Gas hot water systems

Gas hot water systems remain a common option, especially in newer homes where smaller blocks often make it impractical to squeeze a 650mm-wide storage cylinder down the side of the house. In North Lakes and surrounding Brisbane suburbs, many properties are connected to natural gas mains, which usually offer a considerably cheaper fuel source than bottled LPG. Instantaneous natural gas and LPG hot water units are compact — roughly the size of a small suitcase — and can be wall-mounted. These tankless hot water systems save valuable space as lot sizes reduce, and most models use electronic ignition rather than a continuous pilot light, improving gas efficiency; however they need electricity to run, so you won’t have hot water during a blackout since there’s no stored volume. LPG hot water systems are still widely used, but running costs have risen because of delivery charges, handling and cylinder rental fees, making them more expensive to operate than an off-peak electric hot water system in many cases. Generally, reliable operation requires two 45kg gas bottles. In some newer estates or masterplanned communities without natural gas, developments may be supplied by a central LPG network with metered distribution — this removes bottle rental but often ties you to a single gas provider. Where a property has a natural gas main, the gas supply is typically 25–45% cheaper than LPG bottles. Be aware, though, that many suppliers now add service or access charges (often upwards of $50 per quarterly bill) in addition to actual gas usage. Because heating water consumes far more gas than cooking or barbecuing, both system efficiency and retail supply costs are key considerations when choosing a hot water solution.