Most of us grew up with gas in the home. A gas cooktop in the kitchen, a gas heater in the lounge and a gas storage unit heating the water. For decades, that was just how Australian homes were built.
In recent years, health organisations here and overseas have taken a closer look at how burning gas indoors affects the air we breathe.
Gas is responsible for up to 12 per cent of childhood asthma
This post walks through what the research says, what you can do if you are keeping your gas appliances for now, and what the electric alternatives look like.
We will also share the experience of one of our customers, Rosie, who noticed a real change in her health after her home went all-electric.
What Happens When Gas Burns Inside Your Home
When natural gas burns, it releases combustion by-products into the air. Outside, these disperse quickly. Inside a kitchen or lounge room, they can build up.
The main ones to know about are:
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): an invisible gas that irritates the airways and can trigger asthma symptoms
- Fine particles (PM2.5): particles small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs
- Carbon monoxide (CO): which is dangerous at high levels and is the reason gas heaters need regular servicing
Gas cooktops release these directly into the kitchen because they have no flue. Unflued gas heaters do the same in the living areas they warm. Flued heaters send most by-products outside, though a faulty or poorly maintained flue can let them back in.
What Australian Health Organisations Say
This is well-studied ground, and the organisations doing the work are ones you already know.
The National Asthma Council Australia notes that children living in homes with gas stoves are at higher risk of asthma symptoms and recommends good ventilation whenever gas is used for cooking.
The Climate Council estimates that cooking with gas is responsible for up to 12 per cent of the childhood asthma burden in Australia. Their research compares the asthma risk for a child in a home with gas cooking to the risk for a child living with household cigarette smoke.
Asthma Australia supports home electrification because it removes common sources of indoor air pollution, including gas cooktops and gas heaters.
The Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel covers the safety side. Unflued gas heaters release nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants that can worsen respiratory conditions, and any gas heater that is poorly maintained carries a carbon monoxide risk. Children, older people, pregnant women and people with asthma are the most vulnerable.
None of this means your home is unsafe today. It means indoor air quality is a real factor worth weighing up when your appliances come due for replacement.
Keeping Gas for Now? Ventilation and Servicing Matter
Switching everything at once is not realistic for most households, and it is not the only path. If gas is staying in your home for a while yet, a few habits make a meaningful difference.
- Use your rangehood every time you cook, and check it vents outside rather than recirculating. Research suggests a good externally vented rangehood substantially reduces the pollutants that reach your lungs
- Open a window while cooking when you can, especially in smaller kitchens
- Have gas heaters serviced by a licensed gasfitter at least every two years, as Victorian health authorities recommend
- Consider a carbon monoxide alarm if you run a gas heater, particularly an older or open-flued unit
These steps reduce exposure.
They do not remove the source, which is why many households plan a gradual move to electric as appliances reach the end of their life.
The Electric Alternatives, Explained
Every gas appliance in an Australian home now has a proven electric replacement. These are established technologies we install every week across the Macedon Ranges and Sunbury.
Induction Cooktops
Induction cooking heats the pan directly using a magnetic field. There is no flame and no combustion, so nothing is released into your kitchen air. Induction is faster than gas for most tasks, easier to clean and far more precise at low temperatures. Most people who make the switch tell us they would never go back.
Reverse Cycle Heating and Cooling
A reverse cycle system is the most efficient way to heat a home in our climate. It moves heat rather than creating it, which makes it several times more efficient than a gas heater. It also cools your home in summer, so one system does both jobs with no combustion indoors.
Heat Pump Hot Water
A heat pump hot water system works like a fridge in reverse, drawing warmth from the air to heat your water. It uses a fraction of the energy of a gas storage unit. When paired with solar, much of your hot water can run on sunshine.
The pieces work best when they are planned together. Cooktop, heating, hot water and solar all draw on the same switchboard, so it pays to have one team look at the whole home rather than swapping appliances one by one without a plan.
Rosie's Experience After Going All Electric
Research is one thing. Hearing it from someone who has lived it is another.
Rosie is a Bluegum customer whose home is now all electric. She had lived with asthma for years, and the change she noticed after the switch surprised her.
“To be all electric has made a difference actually. I used to have quite severe asthma, and not having gas has actually lessened the occurrence quite significantly. So I was really, really amazed by that.”
We are careful with stories like this. One person’s experience is not a clinical study, and asthma has many triggers. Rosie’s story lines up with what the research points to, though. Remove a source of airway irritants from the home, and some people breathe easier.
How to Approach the Switch
There is no need to rip everything out tomorrow. The most sensible path for most households looks like this.
- Start with a plan for the whole home, so every future replacement fits together
- Replace gas appliances as they reach the end of their life, starting with whichever fails first or worries you most
- Check your switchboard early, since older boards often need an upgrade before new electric appliances go in
- Look into current rebates, as government programs regularly offer support for heat pump hot water, reverse-cycle systems, and solar. We can tell you exactly what applies to your home
A staged switch spreads the cost and gets the order right.
We help homeowners across Woodend, Gisborne, Kyneton, Romsey and Sunbury map this out all the time, and every home is a little different.
Learn more: Victoria Is Going All-Electric From 2027: What It Means for Your Home
The Bottom Line
Burning gas indoors affects the air you breathe, and Australian health organisations from the National Asthma Council to the Victorian Government have documented how. Good ventilation and regular servicing reduce the risk while gas remains in your home.
When you are ready, proven electric alternatives exist for every gas appliance, and for people like Rosie the change has been about more than energy bills.
If you are weighing up where to start, we are happy to walk through your home and give you an honest picture of what makes sense and in what order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe to Keep Cooking With Gas?
Millions of Australian homes still cook with gas.
The research does not say your kitchen is dangerous. It says gas cooktops release pollutants that can irritate airways, especially for children and people with asthma. Using an externally vented rangehood and opening a window while cooking significantly reduce exposure.
Is Induction as Good as Gas for Cooking?
For most cooking, induction is better.
It boils water faster, holds low temperatures more precisely and responds instantly when you adjust it. It also wipes clean because the surface is flat glass. The main adjustment is that your cookware needs a magnetic base, so some pans may need replacing.
Do I Need to Switch Everything at Once?
No. Most households make the change over several years, replacing each gas appliance as it reaches the end of its life. Having a plan first matters more than moving fast, because it makes sure your switchboard and solar are ready for each step.
Are There Rebates for Replacing Gas Appliances?
Government programs regularly offer rebates and incentives for efficient electric appliances, such as heat pump hot water and reverse-cycle systems, along with solar. The details change over time, so ask us what currently applies to your home and we will give you the up-to-date picture.