What types of gases are used around the home?

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What types of gases are commonly used in Australian households?

Where would I commonly find gas in my home?

Pros and Cons of different gas types

How do I connect natural gas to my home?

How can I save money on gas at home?

Time to turn on the gas with an energy plan from iSelect

Long story short

Gas keeps Aussie homes cooking and cosy

From keeping your showers hot to firing up the BBQ, gas powers the spots where heat matters most, like kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor spaces.

Reticulated natural gas is a cleaner fossil fuel option

Natural gas is piped straight to homes, offers lower emissions than coal, and is a key transition fuel as Australia moves towards renewable energy.

LPG brings flexibility where pipes don’t reach

Since it’s delivered in bottles, LPG works where natural gas pipelines don’t reach, working for rural homes or pay-as-you-go options.

What types of gases are commonly used in Australian households?

Gas comes in many forms, but only a handful are commonly used to power Aussie homes. They are reticulated natural gas (piped straight in through main lines), LPG gas (delivered in bottles), and renewable biogas (the new kid still finding its feet).

Where would I commonly find gas in my home?

Gas appliances usually show up where you need heat fast. In most homes, this means gas might be used in the kitchen, bathroom, and anywhere where warmth and reaching high temperatures fast matter. You’ll likely see gas powering cooktops, ovens, BBQs, hot water systems, outdoor gas heaters, pool heaters, and other home appliances like ducted or flued heating.

Pros and Cons of different gas types

Natural gas

Pros

• Considered a cleaner gas choice with fewer fossil fuels burned
• Continuous supply – no need to monitor your gas supply levels
• Lower running costs compared to other gas types
• High safety standards

Cons

• Higher up-front connection costs
• Requires access to a pipeline

LPG Gas

Pros

• Flexible gas option when there’s no access to a gas main
• Pay as you go with supplied gas bottles
• Easier installation than natural gas

Cons

• Need to monitor gas bottle levels so you aren’t left empty
• More prone to supply disruptions

How do I connect natural gas to my home?

Before firing up the stove, you’ll need to check whether your home can be linked up to the main gas pipeline or whether LPG bottles are a better fit. Natural gas isn’t available in every area, so it’s worth checking whether your home can run on it first.

Once you’ve called up your gas connection team or energy retailer, you’ll be able to get the ball rolling on your gas connection with a new connection request. This is usually organised through the Australian Gas Networks or your energy retailer.

Connecting your home to the street main could take between 20 and 30 business days. After that, you can contact your energy retailer to install your gas meter, which could add a few more business days to your timeline.

Helpful tip

While many homes across Australia still use gas, new builds in Victoria won’t be able to connect to gas. There are a few exceptions for renovations and homes that don’t require a planning permit, but generally, it’s a no go. So it’s worth factoring in how you’ll power your newly built home early in the planning process.

Julia Paszka

General Manager – Utilities & Credit Cards

How can I save money on gas at home?

Compare regularly

Just like with any energy plan, the simplest way to make sure your plan is working to benefit your home and energy usage style is to compare it against the competition. It gives you a good chance to look at the price and value options out there to find a plan that fits.

Turn off appliances when you don’t need them

If you’re planning a holiday or just know you won’t be home for a chunk of time, switching off your big gas appliances like water heaters and ducted heating systems can help reduce their operating costs when no one’s home.

Check your usage details in your bill

Don’t just check the final amount on your bill. If you make sure that your gas usage amount matches up to your meter reading, you’ll catch any errors that could end up costing you more on your energy bills.

Install a smart thermostat

A smart thermostat lets you take control of your home’s heating from anywhere via your smartphone. You can also see your real-time energy usage to make sure you’re only paying for heating when you’re actually at home.

Service your gas appliances

Regularly servicing your gas appliances ensures they’re running at full capacity and using as much energy as they can, wasting less power and lowering your energy bills.

Time to turn on the gas with an energy plan from iSelect

Whether you’re already cooking with gas, looking to transition over or just want to keep your bills in check, the right plan can make all the difference in your home’s usage. At iSelect you can head online to compare from a range of plans and providers or call our expert comparison experts at 1800 664 532 to skip the guesswork when it comes to finding the right match for you.