Local South East Melbourne trades we coordinate with.

Licensed electricians — heat-pump circuit installs.

Converting a gas unit to a heat-pump usually means running a new dedicated circuit (10A or 15A depending on the model) from the switchboard out to the new compressor location. Existing electric storage circuits typically carry over to a heat-pump fine, but the breaker rating and isolation switch get verified on site. We work with local A-grade electricians who can usually attend the same day or next morning, and the circuit goes in before we bring the new unit on site. One licensed plumber, one licensed electrician, one compliance certificate path — no chasing trades.

Roof plumbers — solar hot water panel installs.

Solar hot water panels (evacuated tube or flat plate) bolt through the roof onto the rafters and need flashing care to stay watertight for the next 20 years. On older terracotta tile or 1990s Colorbond roofs we use a Berwick-based roof plumber for the bracket mount and flashing, while we handle the tank, valves, glycol or potable water loop, controller and gas-boost or electric-boost wiring. Roof plumber owns the waterproofing, we own the hot water system — clear scope, clear warranties.

We point homeowners to these resources constantly — particularly the Solar Victoria rebate eligibility page and the gas substitution roadmap, which together drive most of the gas-vs-heat-pump decisions across Berwick, Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Hampton Park and Endeavour Hills.

• Solar Victoria — Hot Water Systems Rebate — the $1,000 rebate on approved heat-pumps for owner-occupiers. Lists the approved product list and current eligibility criteria. solar.vic.gov.au
• Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap — the policy framework progressively phasing gas out of Victorian homes from 2024. Important context for any like-for-like gas replacement decision today. energy.vic.gov.au
• AS/NZS 3500.4 — Plumbing and drainage: Heated water services — the Australian Standard governing hot water system installation, including tempering valves at outlets, relief valve drainage, and sizing for peak demand. The standard every licensed plumber works to. Standards Australia
• AS/NZS 4234 — Heated water systems — Calculation of energy consumption — the Australian Standard referenced by Solar Vic for heat-pump and solar hot water energy ratings. Determines the STC (small-scale technology certificate) value of each approved system. Standards Australia
• Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) — Plumbing Code of Australia — sits above AS 3500 and references it for hot water installation requirements. The plain-English homeowner reference for the regulatory framework. abcb.gov.au
• Victorian Building Authority (VBA) — public register of licensed plumbers and Type A gasfitters. Any gas hot water work must be performed by a Type A gasfitter — verify before booking. vba.vic.gov.au

Electrician first or plumber first?

For a gas-to-heat-pump conversion, the electrician runs the dedicated circuit out to the new compressor location first — usually a half-day job, signed off and isolation switch installed. Then we arrive the next day (or same day for a fast job), decommission the gas unit, cap the gas line, mount the heat-pump, plumb tank-to-house and connect the controller to the new circuit. One licensed plumber, one licensed electrician, two compliance certificates lodged with the VBA. We coordinate the timing so you only lose hot water for half a day.

When does the Solar Vic rebate get applied?

Before quoting. We confirm eligibility (owner-occupier, household income, property value, working existing unit) on the phone or first site visit, then quote you the discounted price — $1,000 less than RRP installed. You pay the discounted figure; we lodge the rebate paperwork with Solar Vic in the week following installation and recoup it on our end. You see one number on the invoice, no rebate-claim hoops to jump through yourself.

Do I need a compliance certificate copy?

Yes — we lodge a VBA Form 4 (Compliance Certificate) within 5 business days of completion and email you a copy. Keep it with your house records; you’ll need it for insurance claims, sale settlement vendor statements, and any future gas appliance work. For gas-to-heat-pump conversions you also receive a separate gas decommissioning certificate — required by Energy Safe Victoria when a gas line is capped.