Gas guide
Gas vs electric stove
A gas stove gives instant, visible heat you control directly and keeps cooking during load-shedding; an electric stove needs the grid but no cylinders or gas certificate. For ovens, electric gives the more even heat, which is why many South African kitchens pair a gas hob with an electric oven.
Hob, oven, or both
| Gas | Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat response | Instant, visible flame | Slower to heat and cool (radiant plates) |
| Load-shedding | Cooks with the power off | Stops with the power |
| Oven heat | Moister heat, hotter at the top | Even heat, fan ovens most even |
| What it needs | Cylinders, regulator, gas line, gas COC | Correct circuit, electrical COC |
Gas hob with an electric oven
The most popular mix. SANS 10087-1 is specific about the wiring: switches and plugs at least 200 mm from any burner, no electrical connection below the hob, and the oven connected through a proper isolator switch above the hob level rather than a three-point plug. We'll check the kitchen layout against that before installing.
Safety
Choose a hob with flame-failure devices, which cut the gas if a flame blows out. Keep the kitchen ventilated, and never store a cylinder above or on top of a cooking appliance.
Switching from electric to gas
Buy an LPG-rated stove or hob, then have it installed and certified: cylinders outside, a regulator, copper line to an isolation valve and an approved hose at the appliance. See gas stove installation for what the job includes.
Get it installed or certified
- Gas geyser installationSized, mounted, piped, certified
- Gas stove installationStove, hob or oven, tested
- Gas certificate of complianceInspection, test, COC
- Get a priceCall 083 498 1693 or use the form
More gas guides
- How a gas geyser works
- Geyser types compared
- Gas installation regulations
- SAQCC Gas explained
- Gas cylinder sizes
- Checking for a gas leak
Part of Gas Wizards — gas installers in Johannesburg and the West Rand.
Quick answers
Is a gas stove cheaper to run than an electric one?
No, not always — it depends on your LPG price and electricity tariff; compare them per kWh (1 kg of LPG is about 12.8 kWh).
Can I have a gas hob and an electric oven?
Yes. It's the most common combination, but the oven must be connected through an isolator switch, not a plug below the hob.
Do I need a certificate for a gas stove?
Yes. Every gas installation needs a certificate of compliance from a registered installer.