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Thread ID: 106704	2010-01-19 20:12:00	Gas or electric water heating	nofam (9009)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
850119	2010-01-19 20:12:00	Back from holiday in sunny(ish) Nelson, and into my renovation project, which starts with a new bathroom. Our house currently has an old, uninsulated cylinder which I want to replace, both because it's inefficient, and because it takes up a lot of room. So I'm considering either a smaller, mains pressure hot water cylinder in the roof crawlspace, or a gas on-demand system like Rinnai/Bosch et al make. Preference at this stage is for gas, as I want to use gas in the kitchen when we redo that also. Can anyone advise me on the pros/cons of gas? I know the price of gas has gone up a lot recently, but there's only the two of us, and we're pretty energy-conscious (last power bill was $59). TIA :thumbs:	nofam (9009)
850120	2010-01-19 20:41:00	You correctly identify cost as the major downside of gas for water heating. We lived in a 1920's bungalow with terrible water flow and a hot water cylinder cupboard that stuck out into the dining room. When family came to stay, we used to run out of hot water for showers. We got rid of the hot water cylinder and cupboard, and ended up with a much better dining room. We converted to gas, and never ran out of hot water again. We achieved almost mains water pressure (the pressure drops a bit going through the gas heater) and tremendous flow. We ended up with one of the most pleasurable showers in the Western world... Within a year of installing the system, gas prices started to climb. It used to cost us a cylinder every two months - about $45 a pop (we also had a gas hob, but that uses very little gas compared with the water heater). When we sold the house last year, it was well over $100 a fill. Before we installed it, I asked a neighbour about their experience with gas. He said that the only downside was cost. He had an 18 year old daughter - when the gas went in, she started taking two showers a day, at about half an hour a time. He might have been exaggerating, but other parents I have spoken to said probably not... There are huge advantages to gas if you are in an old house, but cost is the bugbear.	John H (8)
850121	2010-01-19 21:03:00	I have built several homes over the last ten years that I have occupied. Our first home before the builds was electric. When we later built we got onto the good times with gas water heating and cooking. Our last house was in the country so we relied on gas bottles, 2x 45Kgs. These cost $118 for one bottle about every six weeks plus an $11 hireage charge. Additionally, we had the electricity charges as well for lighting, a heat pump and various water pumps including a submersible in the bio-waste disposal system. The gas and electrical costs were a bit costly. Our present house is all electric and I'm pleasently suprised at the monthly cost savings compared to the last property. unless you can get gas from the street and don't have to rely on delivered bottles then you may want to consider gas. Just remember that in a power cut you won't get hot water and the gas hob needs to be lit using a match or gas lighter. I don't think that I would go for gas again if I had a choice, although in saying that, the wife did like cooking with gas!	Bryan (147)
850122	2010-01-19 21:41:00	I prefer cooking with gas too. A couple of comments. We didn't have to pay a rental charge for our cylinders. When we signed up we paid a deposit for our two 45kg bottles (?$185) and paid no rental. We got the money back from the gas company when we sold. However, that deal is no longer available from that company. Not surprising really. However, you do have to factor in the cylinder rental charge now. Regarding power cuts - we were in ChCh and had no power cuts during the 6 or so years we had the gas on. However, there is a battery kit available as an add on to the installation if your power supply is uncertain. The gas company told us about it but talked us out of installing it, and they were right in our circumstances. However, with the dickhead Brownlee in charge of electricity these days, anything could happen! We had a Bosch installation, but I assume Rinnai has a battery pack as well. We are all electric now, and our power costs are way down (we used to pay for firewood, gas, and electricity). However, that is probably because we are now in a brick, double glazed, aluminium fittings, two year old house, compared with a 1920's timber, single glazed (doors and windows fit where they touch), bungalow...	John H (8)
850123	2010-01-19 23:04:00	We have gas to the property. We went from a gas water heater that has a cylinder to full gas (on demand). We have a Rinnai Infinity - you can get a few diff versions re: diff power requirements - smaller house, larger house, commercial etc... We also have one installed at a commercial shop which does cooking. A larger version. I think the cost have increased. (Power and electricity bills). More hot water - unlimited, no more out of hot water. If you wanna wire the gas - get a quote done. We are doing that for our kitchen renovation but dad has this pride thing and he repeats himself - like no fee for quote, no fee for quote, cheap price, cheap price ........ the guy didn't turn up :D Does the house have gas now? Does the property have a gas meter? If it does, does it have a larger pipe, if notit might just fit the oven and not the hot water or vice versa. If the pipe is not large enough you may need to install another pipe from the gas meter and route it through .. How far away is the gas meter to the kitchen and bathroom - a cost factor.	Nomad (952)
850124	2010-01-19 23:05:00	Hey John When you added double glazed windows - was it a requirement to install brand new window frames or can you work around your existing old (wooden) window frames? Cheers.	Nomad (952)
850125	2010-01-19 23:12:00	Hey John When you added double glazed windows - was it a requirement to install brand new window frames or can you work around your existing old (wooden) window frames? Sorry Nomad, I wasn't clear. We sold our old draught box as is (single glazed), and bought a 2 year old house that was already double glazed all round. We never investigated double glazing our old house, because we assumed it would be a waste of money - with the 1920's window and door frames being so loose (!), we assumed that any advantage gained from double glazing would have been lost by the draughts around the frames! Mind you, draughts around doors and frames meant the house was well ventilated and we didn't get much condensation!	John H (8)
850126	2010-01-19 23:19:00	We have gas to the property . We went from a gas water heater that has a cylinder to full gas (on demand) . We have a Rinnai Infinity - you can get a few diff versions re: diff power requirements - smaller house, larger house, commercial etc . . . We also have one installed at a commercial shop which does cooking . A larger version . I think the cost have increased . (Power and electricity bills) . More hot water - unlimited, no more out of hot water . If you wanna wire the gas - get a quote done . We are doing that for our kitchen renovation but dad has this pride thing and he repeats himself - like no fee for quote, no fee for quote, cheap price, cheap price . . . . . . . . the guy didn't turn up :D Does the house have gas now? Does the property have a gas meter? If it does, does it have a larger pipe, if notit might just fit the oven and not the hot water or vice versa . If the pipe is not large enough you may need to install another pipe from the gas meter and route it through . . How far away is the gas meter to the kitchen and bathroom - a cost factor . AFAIK Nomad, only the North Island has a reticulated gas supply (CNG) . Everywhere in the South Island relies on LPG bottles . Please correct me if I'm wrong! :p	nofam (9009)
850127	2010-01-19 23:25:00	AFAIK Nomad, only the North Island has a reticulated gas supply (CNG) . Everywhere in the South Island relies on LPG bottles . Please correct me if I'm wrong! :p Oh ok :blush: I am in Wellington and we have Contact Energy Gas . We have found that cost have increased immediately after installing a on demand gas water heater - over a gas water cylinder heater . I assume gas from the mains will be cheaper than bottle . But I'll let you know how much we pay for power and gas for a household of 4 people . The only exception is that we don't do a lot of cooking on this property and we do laundry every day will confirm if that is cold or hot water and we don't have a dryer . I'll take summer time cos that takes out the heaters variable out . But I think we spend way too much on heaters in the lounge sometimes with 2 oil fin heaters, need to get a heat pump :D	Nomad (952)
850128	2010-01-20 00:11:00	It's not just the cost of gas you have to look at - in Auckland (don't know about elsewhere) we have to pay for water too . With a "never run out of hot water again" system, it is very easy to forget about how long you are in the shower, especially with the wonderful pressure!! We had a Rinnai Infinity at our last place - excellent . But I wouldn't go out of my way to install one now, having teenagers in the house!!! The water bill is bad enough with a limited supply of hot water - I shudder to think what it would be if there was no chance of running out! My daughter would LIVE in the shower! John H's friend with the 18 year old daughter is spot on about the time spent allegedly washing themselves!	johcar (6283)
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