An Australian family of five replacing a 13-year-old gas water heater and weighing whether to stay on gas or switch to electric got some direct advice from the r/AusRenovation subreddit.

With their solar setup, commenters said getting off gas was definitely the move.

Here's what to know

The Reddit conversation started with the original poster adding details. For their household, the decision was between installing another gas unit or switching to a stainless steel electric system that could heat water during the day using rooftop solar. 

The original poster said the family uses about 75 megajoules of gas daily, pays roughly $250 per quarter, and has no other gas appliances. 

One commenter responded with conviction: "It's a no-brainer to get off gas if you're producing your own energy from your roof."

Because the home no longer used gas for anything else, several commenters said the biggest savings might come from disconnecting the service entirely.

"If you can completely turn off gas and avoid the supply charge then it will easily work out cheaper long term," a commenter wrote. "You're saving something like $3 a day or $1k a year."

One person said they had already taken that route and "saved a heap of money by not having any gas." That commenter also said they used a standard electric hot water system with "a simple internet aware switch" to control when it drew electricity.

Homeowners who can afford a heat pump water heater can also see lower energy bills over time. For the original poster, the setup would not only beat gas on efficiency, but allow them to wean themselves off a gas hookup.

More background

What began as a straightforward appliance replacement turned into a wider conversation about household energy use. The original poster saw gas as the lower-cost, faster-heating choice for a larger family, but commenters argued that reheating speed matters less when water is heated earlier and stored in the tank.

That is why replies kept circling back to tank capacity and timing. One commenter noted that "the only caveat is you need a large enough tank for your family so hot water doesn't run out until the next day."

Not everyone in the thread favored cutting gas. One household said it had kept a gas water heater with solar boost because it also uses gas heating and likes having backup during power outages.

What can be done?

The practical advice centered on a few checks: whether ending gas service would actually remove the supply charge, whether the tank would be large enough for the family's hot water use, and whether an installer or electrician could add a timer. Multiple commenters said standard electric systems often need that timer installed separately.

When solar production drops, commenters pointed to other ways to manage costs like off-peak electricity plans, controlled-load circuits, or smaller heating elements.

Another option is Cala, which makes customizable smart heat pump water heaters. Cala's customizable smart heat pump water heaters can help homeowners decrease their energy bills by heating water exactly when it is needed. 

For homeowners comparing gas, standard electric, and heat pump models, that kind of control addresses one of the biggest concerns raised in the thread. Households wanting a smarter all-electric setup may want to look at Cala.

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