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Heating & cooling

A complete guide to gas heating

When the frigid temperatures of winter hit, you don’t want your home to become uncomfortable and cold. You want to be cozy and warm! You can achieve a comfortable temperature in your house all winter long by having gas heating installed in your home.

What is gas heating?

Any heater in your home that uses natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a gas heater. They produce large quantities of heat, which makes them popular. They’re also much more cost efficient to run than electric and are more energy efficient than other methods of heating. Several types of gas heaters exist; however, they fall into one of two categories unflued or flued. Unflued gas heaters lack a vent, so the emissions are released into whichever room they’re located. There are strict emissions requirements for this type of heater, but they still aren’t suited for rooms with bad ventilation. They’re dangerous in small rooms as well. Fluid heaters have vents and are safe for small rooms and rooms that aren’t ventilated well.

Gas heaters come in different varieties including the following:

  • Convective space heaters
  • Gas ducted heating
  • Radiant space heaters
  • Gas fireplaces
  • Gas powered hydronic heating
  • Gas log fires

Gas heating installation

It’s good to know that there are several different ways to use gas to heat your home. Portable gas fireplaces are one option to heat your living areas. Space heaters are another. If you currently have an outlet in your home for them, then they’re simple to hook up. The outlet is known as a bayonet fitting, and it connects to your heater. If you choose permanent fireplaces or ducted heating, you may have a bit of a rough time installing them. For this reason, you should opt to hire a heating professional such as a gas fitter.

Maybe you don’t even have a gas hookup at your home. In this case, you’ll need to have gas pipes installed. When natural gas isn’t available in your area, you can opt to use LPG. This particular type of gas is available in large bottles and must be replaced on a regular basis. Installing gas isn’t just complicated, it’s also very dangerous. Therefore, you should hire a registered gasfitter to complete the job.

Ducted gas heating

Vented ceiling ducts are typically made of sheet metal and run from your central heating unit to various rooms in your home. These ducts are installed in the ceiling cavity and are connected to ceiling vents that allow the warm air to flow into the room.

The installation of vented ceiling ducts is a complex process that requires specialized knowledge and tools. A professional heating installer or duct fitter can help you determine the best location for your ducts and vents, as well as the appropriate size and materials for your specific home. Find someone to work with so that in the future, you don’t have to worry about how to remove ducted heating ceiling vents and how to put them back.

Benefits of ducted gas heating

1. Greater control

Ducted gas heating creates heat by burning gas in a central area and then uses the network of ducts to distribute heat throughout your home. Since ducting is modular, you can install it in as many or as few rooms as you want. This type of heating gives you more control because you can also specify different areas in your home that are heated only when you need them to be, such as heating your bedrooms at night and your living spaces during the day. As with all heating systems, you also have control over the exact temperature at all times.

2. Gain efficiency

Compared to electric heating, gas ducted heating is much more efficient in energy usage since gas is cheaper than electricity and it generates heat more effectively. Additionally, gas-generated heat burns cleanly and leaves little waste behind, so you aren’t using excessive resources. Stay on the lookout for a high “Energy star” rating as well so that you can ensure your gas ducted heating is as efficient as possible, thus saving you money in the long run.

3. Avoid outages

Another benefit of ducted gas heating is that since it doesn’t rely upon electricity to run, you won’t experience heating outages. Even if there’s a blackout in your neighbourhood, you’ll still have heat in your home. Moreover, because gas ducted heating is so efficient, you can effectively heat your entire home no matter how cold it is outside. Even if the outdoor temperature drops below 5 degrees, your house will still be warm without overloading your heating system and costing you more money.

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4. Healthier living

Finally, ducted gas heating is just healthier than other heating systems, which is good news for people with asthma or allergy problems. You’ll never worry about your heater completely drying out the air in your home, and any emissions from the gas are easily vented outside, so as not to pollute your air quality. However, there’s no need to be concerned over emissions from ducted gas heating because it actually produces far less than solid fuel heating systems.

How much is gas heating installation?

If you already have gas hooked up to your home, it’s inexpensive to install. And even if you don’t have gas, the price is still relatively cheap. A majority of the price is the expense of the heater itself. Keep in mind, installation of gas ducted heating is about half the price of electric ducted heating.

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Building & renovations

The advantages of gas appliances

While energy costs rise each year and scientists grow more concerned over the effects of greenhouse gases, Australians continue to search for sources of alternative energy. One source that has been here all along is gas. Liquid propane and natural gas are both clean-burning and relatively inexpensive. These fuels are efficient and can power several different appliances in the home.

Gas appliance types

Type-A appliances are gas appliances that have an approval badge from the Australia Gas Association, meaning they are safe to use in the home. Australians use several different kinds around the house including:

  • Gas cooktops 
  • Gas refrigerators 
  • Gas ovens 
  • Gas water systems 
  • Gas air conditioners 
  • Gas heaters

Gas cook-tops

These are the most widely utilised gas appliances in Australia and have been used for many years. They are a favourite due to the ability to raise or lower surface heat quickly and adjust the flame with complete control.

A silver oven and and stove top
A gas cook-top / Source: The Gas Smith

Gas refrigerators

These work by using ammonia as a coolant and heat from the gas to power the cycle. Previously used in caravans, this system is becoming more popular with Australian homeowners due to the efficiency of the process.

Gas ovens

Gas ovens were commonly used years ago. They’re cheaper to use compared to electric ovens, especially if you’ll be baking for a long while. This is because gas is more affordable compared to electricity. It also does not require so much energy to start up and run. Aside from that, you’ll get exact temperatures with gas ovens. This allows you to have full control when you are cooking or baking. Adjusting the temperature is also easy with gas ovens. It can be quick and ensures that the dish is properly cooked depending on your preference. They are also easy to clean and maintain. You just have to wipe the grills after using them.

There are two types of gas ovens: the fan-assisted and one without a fan. Gas ovens that are fan-assisted can cook food faster. However, there are times when the fire gets concentrated on the top. Youll need to rotate the food every now and then in order to cook it evenly and well. Those without fans, on the other hand, are great for roasting, baking cakes, and cooking casseroles. They do not dry out the food so much.

Gas water systems

A gas-powered water heating system is designed to heat water only when it’s needed. It operates by channelling cold water through a specially-designed heat exchanger that turns on the gas burner, which in turn heats the water. These systems are available in three sizes that are determined by the flow rate, which is the amount of water that filters through the system every minute. Typically, a two-bathroom house will use approximately 24 litres per minute, while a larger family will use more.

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Advantages

Because this type of hot water system works on demand, you’ll always have hot water in an instant, whenever you need it, and you won’t need a storage tank for unused water. Another advantage is that this type of system is extremely compact and can be mounted on a wall or placed inside a cupboard.

A gas-powered water heating system is less expensive to run than an electric system, mostly due to its ergonomic design. Youll be able to save money on your utility bills every month and best of all, you’ll only be paying for heated water that you use.

Safety 

A gas-powered water heating system is extremely safe for family use. Because there’s no storage tank involved, you never have to worry about leaks or hot water overflowing. In addition, you don’t have to be concerned about children or pets getting their fingers burned on a tank’s boiling hot exterior.

Another advantage is that you can set the water temperature yourself by merely using the taps. For instance, you can use the hot taps in the laundry room when you want extra hot water, and you can likewise use the tap to make water temperatures cooler in the bathroom. By having this level of control, you’ll be better able to prevent accidental burns and scaldings from happening.

A gas pump outside on the exterior wall of a home
A home’s gas pump / Source: Bs Bplumbing

How do gas how water systems conserve energy?

There are several ways that gas hot water systems prove more energy efficient.

  • They recover heat faster, requiring less energy.
  • They use a smaller storage tank, making them more efficient to run.
  • They produce fewer emissions and greenhouse gases.

Gas appliances cons to consider

Although gas appliances are more energy-efficient, they can also be dangerous if installed incorrectly. Licenses are required for contractors who install them. They tend to cost more to run than electric appliances, but they also last considerably longer. Gas is also not always available directly from the street in most areas in Australia like electricity is.