Appliance Guide
Appliance Guide: BBQs
Barbecue lore in Australia is dense and sparks passionate debates. From technique to utensil choice, etiquette to acceptable ingredients. But one thing is for sure: plumbed gas BBQs are a cleaner, lower-cost alternative to gas bottle BBQs and offer the same mouth-watering results as cooking on coals.
Faster cooking time
Fire up the BBQ and within a couple of minutes, the plate is hot enough to set steak sizzling. There is no waiting around for coals to heat up, and most gas BBQ hoods feature a built-in thermometer so you can check the temperature while it warms.
Cheaper to run
Plumbed gas BBQs operate at around half the cost of bottled LPG BBQs. And that doesn’t account for your time to find a supplier, travel to and from the location, and swap gas bottles.
Precision cooking
Control dials on every plumbed gas BBQ, and the thermometer mentioned above, provide much more control over cooking temperatures and times. Plumbed gas BBQs take the guesswork out of cooking for better results every time.
Use our Savings Calculator tool to see
how much your family could save by switching to a plumbed gas BBQ.
More reliable
LPG gas BBQs have the advantage of portability, but an empty gas bottle spells disaster. Plumbed gas BBQs never have this problem as they connect to a fixed gas line for uninterrupted supply. Natural gas is a reliable, cheap and clean energy supply that won’t let you down.
Appliance Guide: Dryer
There are many advantages for choosing a dryer powered by natural gas energy over an electric alternative. While lower running costs are one significant advantage, the benefits continue in more efficient operation, energy efficiency and versatility – and 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
If you’re in the market for a new dryer and already have a gas line installed, you could see your energy bills dry up by switching to gas appliances in the laundry.
Cut energy bills
For a family of four, the cost of running a gas dryer is 69% less than an electrical equivalent.
More efficient drying
Gas dryers work by moving hot air around a central drum to dry clothes, like electric dryers. They also dry clothes faster because it takes less time to heat the elements that do the work. Plus, the drying mechanism results in fewer wrinkles meaning less time spent ironing.
Use our Savings Calculator tool to see how much your household could save on energy bills.
Gentler on clothes
Gas dryers are more sensitive to temperature changes. Some units even include intelligent moisture sensors and cool-down cycles for faster, more accurate drying. In all cases, dryers powered by natural gas energy tend to be gentler on delicate clothing compared to harsh electric units.
Units to suit your home
As with most gas appliances, dryers available from leading brands span a range of sizes, capacities, loading arrangements, and have many features to choose from. So, you can get all the benefits of natural gas energy in the ideal dryer for your lifestyle.
Appliance Guide: Gas Ovens
As Australians, we don’t purchase a new oven all that often. So, the right oven becomes an investment. Not only financially, but also an investment in years of family dinners and enjoyable cooking experiences.
Gas-powered ovens offer several advantages over electric. They remain a popular choice for many avid amateur cooks, commercial kitchens and the hospitality sector. Whether professional cook, busy parent, or a couple renovating a property, getting the right gas oven information will help you make a more informed investment.
Cheaper to run
Families could cut their oven energy bills by more than 50% by switching to a gas-powered oven. Natural gas is a cheaper energy source than electricity, and gas ovens are considered more efficient (i.e. faster to heat) than electric ovens.
Better results
Electric fan ovens dehydrate food as they cook. So, for a more succulent roast every time, a gas oven may be the best choice. Plus, gas ovens provide more accurate temperature control for precision cooking.
And finally, because electric ovens work by heating an electric coil with a fan to distribute heat, they cook less evenly requiring you to rotate food.
More reliable than electric
Gas ovens work by using a pilot light to ignite burners. This is an essential piece of information for gas oven owners because it means the oven will still work during a blackout. Unlike electric ovens, gas-powered ovens and appliances are reliable when you need them most.
Appliance Guide: Heater
Beating the winter chill does not have to mean driving up home energy bills. With a gas heater in your home or office, you can stay comfortable in the cold weather without worrying about high heating costs. That is just one reason that gas heating is an excellent alternative to portable electric heaters.
Flued or unflued? The two types of gas heater
When you think of a gas heater, you likely imagine a flued gas heater. These appliances are connected to a fixed gas line to divert spent gas outside, away from the home.
Unflued gas heaters, also called portable gas heaters, don’t require piping as they work on a portable gas source. Unflued gas heaters are popular in alfresco areas and beer gardens.
Save on heating costs
For a family of four, the cost of running a gas powered flued heater is 41% less than an electrical equivalent
Cosy ambience
With so many gas heaters available, your heating appliance can double as a safe and aesthetically appealing fireplace. You can even repurpose a bricked-up fireplace by installing a flued gas heater to warm the room without the dangers of open flames.
Use our Savings Calculator to see how much your household could save on heating costs.
Cosy ambience
Check the room size rating
Gas heaters should never be installed in a room too small for their emissions rating. If you find your heater is too powerful, there are plenty of smaller alternative gas heaters on the market.
Gas heater guide: What size is best for my room?
| Room size | Recommended kW (kilowatt) output | Gas consumption |
| Small (29-40 m2) | 2.9-4.2 kW | 13-15 MJ/h |
| Medium (40-65 m2) | 3.4-6.6 kW | 18-21 MJ/h |
| Large (52-80 m2) | 5.2-8.2 kW | 23+ MJ/h |
*Intended as a guide only. Consult a licenced gasfitter for professional advice.
Use a licenced gasfitter
Any gas appliance must be installed and serviced by a qualified professional. Installing your own gas heater will void any warranty and put your home, family and health at risk.
Appliance Guide: Hot Water
Water heating accounts for a large part of home energy use, making it the second-highest contributor to energy bills. Natural gas is a much cheaper energy source than grid electricity, which makes it an ideal alternative for your home’s biggest energy consumers.
Most small households see significant savings by switching from electric to gas hot water systems:
- A family of four could save up to $530 a year by switching their electric storage hot water system to an equivalent gas system. That's a 46% decrease in their energy costs for hot water.
Your household can choose between instant gas heated hot water, or a storage tank system.
Instantaneous gas hot water systems
Instant systems, also called continuous flow systems, provide on-demand hot water without interruption – regardless of how much your family uses. Instant gas hot water systems are efficient, affordable, and reliable. Better With Gas will help you find the right model for your home.
Never run out of hot water
Instant gas hot water systems are never depleted or delayed.
Hot water when you want it
No delays or cold showers; instant gas heated hot water provides a more comfortable experience.
Small unit, big water heating capacity
Hot water on demand, all year round, with a slimline unit attached discreetly to the home’s exterior.
Gas hot water storage
Like a kettle, a storage hot water system heats and stores water in an insulated tank. Storage systems, while not as efficient as instantaneous, still offer all the benefits of natural gas.
Economical and reliable
Natural gas is a clean energy source, in abundance here in Western Australia.
Inside or outside – it’s your choice
Gas hot water storage tanks are typically installed outside. However, it's certainly possible to also position the tank inside.
Appliance Guide: Stove Cooktops
Kitchen stoves are one of the most important appliances in any home. Due to their frequent use and prominent positioning at mealtimes, they also play a significant role in enjoyment while cooking, safety, and day-to-day time management.
Gas cooking has several advantages over using electricity. Here at Better With Gas, we believe every Australian household should have the right information on gas stoves to make an educated choice for the hearth of the home.
Reduce energy bills
Natural gas is a cheaper energy source than electricity and in WA's south west, including the Perth metro area, natural gas produces 70% less green house emissions and grid based electricity. For a small family, switching to gas cooking can translate to nearly a one-third reduction in energy costs compared to electric stove alternatives.
Instant response
Gas stoves fire up immediately, eliminating frustration when it comes to cooking. Plus, thanks to the precision of gas stove dials, you are in control of cooking temperatures to a greater degree.
A safer solution in family homes
Electric cooktops can easily be left on and forgotten. The blue or orange flame on a gas cooktop is impossible to miss, reducing the risk of a child’s hand accidentally getting burned when you are away from the stove.
Greater variety
Gas stoves come in a wide array of styles. You choose the arrangement which best suits your family – and you can often change the cooktop without replacing the entire appliance.
Cook in a power outage
Gas cooking doesn’t rely on electricity to function. You can still cook during a blackout, and if your stove features a pilot light, then it will be reliable without any adjustment or manual interference.
How Gas Appliances Fit Into A Modern Home
More than 780,000 homes and business with gas connections across the state use gas appliances to power everything from tonight’s dinner to a cozy night’s sleep in winter.
You might think modern appliances should be sleek and digital, with all kinds of efficiency features and control settings. And you’d be right! Modern gas appliances have all that, and more.
What’s the difference between gas and electric appliances?
The biggest difference is the power source. Gas appliances run on natural gas piped into your home, while electric appliances draw from the grid. Here’s why that matters:
- Natural gas is supplied to homes in WA at about half the cost of grid based electricity.
- In WA's South west, including the Perth metro region, Natural gas use produces 70% less greenhouse gas emissions than grid based electricity.
- WA residential consumers have multiple gas retailors to choose from and competition means lower prices so shop around to find the best gas deal.
It’s a similar story in terms of usability. Gas appliances often have better control and functionality than their electric counterparts. Let’s walk through your home to look at this in more detail.
Gas appliances for the kitchen
Everyone knows the feeling of cooking with a gas stove. It’s a level of control, satisfaction and temperature response you can’t get from electric appliances.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a professional chef who prefers cooking on an electric stove. And with gas cooktops often costing less than electric, it’s all upside from installation to dishing up at dinner time.
Gas ovens are the same, offering highly controllable cooking with the same features and functions you expect from the most modern electric oven. Modern gas ovens come in a range of configurations and sizes, including freestanding and built-in.
Gas appliances for the laundry
One surprising place you can save on electricity bills is the laundry. More Aussie households are using clothes dryers as the popularity of apartment living and subdivisions limits space for the iconic Hills Hoist.
Plus, clothes dryers are just so convenient.
For a family of four, the cost of running a gas dryer is 69% less than an electrical equivalent. Because they use a more innovative heating mechanism and provide precise temperature control, gas clothes dryers work faster and are softer on delicate fabric.
Gas appliances for living rooms and bedrooms
Nobody enjoys shivering through a cold winter night. It’s why three-quarters (77%) of Australian homes have a heater. But heaters cost a lot to run, right?
Not if you use a gas heater. Switching from electric to flued gas heater – the style that connects to a gas line – can cut running costs by 41% for a family of four.
Whether heating your bedroom overnight or transforming your living room with a decorative fireplace that’s easy and mess-free, gas heaters are more efficient and versatile than any other alternative.
Gas hot water
We’ve saved the best – or at least the biggest – for last. Search for “gas vs electric hot water” online and you’ll find plenty of arguments for one side or the other. What it comes down to is this:
- A family of four could save up to $530 a year by switching their electric storage hot water system to an equivalent gas system.
- That's a 46% decrease in their energy costs for hot water.
- In WA's south west, including the Perth metro area, natural gas produces 70% less greenhouse emissions than grid based electricity.
How to choose the right gas appliance for your home
Every home is different, which is why gas appliances come in an endless array of styles, feature choices, colours, finishes and fixture types.
Start by reading through our Appliance Guides where you can delve into the benefits of gas appliances. Use our Savings Calculator to see how much you could save by switching to gas appliances and check if a connection is available in your area.
