Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Gas related questions for a new build - is my builder ri 3Jul 24, 2019 1:56 pm vhome Hi, we are building a new house. We shall have gas cooktop and electric (heat pump) hot water system. We shall have bottles. We decided on heat pump over gas continuous flow after much research. However, we want to future proof our HWS and were wanting to include a gas point / rough ins near the heatpump HWS so in case in future we want to swap over to Gas HWS we are able to do that. Our builder suggests against it for 2 reasons a) they can not give me a gas point near to HWS coz of regulations b) swapping will not be as straight forward as the internal pipes are totally different for a gas based HWS, than what it is for electric. These pipes have to be gas complied etc etc. So according to them if I have to future proof it then they will have to run 2 piping system internally which we both agree is crazy. However, I am not totally convinced. For the first one, I can have a point somewhere nearby and then it can be extended / adjusted a bit at that time by a tradesperson to bring it to the same position as current HWS and then connected to the internal piping. And for the 2nd point, why would a different set of water carrying pipes be required!! The HWS just heats the water and then sends to the internal piping network. How does it matter what energy source it is using for heating the water!? Anyways, I am nowhere an expert in the area, and would be keen to hear views of the members. So I have 3 questions 1) Is my builder making sense in his objections and what could be the possible solution for that? 2) Can I really retrofit a gas HWS instead of heatpump/electric HWS later? Or is that totally non-feasible thought? 3) As a side, anyone has any views if I should also have a gas point at the alfresco for BBQ? Has it been useful to people who have done it? Any insights would be greatly helpful. V Hi here is my attempt at answering your questions: 1. your builder is either a complete moron or a liar ( ie too lazy to make the change). Internal hot water pipes would be the same size, generally either 20mm or 25mm and its only the external fittings that need changing ( unless there is some unusual non standard system you have chosen). Depending on what state you are in there may be a gas fitter on this forum who knows more about the regulations on having a capped of gas point on the external wall. 2. Off course you can, you can even run a gas system off bottles now if you wanted too 3. gas point for BBQ is a great idea Simeon McGovern Affordable Custom Homes, We design and build to your budget Ashington Homes www.ashingtonhomes.com.au 2 6314 Ardo That is so funny! I wonder how many people know who Larry Haun is these days. I have a couple of young guys we call Mo 1 & Mo 2 who run a crew of 6 boys and… 9 12907 You should check your detail drawings, it may show downpipe within brick pier. 14 8564 |