March 10, 2022

Quick Guide - choosing the perfect gas heater

Choosing the right gas heater for your home will ensure you stay snug and warm all winter long without huge energy bills. We've put together all the information you need to pick the perfect heater.

Fuel type - natural gas or LPG

The availability of mains natural gas will probably guide your fuel decisions to a large degree. Sydney is fortunate to have an expansive network of natural gas lines throughout large areas of the city which means many residents have the choice of either mains natural gas or LPG bottles for their heating.

Pros and cons of natural gas and LPG

Natural gas

pro - usually cheaper than LPG
pro - available all the time, no running out or forgetting to order bottle refills.
pro - natural gas burns cleanly - which is better for the environment and means less maintenance on the heater.
con - not available in all areas
con - not portable

LPG

pro - available just about anywhere
pro - ideal for portable heating and cooking needs as it can be supplied in small gas bottles
con - often more expensive than natural gas
con - the room is needed to store gas bottles on your property

Gas heaters are manufactured to suit either LPG or natural gas, ensure the model you buy is right for the type of gas you choose.

Choosing the right size

Getting the correct size for the room or area you need to heat is very important for several reasons.

If you put a huge heater in a small room hoping to ensure you're toasty warm all through the winter you'll probably just waste energy and increase your gas bill unnecessarily.

The flip side of that would be installing a small heater in a large room thinking you'll save on power. More often than not your heater will struggle to maintain the temperature so will work overtime to keep the space warm, using excess gas in the process.

The temperature variations across Sydney mean that a heater which will keep a home warm by the beach warm will battle to keep the chill out of a house in the hills. Make sure you take note of the temperature of your area, and insulation features such as roof or wall insulation, carpet and window coverings into consideration when choosing your heater.

Selecting the right size heater for the room will allow it to work at its most efficient. Rinnai has a handy tool to help you get the right size for your space - rinnai.com.au

Heater style - flued or unflued?

Do you want to be able to move the heater from room to room or will it only be used in one area? Depending on your home design and your lifestyle you may choose to only heat the main living areas of your home with gas heating. Using a gas heater in the living area and other heating options in the smaller rooms which only need heating for shorter periods (eg. reverse cycle air conditioning or a portable electric heater).

Flued heaters are fitted in one place and have a flue, or vent, which removes the hazardous combustion gasses and moisture emitted by the heater.

pro - by removing moisture this style of heater reduces incidences of mould or mildew buildup
con - slightly reduced efficiency as a small amount of heat is released through the flue
pro - no additional ventilation needed
con - additional installation costs due to flue and gas infrastructure. Must be installed by a licenced gas fitter.

Unflued gas heaters are usually portable and can be moved to any room with a bayonet, however, they don't remove the bi-products and moisture emitted from the heater.

con - the room must be ventilated to allow combustion gasses and moisture to escape safely
pro - move it where you need it
con - can't be used in small areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms or small office spaces (it's actually illegal in some States).
pro - very efficient, around 90% for some models.

For expert advice and gas heater recommendations for your home, business or space speak to your local gas fitter.

Helpful gas heater links

Energy Made Easy - energymadeeasy.gov.au government site which offers comparisons of energy deals in your area
Rinnai - rinnai.com.au - Rinnai size and style selector guide
Choice - choice.com.au - gas heater buying tips