Can I install a dishwasher, oven or rangehood myself?
Short answer
Partly. You can position an appliance and plug it into an existing power point yourself. Anything hardwired — most ovens, cooktops and some rangehoods — must be connected by a licensed electrician, and connecting a dishwasher to the water supply and drain is plumbing work that needs a licensed plumber in most states. Gas cooktops always need a licensed gasfitter.
Kitchen appliances sit at the meeting point of three trades — electrical, plumbing and gas — so “can I install it myself?” usually has a mixed answer. The deciding question is: does it plug in, or is it wired in?
At a glance
| Appliance | Plug-in to an existing power point | Hardwired / new connection |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher (power) | DIY OK | Licensed electrician |
| Dishwasher (water and drain) | — | Licensed plumber in most states |
| Wall oven | DIY OK if it has a plug | Licensed electrician |
| Electric cooktop | Rarely plug-in | Licensed electrician |
| Rangehood | DIY OK to mount and plug in | Licensed electrician |
| Gas cooktop or oven | — | Licensed gasfitter |
Electrical: plug-in yes, hardwired no
Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office puts it clearly: hardwired appliances “must be connected by a licensed electrician”. Its own example is useful — fitting an electric wall oven into a cabinet, without connecting it, is not electrical work. So you can often do the heavy lifting and fitting, then have an electrician make the connection.
If your appliance has a plug and there’s already a suitable power point in the right place, plugging it in is yours to do. If there isn’t a power point, or it’s in the wrong spot, adding or moving one is licensed work.
Plumbing: the dishwasher connection
Connecting a dishwasher’s inlet to the water supply and its outlet to the drain isn’t on Queensland’s or Western Australia’s lists of work homeowners can do, and NSW requires a licence for any plumbing work regardless of cost. Treat it as a job for a licensed plumber unless your state’s regulator confirms otherwise.
Washing machines are the common exception people point to: screwing the hoses onto existing washing-machine taps is generally treated as normal appliance use. A dishwasher, which usually needs a connection under the sink, is different.
Gas: always a gasfitter
Installing, moving or replacing a gas cooktop, oven or any fixed gas appliance is licensed gasfitting in every state. In Victoria, installing a gas appliance always needs a compliance certificate, whatever the cost.
What you can do to save money
- Measure the cavity and check clearances before you buy.
- Remove the old appliance once it’s been safely disconnected by the right tradie.
- Slide the new unit in, level it, and fit any trims or kickboards.
- Book one visit where the electrician (and plumber) connect everything at once.
For the full list of what’s legal to DIY across electrical, plumbing and gas, see what you can legally DIY in Australia.
Sources
Every rule on this page is taken from these official sources. If a rule has changed, please tell us and we’ll fix it.
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ between states, councils and individual properties, and they change. Confirm with your state regulator or council before starting work, and if in doubt, get a licensed tradesperson.