Gas Appliance Repairs Wellington

Most gas appliances fail in a few predictable ways: the spark stops reaching the burner, the safety device that proves a flame is present wears out, a jet or burner port clogs, or a regulator drifts out of pressure. Each fault looks slightly different, and a good repair starts with working out which one it is rather than swapping parts until something works.

We repair gas hobs, ovens, califonts and continuous flow heaters, gas fires and heaters, and outdoor BBQ points across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast, on natural gas and LPG. Every repair is done by a licensed gasfitter, tested before we leave and certified as the regulations require.

Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Gas Appliance Repairs Jobs We Handle Across Wellington

• Gas appliance repair
• Gas hob repair
• Gas oven repair
• Thermocouple replacement
• Gas leak detection
• Califont repair

Common faults we fix

These are the most common call-outs:

• Hob burners that click but will not light, or only light with a match
• Burners that light, then go out when you let go of the knob
• Pilot lights on fires and older water heaters that will not stay lit
• Ovens that will not hold temperature or shut down mid-bake
• Califonts and continuous flow units showing an ignition or flame error
• Weak, uneven or lifting flames after an LPG bottle change
• BBQ bayonet points that leak, stick or will not take the hose

Natural gas or LPG: what you are on

Powerco owns the natural gas network that runs through Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Porirua, and it finished a four-year upgrade of central Wellington's gas pipes in 2021. If you are connected to that network, a fault is usually in the appliance, its regulator or the pipe inside your property, which is gasfitter work rather than a network problem.

Powerco's listed areas do not include the Kāpiti Coast, so homes in Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Raumati and Ōtaki that cook or heat with gas are normally on LPG bottles. Bottle regulators, changeover valves and pigtails wear out, and a tired regulator is a common cause of weak or uneven flames. We repair appliances on both, and check which gas an appliance is set up for before any parts go in, because natural gas and LPG appliances use different jets and settings.

How It Works

Ignition, thermocouples and flame failure devices

When a burner clicks and does not light, the usual causes are a worn or wet igniter, a cracked electrode, a weak spark generator or a burner cap sitting out of place. When it lights and then goes out, the suspect is the flame safety device. On many hobs, ovens and fires this is a thermocouple, a small probe that sits in the flame and holds the gas valve open only while it stays hot. Thermocouples weaken with age and dirt, and once they cannot prove the flame, the appliance shuts off the gas, which is exactly what it is meant to do.

We test the parts rather than guess, fit genuine or approved replacements, and check the gas pressure at the appliance so a new part is not hiding a supply problem.

Yellow flames, soot and carbon monoxide

WorkSafe lists a yellow flame instead of a blue one, soot on or around the appliance, and a smell like car exhaust as signs an appliance is not working properly or its flue is blocked. Some flame-effect fires are designed to burn yellow, so it is a change from normal that matters. In a windy city, flue terminals on exposed walls and roofs also take a beating, and a loose or damaged flue cap is worth checking if a heater has started misbehaving.

Any of these can mean carbon monoxide, which causes headaches, nausea, dizziness and tiredness and can kill at high levels. Turn the appliance off, open a window and book a repair. If you can smell raw gas rather than exhaust, treat it as a leak and follow the steps on our gas leak repairs page.

Who can repair gas appliances

Under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006, gasfitting must be done by a person authorised by the PGDB. WorkSafe says this covers pipework, appliances and flues, including additions and alterations, and advises asking to see the gasfitter's current licence card. Once the work is connected, a Gas Safety Certificate must be issued within 20 working days.

Wiping a burner cap is fine. Anything that opens the gas side is gasfitting. Our gasfitters carry their licence cards and leave the certificate with you. If the appliance is worth replacing rather than repairing, our gas cooktops and ovens team can quote a new one.

What affects the cost

The price depends on the appliance and brand, the part needed and whether it is on the van or has to be ordered, how easy the appliance is to get to, and whether the supply or regulator also needs work. A good hob or fire with a failed thermocouple or igniter is almost always worth fixing. It gets harder to justify when parts are no longer made, the burner body is corroded, or the unit keeps failing, and we will tell you so. WorkSafe recommends flame-effect heaters and LPG cabinet heaters are serviced every year and other space and water heaters at least every two years, so if a service is overdue we can do it on the same visit.

Why Choose Cheeky's Plumbers for Gas Appliance Repairs

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Gas Appliance Repairs Across Wellington

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