The central city is the area inside the Four Avenues and mixes the commercial core with residential pockets such as Inner City East, Inner City West, the Avon Loop and Victoria. It was heavily damaged in the September 2010 earthquake and devastated in February 2011, and most of the city's high-rise buildings and many heritage buildings were demolished afterwards. The 2012 recovery plan set aside the East Frame for new residential development, and the council aims for 30,000 people living within the Four Avenues. From a single cooktop swap to a whole house run for hot water, heating and an outdoor bayonet, we size the LPG supply in Christchurch Central so every appliance gets the pressure it needs, even with everything on at once.
Gas in the rebuilt central city: apartments, body corporates and new kitchens
Inside the Four Avenues, most of the housing stock is new. After February 2011 the bulk of the high-rise buildings came down, and the residential pockets in Inner City East, Inner City West, the Avon Loop and Victoria have filled with apartments and townhouses built to modern standards. That changes the gas question. In a multi-storey block, a resident usually cannot just put two 45 kg bottles on a balcony, because the body corporate controls the common areas and the building's fire and ventilation design may rule out LPG on upper floors altogether.
So the first step on a central city job is paperwork, not pipe. We read the body corporate rules, check whether the building was designed with a gas supply or a shared bulk tank, and confirm whether the address sits on one of the streets served by the piped LPG network. Where gas is allowed, we plan the flue or ventilation for a unit with neighbours on several sides, and put the isolation valve somewhere the occupant can reach it without moving furniture.
For the hospitality and retail tenancies that came back into the core, a commercial cooktop or a bank of burners needs a larger supply and a gas shut off the staff can find quickly. Fit outs in rebuilt shells often run pipe through ceiling voids rather than under floors, because most of these buildings sit on slabs over the gravel and sediment the city is built on.
Local tip: Before you buy a gas cooktop for a central city apartment, ask the body corporate secretary for the building's rules on LPG, as some buildings restrict it.
Gas Fitter in Christchurch Central: Local Factors
On rebuilt homes we fit gas pipe with flexible connections at the appliances and where the pipe enters the building, so it copes with some movement.
For anything else, see our plumbers in Christchurch Central.
How We Handle Gas Fitter in Christchurch Central
Our gasfitters carry pipe, fittings, regulators and leak testing gear, so most appliance connections in Christchurch Central are done in one visit.
Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Gas Fitter Jobs We Do in Christchurch Central
- LPG bottle changeover regulator
- Cap redundant gas pipe
- Connect gas hob
- Gas fire connection
- Gas appliance replacement
Gas Fitter Christchurch Central FAQs
Can I have a gas cooktop in an apartment inside the Four Avenues?
Sometimes. It depends on the body corporate rules and the building's design. We check both, and if gas is permitted we plan the supply, ventilation and certification.
Is there natural gas in Christchurch Central?
No. The South Island has no natural gas network, so homes use LPG from bottles, a bulk tank or, on some Christchurch streets, a piped LPG network.
Do you install continuous flow gas hot water?
Yes. We install LPG continuous flow water heaters, including the bottle setup, flue and connections.
Gas Fitter Near Christchurch Central
- Gas Fitter Merivale
- Gas Fitter St Albans
- Gas Fitter Addington
- Gas Fitter Sydenham
- Gas Fitter Linwood
- Gas Fitting across Christchurch