Electric to Gas Hot Water: Is It Worth Upgrading?
Electric to Gas Hot Water: Is It Worth Switching?
Gas storage and instant gas solve different problems. Before converting, compare the gas supply, household demand, available space and whether heat pump would deliver the lower-energy outcome you actually want.
Changing from electric storage to gas is possible, but it is rarely a simple appliance swap. A gas connection or LPG supply must be suitable, the gas pipe may need upgrading, the new appliance needs a compliant position, and instant gas has very different delivery characteristics from gas storage. If your main reason for changing is high electric running cost, compare a heat pump before committing to gas.
Does Switching From Electric to Gas Make Sense?
This is a preliminary guide only. Final suitability depends on gas availability, pipe capacity, appliance position, household demand, plumbing, electrical work and current compliance requirements.
1Why are you leaving electric hot water?
2What gas supply is already available?
3What matters most in the new system?
Guide only. A licensed installer must confirm fuel type, gas pressure and pipe capacity, appliance location, flue or terminal clearances, water demand and any electrical requirements before installation.
Can You Replace Electric Hot Water With Gas?
Yes. Electric storage can be replaced with either gas storage or instant gas where the property has a suitable natural-gas or LPG supply and a compliant appliance location. The conversion is most logical where gas already serves the property. If gas does not already exist, the cost and complexity of creating a new gas pathway can materially change the decision.
Gas Storage or Instant Gas: Which Type Are You Actually Converting To?
They use the same fuels but behave very differently. Choose based on household demand, available space and gas capacity rather than treating both as interchangeable gas systems.
Stored Water + Burner Recovery
Gas storage is the closer physical match to an electric-storage system because it still uses a cylinder. It can suit households that want a stored reserve with gas burner recovery and already have a practical external tank location.
- Retains a storage tank.
- Usually needs a suitable flue arrangement.
- Natural gas or LPG models must match the property.
- Gas input and recovery need to suit household demand.
Compact Continuous-Flow Hot Water
Instant gas removes the large storage cylinder and heats water as it flows through the appliance. It can be attractive where ground space matters or the household wants long continuous hot-water delivery.
- Compact wall-mounted format.
- No stored reserve to run down.
- Flow rate must suit simultaneous outlets.
- Gas pipe capacity can become a major conversion issue.
Why Change From Electric Hot Water to Gas?
The best reasons are usually practical rather than purely efficiency driven.
Faster Gas Recovery
A suitably sized gas-storage system can reheat stored water quickly using a gas burner, which can suit households with concentrated hot-water demand.
Free Ground Space
Instant gas can remove a full-size electric cylinder and replace it with a compact wall-mounted continuous-flow appliance where the site and gas supply are suitable.
Gas Already Serves the Home
If natural gas or LPG is already used for cooking, heating or another appliance, hot water can sometimes be added without creating an entirely new fuel pathway.
Continuous Hot-Water Delivery
A correctly selected instant-gas unit can continue heating while water flows instead of relying on a finite stored volume.
Reduce Electrical Peak Load
Moving normal water heating away from a large resistance element can reduce the home's electrical hot-water load, though it replaces that energy source with gas.
Fuel Preference
Some homes are already built around gas and the owner prefers to keep major thermal loads on the same fuel. Compare complete operating and installation costs before deciding.
Electric, Gas & Heat Pump: Current Installed Today Starting Prices
Use live collection pricing as the starting point, then compare the conversion work. Gas can require new gas pipework, wall mounting, flue or terminal work and plumbing changes; heat pump can require electrical, drainage or relocation work.
Usually the simplest like-for-like replacement where the current electric site and circuit remain suitable.
Product price is only part of the conversion. Gas availability, pipe capacity and appliance position can materially change the installed cost.
If lower energy use is the reason for leaving standard electric, compare heat pump before installing gas, especially where rooftop solar and a suitable outdoor site are available.
Electric vs Gas Storage vs Instant Gas vs Heat Pump
| Consideration | Electric Storage | Gas Storage | Instant Gas | Heat Pump |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-water format | Stored | Stored | Continuous flow | Stored |
| Main energy source | Electricity | Natural gas or LPG | Natural gas or LPG | Electricity + heat from surrounding air |
| Ground footprint | Full-size tank | Full-size tank | Compact wall unit | Full-size tank |
| Running-energy direction | Higher electrical demand | Gas burner + storage losses | Burns gas only while water is flowing | Efficiency-led option |
| Solar PV compatibility | Can be timer/diverter controlled | PV does not provide gas fuel | PV does not provide gas fuel | Strong pairing |
| Continuous long showers | Limited by stored volume + recovery | Stored volume + burner recovery | Strongest fit | Limited by stored volume + recovery |
| New fuel infrastructure | None if existing system remains | Gas supply required | Gas supply required, often higher instantaneous input | No gas supply required |
| Renewable-hot-water STCs | No | No | No | Eligible listed systems may qualify |
Before Converting to Gas, Check the Gas Supply Properly
The gas side of the job is what turns a simple product comparison into a real conversion assessment.
Natural Gas Connection
If natural gas already serves the home, the meter, regulator and pipework still need enough capacity for the selected water heater alongside other connected appliances.
LPG Supply
The appliance, regulator and cylinders must suit LPG. Bottle size, changeover arrangement, refill logistics and ongoing fuel cost all matter.
Gas Pipe Size
Instant gas can have a large instantaneous input, so a pipe that was adequate for a cooktop or smaller appliance may not support a high-flow water heater.
Appliance Position
Gas storage and instant appliances have different combustion, flue, terminal, opening and service-clearance requirements.
Water Connections
The old electric site's hot and cold services may be useful, but a wall-mounted instant unit can require substantial rerouting compared with another storage system.
Electrical Supply May Still Be Needed
Many continuous-flow gas units use electricity for ignition, controls or fans. Moving to gas does not necessarily mean the new hot-water system is electrically independent.
Have Solar PV? Compare Heat Pump Before Moving to Gas
If rooftop solar is already producing electricity during the day, a heat pump can turn a relatively small electrical input into stored hot water. Moving to gas means the hot-water load stops using that household-generated electricity and starts purchasing gas instead.
Electric + Solar Timer
A standard electric tank can be shifted into the solar window, but it remains resistance heating and therefore uses a large electrical load while heating.
Gas + Solar PV
Solar PV can run the small electrical components of some gas appliances, but it does not provide the natural gas or LPG used for normal water heating.
Heat Pump + Solar PV
A heat pump can be scheduled into strong daytime production while requiring much less electricity than a conventional resistance element for the same stored-hot-water task.
If the reason for leaving electric is the bill rather than a space or recovery problem, rooftop solar makes the heat-pump comparison especially important. We would normally prefer the heat pump where the location is suitable and the total conversion cost is reasonably close.
When Gas Storage Can Genuinely Make Sense
Gas storage is the closer physical replacement for electric storage, but it needs a real reason to justify the fuel change.
Gas Is Already at the Tank Area
The conversion is strongest where natural gas or LPG infrastructure already exists close to a compliant storage position.
Stored Reserve Is Preferred
The household wants to keep a conventional tank but prefers gas burner recovery to a resistance element.
Recovery Demand Is High
A suitable gas-storage model can provide strong recovery for households that regularly draw heavily from the stored volume.
When Instant Gas Can Genuinely Make Sense
Instant gas is a more fundamental change because the property moves from a stored electric cylinder to continuous-flow delivery.
You Want the Tank Gone
Removing the electric cylinder can reclaim valuable ground space when a compliant wall-mounted position is available.
Extended Continuous Use Matters
A correctly sized unit can continue producing hot water without depleting a tank, subject to flow rate and simultaneous demand.
Existing Gas Capacity Suits
The strongest conversion is where the meter, regulator and gas line can already support the selected continuous-flow appliance without major upgrades.
When Heat Pump Is Usually the Stronger Move Than Gas
If several of these conditions apply, we would generally compare heat pump before spending money on a gas conversion.
No Gas Supply Exists
Creating a new gas service or LPG pathway purely for hot water adds infrastructure that a heat pump avoids.
Rooftop Solar Is Installed
Daytime solar generation can directly support efficient heat-pump operation instead of buying gas for the same hot-water load.
The Existing Electric Tank Is Already Outside
An open outdoor storage site can be an excellent starting point for a heat pump if airflow, drainage, electrical supply and noise separation are suitable.
Lower Energy Use Is the Main Goal
Heat pump is the efficiency-led pathway. Gas should be chosen for its delivery, space or infrastructure advantages rather than because it is automatically the lower-energy option.
You Want to Avoid Another Fuel Account
Keeping hot water electric avoids adding natural-gas service charges or LPG bottle management where the property is otherwise all-electric.
Eligible STCs Matter
Eligible air-source heat pumps may receive federal STCs. Conventional gas storage and instant gas do not use that renewable-hot-water STC pathway.
Supply Only vs Supplied & Installed
Electric-to-gas conversion should be confirmed by the appropriately licensed trades before the appliance is ordered, especially when the existing property has never had gas hot water.
Confirm the Conversion First
Have your installer confirm fuel type, gas pipe capacity, appliance position, hot-water demand and any electrical requirements before purchase.
- Confirm natural gas or LPG model.
- Check gas capacity before choosing flow rate or burner input.
- Confirm flue or terminal clearances.
- Confirm plumbing and electrical changes.
Available on Selected Products & Locations
Where an Installed Today installation option is shown, work through the product and site questions before checkout. Final scope still depends on the existing services and property.
- Availability is product and postcode dependent.
- New gas work may sit outside a basic replacement scope.
- Instant gas may require wall mounting and gas-line upgrades.
- Gas storage may require a new flue and base arrangement.
How to Compare an Electric-to-Gas Conversion
Work from the reason for changing rather than choosing a gas appliance first.
Identify the Real Goal
Running cost, faster recovery, space and continuous flow point to different solutions.
Check Gas Availability
Confirm natural gas or LPG, pressure, meter capacity, regulator and pipe sizing.
Choose Storage or Instant
Compare stored reserve and recovery against compact continuous-flow delivery.
Compare Heat Pump Too
If efficiency is part of the reason for changing, price a suitable heat pump and any eligible STCs before committing to gas.
Electric to Gas Hot Water FAQs
Can I replace electric hot water with gas?
Yes. Electric storage can be replaced with gas storage or instant gas where a suitable natural-gas or LPG supply, compliant appliance position and appropriately licensed installation pathway are available.
Is gas storage or instant gas better after electric hot water?
Gas storage is the closer physical match because both systems store hot water. Instant gas is more compact and provides continuous-flow delivery, but it can require higher instantaneous gas capacity and more plumbing changes.
Do I need an existing gas connection?
A suitable fuel supply is required. If natural gas is not connected, the conversion may require a new service where available or an LPG setup. Creating gas infrastructure only for hot water can materially change the economics of the conversion.
Can my existing gas cooktop line supply instant gas hot water?
Not automatically. Continuous-flow water heaters can have high gas input, so the meter, regulator and pipe sizing must be checked against the selected appliance and all other connected gas loads.
Will instant gas give me unlimited hot water?
A correctly sized continuous-flow system can keep producing hot water while water continues to flow, rather than depleting a stored tank. Delivery is still limited by the appliance flow rate, incoming water conditions, gas capacity and simultaneous outlet demand.
Is gas cheaper to run than standard electric storage?
It depends on local electricity and gas tariffs, appliance efficiency, household use, service charges and whether the electric system uses off-peak or solar electricity. Compare the complete annual energy cost rather than assuming one fuel is always cheaper.
Should I choose heat pump instead of gas?
If the main goal is lower energy use and the property has a suitable outdoor location, heat pump should be compared seriously before converting to gas. The case becomes stronger where rooftop solar already exists or no gas supply is currently connected.
Can gas hot water receive STCs?
Conventional gas storage and instant gas hot-water systems do not use the renewable-hot-water STC pathway available to eligible solar water heaters and eligible air-source heat pumps.
What happens to the existing electric circuit?
The old hot-water circuit may become redundant or may still be useful for another purpose subject to electrical requirements. Some gas appliances also require electrical power for ignition, controls or fans, so the electrician should confirm the final arrangement.
Can I buy a gas system supply only from Installed Today?
Supply-only ordering is available on suitable products and delivery areas. Have the appropriately licensed installer confirm the gas type, pipe capacity, appliance position and conversion scope before installation. Installed options are also available on selected products and locations.
Leaving Electric Hot Water? Compare Gas Storage, Instant Gas and Heat Pump Before You Commit
Gas can be a good conversion where the property already has the right infrastructure and you want specific gas strengths such as fast burner recovery or compact continuous flow. If the real goal is lower energy use, compare heat pump at the same time so the fuel switch solves the problem you actually have.
