Top 10 Advantages of Gas Heaters

As we inch closer and closer to winter, homeowners across Australia will be getting their gas heaters primed and ready. Ready to deliver much-needed warmth and comfort across the cooler months of the year.

Gas heating provides a wide range of benefits that positions it as a worthwhile and practical option for your home.

“But I have electric heating!” I hear you say. “Should I make the switch to gas?”

Well, we certainly can’t make that decision for you. What we can do, though, is provide you with a detailed set of benefits that you’ll enjoy if you do switch from electric to gas heaters.

As they famously said on Game Of Thrones, winter is coming, so it’s best to get prepared.

Why Choose Gas Heating Over Electric? 

Beatles vs Rolling Stones. Holden vs Ford. Aussie rules vs rugby league vs soccer. So many of these kinds of “this or that” questions result in a lot of healthy debate. The same could be said about the age-old question of whether gas or electric heating is best for your home.

For those of you still umming-and-ahhing over the decision, hopefully some of these benefits that gas heaters provide will help.

1. They are Cost Effective

If cost effectiveness is a key point of consideration for you, then gas heaters certainly win out over electric heating. As a fuel resource, natural gas is more affordable than electricity. Therefore, it can help to significantly reduce your running costs – particularly during winter when your need to heat your home is typically at its peak.

On top of this, gas heating generally boasts greater energy efficiency than electric heaters. This means that they are capable of converting a greater percentage of fuel into consumable heat, which further adds to the general cost-effectiveness of gas heating.

2. Gas Heating Will Still Work When the Power’s Out

If you have electric heating and have ever lost power for an extended period of time during winter, chances are you’ll have lost heating in your home too. With a gas heater, you won’t have to worry about that any longer as it does not rely on electricity. It can therefore continue to reliably heat your home.

In the middle of a power outage, especially an extended one, this can be particularly useful in maintaining comfort, health and safety when you need it most. Should you find yourself with a sudden loss of power on a cold winter’s day, a gas heater will continue to provide you with the warmth you need.

3. Gas Heaters Provide Faster Heating

One of the biggest features or selling points of gas heaters is their ability to provide fast and effective heating. Compared to electric heating units, gas heating is capable of heating a room almost straight away. You can also operate a gas heater easily with a remote control. You can imagine this being particularly useful on a cold, Saturday morning or chilly weeknight after work in the middle of July.

Its ability to heat your home faster is also useful in situations where you might need to raise the room temperature quickly, for example for someone who might be unwell, or there is a snap change in the weather.

4. Gas Heating Can Be Environmentally Friendly

Gas heaters that run on natural gas typically burn cleaner than comparative fossil fuels, making them a relatively more environmentally friendly heating option for your home. This is because natural gas produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the likes of coal or oil. For you, this can also mean a better quality of air in your home.

Furthermore, most modern day models contain a variety of energy-efficient features found and functions such as zone heating and programmable thermostats. These can help to minimise energy consumption and, in doing so, reduce greenhouse gas emissions further. To maintain its eco-friendly properties, it’s crucial to keep your heater serviced regularly, and use it responsibly.

5. Gas Heating Provides Consistent Heat

For a heating solution that is renowned for its ability to deliver a consistent and even heat throughout a room or living space, it’s hard to look past the gas heater. Compared to many electric heaters that generate an uneven heat as a result of electric resistance heating elements, gas heaters are capable of delivering a more even distribution of heat.

This helps to provide a much more comfortable and consistent room temperature by eradicating cold spots within the room. Ensuring an even and consistent level of heat will be particularly beneficial in the cool winter months of the year, especially if you have young children, elderly people or even unwell people living in your home.

6. Gas Heaters Can Be Highly Versatile

When you need a heater that comes in a versatile range of styles and designs for use in a variety of applications, gas heaters are – once again – the way to go. You can choose from different types, such as:

• Freestanding units (such as gas log fires)
• Wall-mounted furnaces
• Ducted systems

Whether you’re looking for the best gas heater for the living room, or shopping around for an unflued gas heater for outdoor use, the vast range on the market caters to the full spectrum of different spaces and heating requirements. With a gas heater, you’re almost guaranteed to find the perfect solution to your needs.

7. A Gas Heater Provides a Cosy Ambience

Looking to create a cosy ambience for your indoor or outdoor living space? Go for a gas heater – specifically a gas-powered fireplace. Gas log fires can come with lifelike flame patterns and realistic-looking embers that deliver the visual appearance and appeal of a real log fire. More importantly (arguably)? It does so without the mess and hassle of collecting firewood and cleaning up the ashes afterward.

With a range of flued gas heaters for indoor use, as well as unflued heaters for open outdoor living or entertaining spaces, you’ll be able to enjoy an ambience that is as warm and inviting as a traditional fireplace.

8. A Gas Heater Can Be Visually Appealing

In addition to their high-level functionality, a gas heater can also improve the aesthetic appeal of your home. As we mentioned earlier, they can be freestanding or wall mounted, or you can have a more subtle ducted system integrated into your ceiling. Whichever option you choose, you’re sure to find a system that is visually appealing and complements the aesthetics of your home.

The possibilities are endless; with a range of styles, designs and finishes to nicely blend (or contrast, if you prefer) with your interior décor. You can choose a gas heater that becomes a true feature piece of the room, like a gas log fire. Or you might opt for a space heater with a compact design that simply works away in the background without drawing attention to itself.

From classic to contemporary styles, as well as those that fall in between, you’re sure to find something that appeals to your personal tastes.

9. Enjoy the Benefits of Easy Installation

It might surprise you, but a gas heater is relatively easy to install. You will need a licensed and experienced gas fitter to do it for you, as it is illegal to do your own gas fitting work.

But once you have an accredited professional on hand, getting your gas fitter installed is generally quite easy from that point on. A gas heater typically does not need major electrical work or extensive changes to the infrastructure of your home, which further minimises installation complications.

You will need to choose the right heater for your needs, so knowing the difference between flued gas heaters and unflued heaters is important. If you’re installing in an indoor living space such as a bedroom or living room, you will need a flued gas heater to direct harmful gases like carbon monoxide outdoors.

On the other hand, unflued gas heaters should only be used outdoors as they do not clear away any toxic fumes produced as part of the combustion process.

10. They’re Also Widely Available!

Finally, one advantage that might be obvious but is worth mentioning, is that gas heating is readily available. Whether you’re looking for something with a compact design perfect for small rooms in your home, or a solution to warm up the whole house, the right gas heater is within arm’s reach. You’ll find them at specialty heating stores, hardware stores, and even online.

That being said, some states in Australia such as Victoria, have such tight restrictions on unflued gas appliances that entertaining the idea of using one is often not worth the hassle.

Discover the Benefits of Flued and Unflued Gas Heaters!

No matter what type of gas heater you’re looking for, whether it’s a portable unflued gas heater for an outdoor entertaining area, or you’re tossing up the pros and cons of gas fires for the main indoor living spaces, rest assured that the benefits they provide are worthwhile. You’ll enjoy things like:

• Greater cost effectiveness from your heater
• Improved energy efficiency
• Continued service even when you’ve lost power
• Faster and more consistent heating
• Environmentally friendly operation
• Cosy ambience
• Versatility and visual appeal

Whichever option you choose, you can rest easy knowing that your gas heater offers the ultimate in comfort and convenience to keep you and your family cosy throughout the winter.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.