Gas heating
Gas for heating your home can include reticulated natural gas where your house is connected to gas mains and LPG heaters that use bottled gas.
When choosing a gas heater, ask about condensing gas heaters, which are more efficient than normal gas heaters and will help reduce your energy bills.
Find out about gas heating options for your home and how you can save on your power bill below.
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Gas heating options
Natural gas and LPG heaters have an energy efficiency range of 60% – 92%. The following outlines different heating options currently available.
Flued gas heaters
There are a range of flued natural gas or LPG heaters available including modern flame effect fires as well as more traditional models. As a rule, having a flame effect makes a fire less efficient than a similar model without a flame effect.
Gas fires can be fitted into existing fireplaces or be freestanding, and in many cases no hearth is required for the freestanding models.
Heater flues can run down and out, horizontal and vertical. This means that gas heaters do not need to be on an outside wall and can be installed almost anywhere in the home.
It is better to use flued gas heaters with a vent to the outside than unflued gas heaters.
Unflued gas heaters and portable LPG heaters
Unflued gas heaters, including portable LPG heaters, have no vent or chimney to carry away emissions.
Emissions include water vapour, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. These are all released directly into the room, all of which can harm your health if there is no fresh air ventilation.
Your room must be well-ventilated when using an unflued gas heater or LPG portable heater. Keep at least one window open to allow fresh air to enter the room.
To learn more about safe use of unflued gas heaters, go to the resources listed under More information below.
Installation requirements
Gas heaters and other gas appliances should always be installed by a licensed gas fitter.
More information
- For more information on using gas safely refer to Energy Safety. [Ministry of Economic Development website. ]
- For more information on best safe practice go to Unflued gas heaters and your health. [Ministry of Health website.]
- For more consumer information about gas cylinders and servicing go to the LPG Association’s section downloads. [LPG Association website.]