Gas hot water systems

Gas hot water systems remain a common option, especially in newer dwellings where narrow blocks make it hard to accommodate a 650mm storage tank along the side of the home. In Noosa and surrounding areas, many streets are connected to natural gas mains, which deliver a far cheaper supply than bottled LPG cylinders. Instantaneous natural gas and LPG hot water units are compact — roughly the size of a small suitcase — and can be wall-mounted. These tankless systems save significant space, a big advantage as block sizes shrink. Most models use electronic ignition instead of a continuous pilot, reducing gas use over time, but they do rely on electricity, so there’s no hot water during a blackout because there’s no stored supply. LPG hot water systems are still widespread, but running costs have risen due to delivery charges, handling and cylinder rental fees, often making them pricier to operate than an off-peak electric hot water system. Typically, two 45kg gas bottles are required for dependable service. In some newer estates or master-planned communities without access to natural gas, developments may be tied into a central LPG distribution with metered connections. That arrangement removes bottle rental costs but commonly binds you to a single gas supplier. Where homes have a natural gas connection, the fuel usually costs around 25–45% less than LPG bottles. Be aware many suppliers now add service fees exceeding $50 on quarterly bills, on top of the gas consumption. Because hot water heating consumes far more gas than cooking or barbecuing, both efficiency and the structure of supply charges are important considerations when choosing a system.