Most people who phone us about gas are not chasing gadgets. Their electric geyser has failed, the municipal bill keeps climbing, or the family runs out of hot water by the third shower. Here is the honest cost picture, based on the units we actually install in George.
What does a gas geyser cost to install in George?
Installed prices run from around R11,000 to around R22,000 depending on the model and the site. These are starting prices, subject to plumbing layout, gas-line distance and site requirements.
The five units we fit:
- Paloma 20L — unit R14,000, from R22,000 supplied and installed. Constant temperature, mixer-tap friendly and solar-inline capable. Cylinders and cage additional.
- Rinnai 20L — unit R13,500, from R21,500 supplied and installed. The same premium whole-house performance as the Paloma at a slightly lower price. Cylinders and cage additional.
- Dewhot 16L Constant Temperature — unit R8,500, from R15,000 supplied and installed. Battery-powered ignition. Cylinders, cage and weather cover additional.
- Cadac 16L Ecoflow — unit R5,700, from R12,200 supplied and installed. Battery-powered. Cylinders, cage, cover and flue where required additional.
- Cadac 12L Ecoflow — unit R4,500, from R11,000 supplied and installed. Suitable for a granny flat. Cylinders, cage, cover and flue where required additional.
Why do quotes differ so much between houses?
Because the geyser is the easy part. The price moves with your plumbing layout, how far the gas line has to run, and what extras the job needs — a cylinder, a gas cage, a weather box, or an electrical point for the Paloma or Rinnai.
Two houses in the same Pacaltsdorp street can be R4,000 apart for the same unit simply because one has the geyser on an outside wall next to the bathroom and the other needs a ten-metre line around the back.
Where does the saving actually come from?
An electric geyser keeps a tank of water hot all day and all night, whether you use it or not. A gas geyser only fires when a hot tap opens. Nothing is being kept warm at 2am, and there is no tank to reheat after a power cut.
That is also why the size matters more than the brand. Sizing is guideline-only: about 10L/min for a kitchen, 12L for a shower, 16L for a bath and 20L for a whole house. Undersize it and you will feel it the first time two showers run together.
What about load shedding and cold mornings?
Battery-powered units — the Dewhot and the Cadac — carry on working when the power is off. The Paloma and Rinnai need a plug point, so they stop when the electricity does.
If you already have solar water heating, the Paloma or Rinnai can run inline and lift pre-heated water on those cold George mornings when the panels have not done enough. The Dewhot is not suited to inline or pre-heated water.
Is it worth switching from electric to gas?
For most George homes with a failed or ageing electric geyser, yes — you are replacing a tank you already have to spend money on. The question is which unit, not whether gas works.
We do not push the most expensive option. A granny flat with one bathroom does not need a Paloma; a five-person house on mixer taps should not be on a Cadac.
Read the full breakdown in our gas vs electric geyser cost guide, or see how the installation itself works on our gas geyser installations page. If you want a straight answer for your own house, phone or WhatsApp us on 071 551 2108 and describe your setup.