Gas Hot Water Christchurch

The South Island has no mains gas pipeline network, so every gas hot water system in Christchurch runs on LPG. That changes the choices: the supply comes from bottles, a bulk tank, or a piped LPG network in some streets, and not every gas water heater on the market is made for LPG.

We install and replace LPG hot water across the city and out to Selwyn and Waimakariri, work out the right supply for your household, and handle the gas fitting, flueing and certificates in one job.

Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Gas Hot Water Jobs We Handle Across Christchurch

• Gas hot water cylinder installation
• Gas hot water cylinder replacement
• Outdoor gas hot water cylinder
• Electric to gas hot water conversion
• Gas hot water heater repair
• LPG hot water cylinder

LPG, electric or heat pump: choosing the fuel first

It is worth being straight about the trade-offs before talking models. The government's Smarter Homes guide notes that gas storage cylinders lose more heat than electric cylinders, and that instant gas systems are more efficient than gas cylinders. Gen Less says a heat pump water heater costs more to buy and install but is the cheapest option once running costs are counted.

LPG hot water still makes sense in plenty of Christchurch homes: where the house already has LPG for cooking or a gas fire, where a big family needs endless showers, or where an old LPG unit simply needs replacing like for like. If you want to compare, we can quote heat pump hot water on the same visit.

Continuous flow or storage on LPG

On LPG, continuous flow is usually the practical choice. The unit only burns gas while a hot tap is running, so there is no tank of stored water losing heat overnight, and outdoor models mount on an exterior wall with the flue built in. Our continuous flow hot water page covers the options in more detail.

Gas storage cylinders are less common here because many domestic models sold in New Zealand are built for piped mains gas only, not LPG. LPG versions of some storage cylinders do exist, so if you want stored hot water on gas, we confirm the exact model is rated for LPG before you buy.

How It Works

Bottles, bulk tanks and piped LPG

Christchurch had its own gasworks from 1864, and its coal gas network reached all but the outer suburbs until it closed in the early 1980s. Today, LPG arrives by pipeline from Lyttelton Port to storage at Woolston, and some streets have piped LPG. Most homes use a pair of bottles on an automatic changeover valve, or a larger bulk tank.

A continuous flow heater draws a lot of gas while a shower is running, so the supply has to keep up. We check the regulator, pipe size and bottle setup can handle the heater on top of any hob or gas fire, and we position bottles outside with the clearances from openings, drains and ignition sources that the standards require.

Frost, flues and where the unit can go

A gas water heater has to get rid of its combustion products safely. Flue terminals need set distances from openable windows, doors, air inlets and meters under AS/NZS 5601.1, and manufacturers publish their own clearance tables. On tight sites, such as townhouses in Sydenham or units with narrow side yards, this decides where the heater can go. We measure on site rather than guessing from photos.

Frost is the other Christchurch consideration. Outdoor units sit in the cold all winter, and many rely on electric frost protection, so they need a power supply that stays on. We lag exposed water pipes to and from the unit, because Master Plumbers warns that freezing can split pipes and fittings.

Converting from electric to LPG

Swapping an electric cylinder for LPG continuous flow usually means setting up the bottles or tank, running a gas line, mounting the unit and flue, reconnecting the hot and cold pipework, and leaving the old electric circuit safe for an electrician to terminate. The old cylinder cupboard becomes storage.

Delivered hot water to basins, baths and showers in new installations is limited to 50 C under Building Code clause G12, and continuous flow units are set or fitted with a tempering valve to meet that.

What affects the cost

We give a free quote after seeing the site. Price depends on whether it is continuous flow or storage, indoor or outdoor, bottles or bulk tank, how far the gas line runs, any flue work through a roof, and how much pipework changes for a conversion. Every installation comes with the Gas Safety Certificate and Certificate of Compliance the regulations require.

Why Choose Cheeky's Plumbers for Gas Hot Water

Gas Hot Water FAQs

Gas Hot Water Across Christchurch

Our gas hot water team works in every Christchurch suburb. Find your local plumbers:

Gas Hot Water Guides

• Best Hot Water System in Christchurch: Heat Pump, LPG or Electric?
• How Long Does a 45kg LPG Bottle Last in a Christchurch Home?

Related Services

See all hot water services or every service we offer.