Tips for Selecting the Best Gas Heater in Australia

Winter has arrived and we all want to be cosy in the warmth of our homes. Heating solutions are the need of the hour! A gas heater can effortlessly heat a large space speedily and affordably. We will reveal some of the top tips here that will help you to select the best gas heater for your home in 2021 and beyond.

Do You Prefer a Gas Heater for Warming Your Home?

What is the size of the room you want to heat? The measurement of a gas heater’s warming capability isn’t just limited to the room size, but also how rapidly the heater can warm the entire space. Thus, the local climate of the region and the room size will influence the gas heater size that can resourcefully heat your room.

 

• For rapid heating, select the largest capacity (measured in MJ/h) that is ideal for the room size. However, a heater with lower capacity can also heat the room but will be sluggish.
• Avoid installing unflued or portable gas heaters in a very small room for their rated capacity because of the emissions they generate.

What Size of Gas Heater is Right for You?

The standard rule is “1 kWh heats 10 square metres approximately”. Accordingly, you’ll need to calculate the size and capacity of the gas heater for your home. However, many factors can affect this and so needs due consideration. These factors include:

 

• Are the rooms adjacent to the one you’re heating, are heated?
• In which climate zone you reside?
• Do your room receive direct sunlight?
• Is your room insulated?
• How wide the windows are and whether they possess solid curtains or are double glazed?

Size Guide – Gas Heater for Room:

Room size	kW output	Gas consumption	Purchase cost	Running cost/2hrs
Small (29–42sqm)	2.9–4.2kW	13–15MJ/h	$649–1325	59c–$1.00
Medium (46–66sqm)	3.4–6.6kW	18–21MJ/h	$899–1199	$1.08–1.33
Large (52–82sqm)	5.2–8.2kW	23+MJ/h	$819–2139	$1.44–2.06

 

Types of Gas Heater – Portable & Flued

 

• A flue is a pipe that transmits exhaust fumes from your fireplace or heater to the outer area, shielding your room from being filled with fumes, which is desired.
• Conversely, if you’re staying in a rented home or don’t want to go through the hassles of a flue, then you might want to explore your options of unflued or portable gas heaters.
• Both flued and portable gas heaters come with their advantages.

Portable Gas Heaters

• Portable means easy to move. You can easily move them from one room to another, place them in different directions, handily store them away when the summer comes, and carry them with you when you’re relocating your house.
• Here in Australia, all portable gas heater models need certification and require an efficiency label, which can get up to six stars where models carrying six stars are the best.
• Portable gas heaters are super-efficient than portable electric heaters, as around 90% of the energy content of the gas is changed into heat.
• Portable gas heaters generate a quarter to a third of the carbon compared to an identical electric heater, provided you obtain your electricity from renewable sources.
• An array of safety features is integrated into the modern portable gas heater models, which will turn off the heater if something goes wrong. However, ensure installing a carbon monoxide alarm too, to remain safer.
• Unflued gas heaters come equipped with a capacity of up to 25 MJ/h (megajoules per hour). This is equal to more than 6kW of electric heating – identical to what three 2kW electric heaters can deliver. It renders heat instantly and abundantly.
• Even with a higher initial price tag, portable gas heaters are a lot cheaper to run compared to portable electric heaters.

Two Types of Unflued/ Portable Gas Heaters Are Available

1. Convection Heaters:  Convection heaters depend on the natural movement of hot air, but also is integrated with a fan to speed up the process. They are mostly electronically controlled and so come with a thermostat and remote control. A thermostat is quite useful, as it offers finer temperature control than the heat and fan settings on models that aren’t controlled electronically. Nonetheless, electronically controlled models use the power that is standby, little more than 10W. Convectors’ external surfaces mustn’t get too hot.
2. Radiant-Convection Heaters: Radiant-convection heaters depend on convection, but they have an open/ exposed area that radiates heat into the room. They are cheaper but come with lesser features, so they don’t come with a thermostat, remote control and timer compared to the identically sized convection heaters. They come with manually operated electronic ignition, so you’ll have to press the ignition button and hold it down for around 20 seconds.

How Much Does Portable Gas Heaters Cost?

Portable gas heaters will cost somewhere in the price range of $449 – $1489.

Flued Gas Heaters

When looking to buy a flued gas heater, you should find a model that comes with the following features:

• Programmable Timer – It can help in saving energy, as most of them can be programmed to switch ON and OFF for 24 hours.
• Thermostat – It can make it effortless to set the desired temperature.
• Remote Control – It facilitates you to control the fan speed and temperature settings. Some models provide both wireless and wired versions, so they can stretch out to a further distance.
• Child Locks – It is a very important feature, but only available on some of the models as of now. Look for this feature, as it can make the environment of your home safer for your children. Hope that all the future models get this vital feature.
• LPG Conversion Kit – It facilitates you to run the heater in places that don’t have gas. However, you’ll need to be cautious because operating costs can jump up significantly.
• Electronic Ignition – It’s desirable, as it can save energy as it will eliminate the need to have a pilot light operating continuously.
• Filter-Clean Warning – This feature is extremely beneficial, as it will remind you to clean it, helping you to regularly clean it and keep it in top condition.

How Much Does Flued Gas Heaters Cost?

Flued gas heaters will cost somewhere in the price range of $1245 – $2275

Space Heaters

• You’ll get space heaters in a variety of sizes and shapes and are considered the most cost-effective form of gas heating available on the market.
• Panel, radiant, column and convector heaters are all different types of space heaters; however, the gas-powered variants provide the best efficiency.
• Rinnai is one of the major brands of space heaters, especially their Energy Saver and Ultima II models.
• Many variants facilitate easy removal from their bayonet gas fitting, which can then be stored away during the summer months.
• The smallest gas heater will cost somewhere around $695 excluding installation costs.

Gas Heater Installation

• Sydney Plumbing recommends professional installation for these gas heaters, as many things can go haywire if an untrained/ unskilled professional attempts to install them.
• If you install a flued or unflued/ portable gas heater, then it’s recommended to install a carbon monoxide alarm as well – you’ll easily get it from hardware stores. It can act as a lifesaver in case the heater starts operating strangely due to a defective part or fault and begin releasing hazardous amounts of this deadly gas.
• Installation cost is additional to the heater cost. One way to save here is by purchasing last year’s model and requesting a discount, which will allow you to put the savings towards the installation.

What Are the Safety Regulations for Gas Heaters?

 

• Cross-check the heater you decide to buy has been certified for use by the Australian Gas Association.
• Before you buy any gas heater, ensure to check the gas safety regulations applicable for your state concerning ventilation requirements around the gas appliances.
• Make sure children, pets and any flammable objects are kept at least one metre away from gas heaters.
• Don’t forget to install a carbon monoxide alarm for any type of gas heater you buy.
• Never leave the gas heater ON overnight or in a room where you sleep.
• It’s imperative to service gas heaters regularly by a licensed gas fitter only.
• To guarantee the proper flow of air, regularly clean the filters, if applicable.
• If you select a flued gas heater, then always get a licensed gas fitter to complete the installation.

Wrapping Up – How to Buy the Best Gas Heater for Your Home?

When it comes to selecting the best gas heater for your home, you need to factor in:

• The room size
• Total number of rooms you want to heat, and
• Your budget

All of these would influence your heater selection.

Do You Need a Gas Heater Service?

When you need a gas heater service in Sydney, then get in touch with us at Sydney Plumbing on 0402 487 444, and we’ll send an experienced and certified gas fitter technician to your place.