Getting appliances installed: hiring the right person to connect them

What the job actually involves

Appliance installation is priced per item, and the appliance itself barely moves the number — it's the connection that does. A like-for-like swap where the power point, water line or gas point already exists is quick work: unbox, level, connect, test. Running a new circuit, plumbing a new water line or adding a gas point is a different job entirely, often doubling the price.

The connection also dictates who's allowed to do it. A dishwasher into an existing tap and drain is straightforward, but a hardwired oven needs an electrician, and anything gas — a cooktop, a gas oven — must be connected by a licensed gasfitter who issues a compliance certificate. Many installers bundle removal and disposal of the old unit for a small extra fee, which saves you a tip run.

Integrated appliances add fiddliness: cabinetry has to be trimmed, panels fitted and clearances checked, so an integrated dishwasher takes longer than a freestanding one even when the plumbing is identical.

How the cost works

A simple plug-in swap sits at the bottom of the range, a hardwired oven or cooktop into existing circuits lands in the middle, and a gas connection with a new ducted rangehood run reaches the top. The live estimate on this page adjusts for how many appliances you're doing and what they need to hook into, so treat any figure as indicative rather than fixed.

The single biggest lever is whether the connection already exists. If you're replacing like for like, you're paying mostly for labour and a short visit. The moment a new gas or electrical point is involved, you're paying a licensed trade to run and certify it, which is where the price climbs. Doing several appliances in one visit is far cheaper per item than separate call-outs.

Choosing the right installer

For gas and hardwired electrical work, the licence isn't optional — it's the law, and the compliance certificate is your proof the job was done properly and your insurance will stand behind it. Ask for the gasfitter's or electrician's licence number, and keep the certificate somewhere safe.

For plug-in swaps a competent handyman is fine, but the good ones still measure. Before booking, they'll check the new appliance's dimensions and connection positions against your cavity, because a fridge that's ten millimetres too wide or an oven whose cable exits the wrong side turns a one-hour job into a return visit. An installer who asks for the model number up front is thinking ahead.

Mistakes to avoid

Most installation regrets come from underestimating the connection or letting the wrong person do licensed work.

• Letting an unlicensed handyman connect gas or hardwire an oven — it's illegal and voids your insurance
• Not keeping the gas or electrical compliance certificate for warranty and insurance
• Skipping the cavity measurement, then discovering the new appliance doesn't fit
• Booking installs one at a time instead of bundling them into a single visit
• Assuming removal of the old unit is included when it's usually a small extra
• Forgetting that a new water line or circuit can cost more than the appliance itself