The usual order is cooktop last, hot water first
Start with whichever gas appliance is oldest, because the switch pays for itself fastest when it replaces something already near failure. For most Gold Coast homes that means hot water first. A gas storage unit at 10 to 12 years old is on borrowed time anyway, so replacing it with a heat pump when it dies costs you very little extra over a like-for-like gas swap. The cooktop usually goes last because a working gas cooktop has no urgency, and swapping it to induction needs an electrician for the new circuit as well as a gas fitter to cap the gas at the appliance. Space heaters sit in the middle. Reverse cycle air conditioning has quietly replaced most gas heating on the Gold Coast already, so many homes only have two gas appliances left to deal with.
Hot water is the biggest single cost and the biggest ongoing saving
A heat pump hot water system installed on the Gold Coast costs $2,500 to $4,500 after rebates as of 2026, with rebates typically worth $1,000 to $2,500 depending on the schemes running when you book. Confirm current schemes at quote time, because funding changes through the year. Compare that against $1,800 to $3,200 for a replacement gas storage unit or $1,900 to $3,500 for gas continuous flow, and the heat pump is competitive on day one before you count running costs. One honest note: if you have a working solar hot water system, its pure running cost in Queensland can still beat a heat pump, so we do not push owners of healthy solar systems to convert. The heat pump case is strongest when you are replacing gas.
The gas cap-off is licensed gas work, not a DIY job
This is the part people underestimate. In Queensland, disconnecting, capping or removing any part of a gas installation is licensed gas work under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004. It must be done by a gas fitter holding a gas work licence issued through Resources Safety and Health Queensland, and the work is documented with a compliance certificate. Turning a valve off is not the same as capping a line. An uncapped or badly capped line left charged behind a wall or under a bench is a leak waiting for an ignition source. Whether we agree with your reasons for leaving gas or not, the disconnection is our trade's job either way, and we would rather do it properly than quote the repair after a DIY attempt.
What happens to your gas meter and supply charge
Capping individual appliances still leaves you paying the daily gas supply charge, which is the hidden cost of a half-finished conversion. Once the last appliance is gone, contact your gas retailer to arrange meter removal, often called abolishment. The retailer and distributor handle the meter itself. Your gas fitter handles everything on the property side of it. For bottled LPG homes the process is simpler: the bottles are collected by the supplier and the regulator and pigtails are removed by the gas fitter. Until the meter or bottles are gone, budget for the supply charge continuing, and remember an annual gas service at $150 to $200 stays worthwhile for any appliance you keep running in the meantime.
What a staged conversion costs on the Gold Coast
| Stage | Typical Gold Coast cost as of 2026 | Who does the work |
|---|---|---|
| Gas hot water to heat pump | $2,500 to $4,500 installed after rebates (rebates typically $1,000 to $2,500, confirm current schemes at quote time) | Licensed plumber |
| Gas cooktop to induction | Cooktop, circuit and switchboard work priced by your electrician; appliance gas cap-off quoted on inspection | Electrician plus licensed gas fitter |
| Staying on gas short term, continuous flow swap | $1,900 to $3,500 | Licensed gas fitter |
| Cap or disconnect remaining gas lines | Quoted on inspection, documented with a compliance certificate | Licensed gas fitter |
| Meter abolishment | Set by your retailer and distributor | Retailer arranges |
| Annual gas service you no longer need | $150 to $200 per year saved once fully electric | Not applicable |
Should you actually do it?
For most Gold Coast households with ageing gas appliances, yes, staged over a few years. The economics stack up best when each swap coincides with an appliance reaching end of life, and worst when you rip out working equipment for the sake of it. If your gas cooktop is 3 years old and you love it, keep it and revisit the plan when the hot water fails. If you are paying a daily supply charge to run one cooktop, the maths usually says finish the job. We will give you a straight answer either way at quote time rather than sell you a full conversion you do not need yet.
Planning the switch, or just need a gas line capped safely with the paperwork done right? Call Hills Plumbing & Gas on 0472 657 042 for a fixed quote, or book through our gas fitting service page. Owner-operator, QBCC licence 15243081, 5.0 stars from 27 Google reviews.
Sources: Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (Qld); Resources Safety and Health Queensland gas work licensing; your gas retailer's meter abolishment process. Rules and rebate schemes change, so check current requirements before you book.