Gas vs electric hot water: which is right for a Redlands home?

We get asked this question almost weekly, usually when someone's old system has just died and they need a decision fast. There is no single right answer — it depends on your household, your existing setup, and what you are trying to fix. Here is how we talk homeowners through it on site.

The short version

Gas hot water tends to suit larger households, homes with existing gas connections, and anyone who wants fast, near-endless hot water for back-to-back showers. Electric hot water tends to suit smaller households, homes without gas already connected, and anyone prioritising a lower upfront install cost. Most homes in the Redlands can run either system well — the deciding factors are usually your existing infrastructure and how you actually use hot water.

Running costs

Gas is generally cheaper to run per litre of hot water heated than electricity, particularly for continuous flow (instantaneous) systems that only heat water as you use it rather than keeping a tank hot around the clock. Electric storage systems keep a tank of water hot continuously, which costs more over time but is simple and reliable. If you already have natural gas or bottled gas connected to your property for cooking or heating, adding gas hot water to that connection is usually a smaller step than starting a gas connection from scratch.

Recovery speed and household size

This is the practical difference most families notice. A gas storage or instantaneous system reheats water much faster than electric, which matters if your household runs three showers back-to-back before school and work. A family home with multiple bathrooms — common in newer estates around Victoria Point and Redland Bay — often benefits from the faster recovery gas offers. A one- or two-person household with a single bathroom may never notice the difference and can be well served by a smaller electric unit.

Installation considerations

Every one of these gets checked before we recommend a system. We do not sell you a system that does not fit your house.

• Gas connection. If gas is not already connected to your property, bringing it in adds cost and requires a licensed gas fitter for the gas line installation and connection.
• Flue and ventilation. Gas storage units need proper flueing and clearances; instantaneous units are wall-mounted and need adequate ventilation.
• Electrical capacity. Electric storage tanks, especially larger ones, need a dedicated circuit and sometimes an upgrade to switchboard capacity in older homes.
• Space and location. Instantaneous gas units are compact and can be wall-mounted, which suits tighter blocks. Storage tanks, gas or electric, need floor space.
• Off-peak tariffs. Some electric systems are set up to run on off-peak electricity rates, which can bring running costs down but limits when the tank reheats.

What this looks like in older Redlands homes

Established suburbs like Alexandra Hills still have plenty of homes built in the 1970s through 90s with original plumbing and, often, original electrical wiring to match. Switching from an ageing electric tank to gas in one of these homes is very doable, but it usually means a proper look at the switchboard, the gas connection if there is not one already, and the flueing requirements — not just swapping the box on the wall. We assess all of that as part of the quote so there are no surprises.

Waterfront and canal-side homes around Cleveland and Raby Bay bring a different consideration: salt air accelerates corrosion on external fittings and flues, so we factor material choice and unit placement into those recommendations too.

Cost to install

Regardless of which type you choose, most residential hot water replacements in Queensland run $1,200 to $3,000 supplied and installed, with the exact figure set by tank size, gas vs electric vs instantaneous, whether the unit is relocating, and any tempering valve or compliance work needed. We cover this in detail in how much does it cost to replace a hot water system in Queensland. Gas installs that require a brand-new gas connection sit toward the higher end of that range; a like-for-like electric swap sits toward the lower end.

Storage vs instantaneous

Within both gas and electric, you also choose between a storage tank and an instantaneous (continuous flow) unit. A storage tank heats and holds a set volume of water ready to go, which is simple and familiar but means you can run out mid-shower if the household is drawing more than the tank holds. An instantaneous unit heats water on demand as it passes through, so you effectively never run out, but the flow rate and the number of outlets running at once can affect performance if the unit is undersized for the house. Gas instantaneous systems are common in newer builds and renovations across the Redlands because they are compact and suit tighter blocks. Electric instantaneous units exist too, but they need significant electrical capacity and are less common in standard residential retrofits.

Maintenance differences

Gas systems, whether storage or instantaneous, need periodic checks of the flue, burner and gas connections to keep them running safely and efficiently — this is part of what a licensed gas fitter checks during a service or repair call. Electric systems have fewer moving parts exposed to combustion but still need the anode rod, thermostat and element checked over time, particularly in areas with harder water or salt air exposure. Neither system is maintenance-free, but neither is high-maintenance either if it is installed correctly to begin with and checked when something seems off, rather than ignored until it fails.

A tank that is too small runs out halfway through the second shower

This is one of the most common complaints we hear, and it is rarely a fault — it is usually a sizing problem. If your household has grown, or you are running more bathrooms than the system was originally sized for, no amount of repair work fixes a tank that is simply too small for how the house is used now. When we assess a replacement, we size the new unit to your household, not just to whatever was there before. Getting this right the first time avoids the frustration of a "working" system that never actually meets your needs.

Brands we install

We supply and install Rheem, Rinnai, Dux, Vulcan, Aquamax and Bosch systems across both gas and electric. Which brand suits your home comes down to tank size, warranty preference and budget rather than one being universally "better" — we will talk you through the options that actually fit your situation rather than pushing whatever is easiest to sell.

Switching from electric to gas, or gas to electric

Switching systems is more involved than a straight swap, but it is common and we do it regularly. Moving to gas means running a gas line if one is not already there, plus flueing for a storage unit or wall mounting for instantaneous. Moving to electric means confirming your switchboard has capacity and running appropriate wiring to the new location. Either way, we handle the full scope — plumbing, gas fitting, and coordination of any electrical work needed — under one quote.

When to call a plumber

Get in touch before you decide, not after, if:

• Your current system has failed and you are not sure whether to replace like-for-like or switch types.
• You are renovating and want hot water capacity to match a new bathroom or laundry.
• Your household has grown and hot water keeps running out.
• You smell gas near an existing gas appliance — this needs an urgent call, not a scheduled quote.
• You are unsure whether your home already has a gas connection suitable for hot water.

Get an honest recommendation

Every home is different, and the right system is the one that matches how your household actually uses hot water — not the cheapest box on the shelf. Call Dave on 0409 364 858 for a straight assessment and a fixed price, whether you are in Wellington Point or anywhere across the Redlands and Brisbane bayside. You hear the price before we start, not after.