comes coupled with our expert test and repair services when they are due on a pre-determined frequency. Their range of expertise could include the following:
Gas plumbers also need to achieve a certain level of qualification that extends beyond the typical work mentioned above. They need to qualify for an interim gas license to start with and do their work in collaboration with a fully qualified gas fitter. A full gas license is even more difficult to achieve because this is potentially hazardous work. Gas plumbers are specifically trained to do all the work that is connected to gas installations. This may include gas hot water units or otherwise. Outside of typical plumbing systems, gas fitters can also deal with gas cookers on the premises. A gas fitter is likely to be trained in general plumbing work and therefore may be able to help with something like a blocked drain if required. All plumbers receive the same training, but many opt to train as plumbers before eventually upskilling and completing the required courses to specialise in gas-fitting once they have enough practical experience under their belt.
Thanks to Australia’s comprehensive training and regulatory systems, every single plumber and gas fitter that achieves licensing can be cross-checked in a database. General plumbing and gas fitting work is recognized as two separate occupations with different training and qualification requirements and therefore their licensing originate from different places. Gas licenses are exclusively issued by the Department of Mines and Energy while plumbing licenses are issued by the building and construction commission. This broadly means that you shouldn’t call a plumber unlicensed for gas fitting if you have gas-related problems and vice versa. To determine your plumber’s licensing, you can ask them for their credentials or contact the relevant authorities to confirm their licensing validity.
Unlicensed gas work and plumbing are not legal in this part of Australia because of safety regulations which have been put in place to protect the wellbeing of yourself and the property. The specifics of the licensing and certification bodies do differ in more concentrated parts of the area, and it is a good idea to do some research in this regard. The easiest way to get started, as we’ve briefly mentioned, is to ask your local plumber to see their license card.
We hope that we’ve helped you navigate the differences between these two areas of expertise but the most important message here is that you should ensure licensing either way. You will need to do some work on your part to check out the qualifications of the expert you wish to choose because neglecting this aspect could be potentially negative. We strongly commend locals who go the extra mile to do the necessary work of credential checking because this avoids the likelihood of botched plumbing work that needs expensive repairs in future. Licensed professionals, whether for general plumbing or gas fitting, will make sure to do the job well and safely. Some local providers are even able to offer both of these experts all in one team. That is exactly what you’ll get with Historic Plumbing. Our plumbers and gas fitters are ready to respond to your call-out North of the River, South of the River and in The Hills. We’re trained to deal with immediate concerns in your plumbing or gas system but we’re also experts in maintenance work. Our professional plumbers can offer regular maintenance and advice for keeping your home safe from future plumbing problems.
Historic Plumbing is a family-run plumbing company helping Perth residents with their plumbing and gas fitting problems for more than 10 years.
