Why More Homeowners Are Quietly Switching to Gas Water Heaters

You may have noticed it happening around you: neighbours ditching their old electric water heaters, or friends moving into condominium units that come with them.

The numbers back this up. According to City Energy, adoption of gas water heaters has increased by 210 per cent since the pre-COVID years, and a whopping 70 per cent of new private homes are now fitted with them from the get-go.

Which begs the question: Why are more homeowners switching from electric to gas water heaters? Let’s find out.

1. Saving on utility bills matter more than ever

In today’s economy — and with electricity and petrol prices expected to rise further amid the Middle East conflict — homeowners are keeping a close eye on every opportunity to cut costs.

Switching from an electric storage heater to a gas water heater, as it turns out, could save households about $1,200 over the product’s lifetime of around 10 years, according to a study by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

The difference lies in how the two systems heat water. Electric storage heaters keep a tank of water hot round the clock, and some of that heat inevitably escapes into the surrounding air. In other words, households end up paying for energy that is never actually used.

Gas water heaters, by contrast, heat water only when it is needed, avoiding standby heat loss altogether. In addition, installation costs for first time installations in resale HDB and BTOs are waived — which means more costs savings all around.

Plus, it’s a one-stop installation service for those switching to gas heaters!

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2. Homeowners are becoming more sustainability-minded

From inverter air-conditioners to front-load washing machines, homeowners are considering how their appliance choices affect the environment. For many, gas water heaters are emerging as the more environmentally friendly option.

Electric water heaters run on electricity from the grid, while gas models use piped town gas. In Singapore, electricity is largely generated by burning natural gas, which produces greenhouse gas emissions.

Gas water heaters also produce emissions, but typically about half as much. As a result, households switching from electric storage to gas water heaters can reduce their carbon emissions by about 320kg per user per year, while those switching from electric instant heaters reduce emissions in the same vein by about 80kg.

Did you know? City Energy’s smart gas water heaters come with smart self-adaptation and constant temperature control, preventing overheating and reducing unnecessary use of energy.

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3. Space is getting tighter in new apartments

As apartments shrink, design-conscious homeowners are gravitating towards compact appliances and furniture. While at that, they’re also rethinking electric storage water heaters in the bathroom.

Compared with gas water heaters, which are typically installed as a single unit in the service yard, electric instant heaters have to be installed in every bathroom. This takes up vertical space that could otherwise be used for storage — a valuable commodity, especially in smaller HDB homes.

There’s also the question of appearance, since a cylindrical tank for electric storage heaters is hardly inconspicuous. Even when concealed within a false ceiling, it still adds visual bulk, undermining the minimalist look and spa-like atmosphere your stone tiles and warm lighting are meant to create.

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4. Our lifestyles are becoming busier

Whether you’re a young family getting everyone to school and work on time or a couple preparing for date night, showers rarely happen one at a time amid our busy schedules. Yet, electric storage heaters can create a bottleneck. 

When several people shower back-to-back, or at the same time in two bathrooms, someone may end up waiting for the tank to reheat or, worse, running out of hot water mid-shower with shampoo still in their hair. Over time, this can even amplify the frustrations of sharing a small space. 

This is why a growing number of homeowners are choosing gas water heaters, which provide an unlimited supply of hot water on demand and allow multiple bathrooms to be used simultaneously. After all, what is the point of having two bathrooms if one person’s long shower uses up all the hot water before the next person even gets in?

Did you know? With the iAppliances app, you can set daily timers so your showers are always ready on schedule, and adjust them remotely if you’re returning home later than expected.

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5. Bathrooms are glowing up

For working adults, the bathroom is the one place where they are safe from incoming emails and, for some, their “mini-bosses”. Ask any parent and they will likely admit, with a hint of chagrin, that it is the one room where they can savour a rare moment of peace.

Unsurprisingly, more homeowners are incorporating features such as waterfall taps, rain showers and large soaking tubs. But electric storage heaters, which rely on a limited tank of stored hot water, may struggle to keep up. A bathtub, for example can take multiple heating cycles to fill, losing valuable heat in the process.

Because gas water heaters heat water on demand as it passes through the unit, they can supply the continuous hot water needed to run premium fittings such as rain showers and multi-jet systems. After all, if you have already invested in these spa-like upgrades, you might as well ensure they deliver the experience you paid for.

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