What's the difference between natural gas and LPG appliances?

Natural gas and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) appliances are both commonly used in Australian homes, mainly for cooking, heating, and hot water.

Whether you use natural gas or LPG appliances will usually be dictated by your home’s existing energy set up, rather than other practicalities or preferences. If it’s connected to natural piped gas, you’re unlikely to use LPG appliances, with the possible exception of your backyard BBQ.

If you’re building a new home or doing extensive renovations, though, you might be in a position to choose between the two, although some parts of Australia now have restrictions on natural gas connections in new build properties. In this article, we'll look at the main differences between running natural gas and LPG appliances to help you decide which will best suit you.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel composed mainly of methane (80-90%) and distributed to homes via a network of underground pipelines.

LPG, on the other hand, is a mixture of butane and propane gas in liquid form. It’s stored in cylinders or tanks and delivered to homes as needed. Propane and butane are gases at ambient temperatures and pressures, but are liquefied under moderate pressure. As the cylinder valve is opened, the pressure releases, returning the liquid to gas form.

Natural gas and LPG appliances often look identical at a glance, but you cannot use one with the other’s fuel type. Here are the key distinctions:

If your home is connected to the mains gas, installing natural gas appliances is relatively straightforward. You'll need a licensed gas fitter (plumbers often hold this license) to hook up ovens, cooktops and water heaters. If you have a gas outlet with a female bayonet fitting, you may be able to connect portable (unflued) gas heaters yourself, provided the heater’s gas hose has the matching male bayonet fitting.

LPG appliances are often used in homes that are not connected to the natural gas grid. You'll need to have a dedicated LPG storage tank or cylinder installed on the outside of your property, which will need to be refilled or replaced periodically. As with natural gas, you’ll need a gas fitter to connect LPG ovens, cooktops, water heaters and, in some cases, heaters.

Natural gas prices vary a lot across Australia, but regardless of where you live, it tends to be cheaper on a per-unit energy basis than LPG, making it the natural (excuse the pun) choice for homes connected to piped gas.

However, natural gas does have a separate supply charge that adds hundreds of dollars to most Australians’ annual gas bills. The supply charge varies a lot between States and Territories, and gas suppliers, with WA and Tas enjoying lower fees of between 20 and 30 cents per day, while SA and the Eastern States have daily charges of around 65 to 85 cents.

LPG does not have this supply charge, and a lot of providers offer free delivery when you order replacement cylinders. So, depending on which appliances you intend to use, and how frequently, LPG could be a cheaper option in some cases. 

Natural gas is generally more energy-efficient than LPG due to its chemical composition. Its methane content and simpler molecular structure give it greater energy per unit than LPG’s mix of propane and butane.

Its lower carbon-to-hydrogen ratio further enhances efficiency by releasing more energy during combustion.

Both natural gas and LPG have lower emissions and byproducts than other fossil fuels, but which has the lesser impact ecologically?

As mentioned above, natural gas’s methane content gives it higher energy content per unit of volume, making it more efficient than LPG. However, it emits more carbon dioxide than LPG when burned, and also has higher sulphur and nitrogen emissions, making LPG the greener choice.

Natural gas is available in major cities and metropolitan regions, but not in all remote, rural, and newly developed areas, due largely to infrastructure limitations. It is important to note that some States and council areas now restrict or prohibit the installation of new natural gas pipe connections for domestic premises.

LPG is not yet subjected to these restrictions or infrastructure issues and is commonly used where natural gas networks are absent- though if you live extremely remotely, you may have to go to greater efforts to arrange delivery or procure it yourself.

Because they are stored outside, LPG cylinders are exposed to moisture and the elements, making them potentially susceptible to rust or damage. This means that they can require more frequent maintenance in terms of checking for gas leaks and ensuring that the cylinders or tanks are in optimal condition.

Natural gas appliances generally need less in the way of monitoring and maintenance because they are continuously connected to a stable gas supply. Nevertheless, you should still regularly check that they are connected and working properly and that you can’t smell gas or detect any issues.

The choice between natural gas and LPG appliances depends on your specific circumstances. Natural gas makes sense if your home is already connected to the gas pipeline, but LPG is a versatile option if you’re not. If you live in an area prone to electrical outages, having appliances linked to either type of gas could prove more reliable than electric appliances during power outages.

If, like a growing number of Aussie households, you’re thinking about moving away from gas altogether, due to government restrictions, health, environmental or safety concerns, you’ll find a range of energy-efficient electric substitutes for commonplace gas appliances.

We deliver natural gas, LPG and electric appliances to 95% of Australia's population with Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery - and we can usually get it to you by the next day (Mon-Fri) as long as it's in stock. For some appliances that require the services of plumbers or electricians, we also offer additional paid connection services. Plus, we now offer paid Same Day Delivery for in-stock appliances in NSW, QLD, and VIC metro areas if you order before 12pm Mon-Fri.

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