Home Improvement

Gas vs Electric Heat: Which Is Better?

The Fantastic Team
Published: Sep 28/2021
Last update: Apr 18/2023
7min read
Views: 120

Yevhen Prozhyrko / Shutterstock.com

There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when a certain question arises and demands to be answered.

The question of what type of heating should one get for their property.

There are many options on the Australian market, but there are exactly 2 that are preferred by the majority of people – gas heating and electric heating. With that being said, how does one decide between the two?

Well, with this article, we are going to help you make your pick.

So, if you are someone who:

is wondering if gas or electric heating is better for their property;
wants a detailed gas-electric comparison;
is just curious and finds the topic interesting.

You are at the right place!

Table of contents:

What you need to know about electric heaters
What you need to know about gas heaters
Gas vs electric heating: Comparison
Is gas cheaper than electricity in Australia?
What is the most cost-effective heating for a home?
Takeaways

So, let’s start with…

What you need to know about electric heaters

Electric heating appliances come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, are easily movable, and overall just very convenient. You can get an appliance that can provide heat for a whole room or a single person. This type of heating is generally powered the normal way – by plugging it into the electricity system. With all of this being said, there is a lot more to know about electric heating. Here are the general advantages and disadvantages:

Pros

Electric heaters are overall cheaper than other options;
Unlike other heating systems, many electric appliances are portable;
They are great for heating small spaces;
Electric heating options are generally safer;
These types of appliances are easy to install;
Such appliances have a longer lifespan;
You have smarter temperature control;
The air quality in your home will be better.

Cons

Electric appliances aren’t a good choice for bigger properties;
If you don’t get the right type of heater for your room size, you can end up with a hefty electricity bill;
You’ll be left without heating during a power cut.

What you need to know about gas heaters

Perfect for heating large rooms efficiently, gas heaters, like electric ones, come in different types, shapes, and sizes. Preferred by many Australian homeowners, gas heating systems have both many upsides and downsides. Here is what you need to know about the heating option:

Pros

Gas heating systems are perfect for people who want to warm up larger spaces;
This type of heating is generally better for the environment;
In case of a power cut, you’ll still have heating;
Such heating systems are very easy to control;
They can live up to 20 years;

Cons

Gas heating is more expensive than other options;
Installing a gas heating system can burn a hole in your pocket;
It’s a restricted heating method when it comes to moving the system around your property;
Gas heating isn’t very safe – a carbon monoxide leak can be very poisonous and even fatal;

Gas vs electric heating: Comparison

Now that we’ve covered the basic advantages of both gas heating and electric heating, it’s time to do a direct comparison between the two. To make things a bit more convenient for you, we’ve created this table that shows you the main characteristics of both heating options.

Features	Electric heating	Gas heating
Price	Generally, electrical appliances are cheap to purchase. The size of the room you want the system for, power, extra features, and even brand will affect the price.	Unlike electric heating appliances, gas systems are on the higher side of the price spectrum. You will need to make an upfront payment of $3,000 to $4,000, so ready your wallet if you’ve decided on this heating option.
Installation process	Electric heating appliances are very easy to install. Most of the time, you just need to plug the system into a power socket and you are done.	When it comes to gas heating, installing a system is no easy job. You need to hire a certified professional who will fit all of the parts, main system, etc. and make sure that everything is working properly. The installation process will also add to the cost.
Energy-efficiency	We can’t talk about energy efficiency with electrical heating systems in Australia. The electricity price per unit is a lot higher than a gas one.	Gas heating is a very budget-friendly option and will cost you less to run than a basic electrical heating appliance.
Mobility	Most models of electric heating systems can be moved from one room to another with ease. This can come especially handy if you need to move the appliance around the house or if you are going to move home at some point in the future.	Unlike electric appliances, gas heating systems need pipes to distribute the heat around your property, which eliminates the option to change its location as fast.
Heating time	If you opt for electrical heating, you need to know that warming up a room can take some time, especially if we are talking about a bigger one. If your property has small rooms in general, this won’t be such an issue.	Thanks to the way gas heating is set, the system will distribute warmth around your property a lot faster than an electrical appliance.
Heating range	Most electrical heating appliances are designed to heat a single room. This makes them a good option for smaller properties, such as apartments.	If you have a bigger home, a gas heating system is the better choice. This type of heating option is perfect for larger living spaces and properties with more rooms.
Maintenance	Electrical heating appliances don’t require much maintenance – if something breaks, the repairs won’t cost you much. If you are using a smaller appliance that isn’t that expensive, you can also just replace the thing.	Gas heating is a little more capricious when it comes to maintenance. For example, you need to organise mandatory yearly inspections by a certified professional and if something decides to break, it’s going to be a little more expensive to fix.
Safety	Generally, electrical heating appliances are safe. That being said, this doesn’t mean that they are 100% risk-free – electric fires are still on the table.	This type of heating should be professionally serviced regularly to avoid any potentially hazardous situations. Also, it’s important to note that gas heating systems naturally produce carbon monoxide that can be potentially dangerous.
Size and appearance	As we already mentioned, electrical appliances come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and designs. If you have a smaller space, you can invest in an appliance that won’t take much space.	Gas heating systems aren’t that eye pleasing, to be honest. They are bulky and can take a lot of space. In terms of overall looks – there aren’t that many great design options on the market.
Extras	Electrical heating appliances can come with all kinds of extras – different modes, remote control options, directed airflow, etc. Of course, the more extras an appliance has, the bigger the price.	Unlike electrical heating, gas systems don’t come with many extras. Still, there are some. For example, you can get your gas heater placed inside the wall or mounted on it, however, this will make the installation costs even bigger.

Still can’t decide on the best heating system? Get in touch for advice!

Learn More

Is gas cheaper than electricity in Australia?

The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. When it comes to gas vs. electric heating costs, we can conclude the following – electrical appliances are cheap to buy, repair, maintain, etc., but can be costly to run.

Gas heating systems, on the other hand, are less expensive to run but will cost you a lot to install. Also, gas heating requires yearly inspections and maintenance, which can be done only by a certified professional, which also adds to the cost.

It’s also important to note that each household has its specific needs, which can also affect the math. The location, number of rooms, their size, and how many people live in the property are all factors that need to be considered. You can see how this actually reflects on the average electricity and gas prices in Australia here.

Still, while a near neck and neck situation, our final verdict is that gas is cheaper to run.

So, what is the most cost-effective heating for a home?

While the math shows that gas is the far more affordable alternative, many people opt for other methods of heating, which they consider better in terms of utility costs.

For example, a huge number of homeowners swear by reverse cycle air conditioners, while others decide to both take care of Mother Nature and their bank accounts by investing in solar thermal panels to keep their homes warm during the winter months. Also, let’s not forget to mention heat pumps – they are a very popular option among many.

Whatever option you decide on for your property, make sure to take everything we talked about into consideration – what works for a smaller property, probably won’t work for a big one, and vice versa.

Takeaways

Electrical heating appliances are cheaper to buy and install than gas heating systems.
Gas heating systems are more budget-friendly to run than electrical heating appliances.
Generally, electrical heating is far safer than gas heating.
There are a lot of different aspects that come into play when choosing between gas heating and electrical heating – the size of the rooms that you are going to be warming, their number, the needs of the family members, etc.
There are alternative heating options, such as solar thermal panels, that are also very cost-effective.