Convert: Gas to Storage Heaters

By Amanda
July 15, 2025

Are you planning to fix a storage heater in place of your existing gas heater? Use this 5-step guide to help you out.

1. Provide details of existing gas heater

Send a photo of your gas heater to us. Instead of just taking a close up of the heater, include also the space around it. Useful photos include, the top of aircon ledge, space available at aircon ledge, yard or balcony. This will be helpful for determining the position of your new storage heater.

Gas heaters are usually installed outdoors in case there is a gas leak. Storage heaters should be installed indoors or in a sheltered area as they are electrical appliances and are not weatherproof.

Other bits of helpful information you can provide:
– Is there a dedicated 15A switch available nearby?
– Have other neighbours done similar installations?
– Does your building management approve of the works?

2. Contact your building management for approval

Once you have confirmed a location for the new storage heater, contact MCST for approval. You may be asked to fill in an application for renovation works. HDB owners usually skip this step as their heaters are installed indoors.

HDB: The town council does not allow heaters to be fixed at the air con ledge.
Private: Most MCST will approve the changes, but it is possible to get rejected. Please seek approval before proceeding.

3. Terminate gas supply

If the storage heater can be installed close to your gas heater, we will reconnect your water pipes from the gas to the storage heater. The gas supply will simply be shut off at the lever. Do call CityGas later to fully terminate the heater gas supply or you may still be charged.

We have heard from homeowners that Citygas is unwilling to terminate the supply and are asking for many supporting reasons and your IC numbers. This is similar to the termination of a mobile phone line. It is not necessary to give out so much information.

Removal of gas heater
The removal of the gas heater is not necessary, but if you want to do so for aesthetic purposes, please contact CityGas or their recommended installers.

Note: For your safety, please do not perform an unauthorised uninstallation of your gas heater. As gas is quite volatile, they should only be handled by trained professionals.

4. Arrange to install the storage heater

If you choose to skip the termination of gas supply and removal of gas heater, you may skip step 3 in the diagram below.

For those who need to contact Citygas: Once you have a removal appointment, you may proceed to arrange for the installation of your new heater. Try to give a 2 working day buffer for any uninstallation or installations. If you plan things right, the disconnection of gas can be done in the morning and the installation of the new heater on the afternoon of the same day (2pm onwards). This will minimize hot water downtime.

5. Determine heater and panel location

Every ledge area is different. We will propose the best location for the heater and control panel. The maximum cable length for the control panel is 2.5m. This panel will not be installed at the location of the existing gas heater panel.

Tip: The panel serves to program your heater at the start. After it is set, the main on-off control is the heater switch. There is no need to refer to the panel and adjust it daily.

That’s it!

There you have it, a 5-step checklist that will hopefully give you a clearer picture of the process. If you have any other questions, simply reach out to us over WhatsApp.

Learnt something new? Share it!

Other related articles:

Avoid These 6 Warranty Pitfalls at All Costs

Beware of a Too-Good-to-be-True, Ultra Long Warranty!

Don’t be me. I learnt this the hard way buying my Samsonite luggage. Buying a "lifetime" warranty seemed like the best deal. Until I brought it in to change a part that fell out.

Then they pulled out this crazy list of terms and conditions that made me give up.

For appliances like water heaters, the concept is the same. Not all warranties are equal. Understand this before you buy. Know what to look out for. This will save you precious time and emotional frustration.

1. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for a 'Full Warranty'. This is the Best Type of Warranty and Very Rare. Go for FULL Coverage Whenever Possible.

Full warranties are scarce and hard to find.

Good news is... 'hard to find' does not mean it is impossible to find.

You want this Full Warranty because it protects you more than it protects the company. That is the idea right?

You want to be fully covered to be exempt from paying for hidden costs. This needs to cover everything from labour, parts cost and transport. A full onsite warranty.

The only thing that is not covered are installation faults. But it is fair to exclude this from coverage. If your installer damaged the product because of his lack of skill.. then you go after the installer.

2. Don't Just Get Full Coverage... Get the LONGEST Possible Full Coverage.

When buying stuff at Harvey Norman, they always ask if you want to upgrade your warranty and add 2 to 5 years to it.

While it's always tempting to think, Nahhhh. I've already spent $5k on this fridge!! Why would I want to top up YET another $800 bucks for incidents I cannot forsee??

WELL. Life is about planning for incidents you cannot forsee. And from personal experience, Extended warranties have saved my wallet more than half the time. So grateful for buying the extension for the last few big-cap electronic purchases. I put my faith there!

In Singapore, the average lifespan of a heater is 5 years. This means many heater companies will give you a 1 Year Full warranty.

Better brands last longer, so they go up to 3 Years Full warranty.

If your home situation is long-term, aim for 3 years. You save more in the long run going for quality and the longest possible warranty coverage.

If I don't Have a 'Full Warranty'... What am I Getting?

If what you have on your hands isn't a full warranty... You may have a partial warranty.

In that case, you have to be extra careful.

Partial warranties cover only certain parts

3. Now Hang On Tight, Don’t Fall off Your Chair... We’re Coming to the Most Well Kept Secret About Partial Warranties..

Of course a partial warranty sounds appealing!! Who doesn't like the sound of a 10-year warranty? But they are misleading and even a tad dishonest.

Let me let you in on a secret. A 10-year warranty on a heating element might seem like a great deal.. but the industry secret is that the heating element rarely fails. It’s the other parts like wires and thermostats that will need repair sooner. If these aren’t covered, you could end up paying out of pocket for repairs.

Usually, companies who play this game are not interested in servicing you. They are excited to find out if you’ve exceeded your 1-year warranty. Then they can slap on some charges for back end sales. It's a horrible way to do business.

Be wary of those partial warranties!!

Heating elements are hardly ever replaced.. in all my years of being in the heater industry, I’ve only seen elements break down less than 5 times!!

4. Trust me on This, for Heaters.. Always Buy Local. Forget That Awesome Deal You Saw on Taobao.

Absolutely NO taobao for water heaters!! It will be the worst decision ever.

You need a local warranty. If there's a problem.. there is no way you can fix it yourself. You are not superman!!! Even if you ARE Superman, you have no Time!!

When you buy local, you're actually buying access to a valuable local support network.

I've heard horror stories of unapproved heaters bought online that fail at the worst times. Imagine: Chinese New Year no hot water?!! Your wife and kids are giving you pressure? Now good luck getting support over taobao chat.

Actually, at that point you’ll need more than luck to survive.

Don't ruin things for yourself. Always buy local when it comes heaters. Thank me later.

Heaters are one of the hardest appliances to troubleshoot.

5. Hidden Costs Here, Hidden Costs There, Hidden Costs EVERYWHERE!

If normal transport charges are $100+... Why are you getting charged $250????

I've heard this happen to people who are still locked in under their 'warranty period'. They can't go to a 3rd party to repair or their warranty may be void. It's a minor wire repair but they have to cough up hundreds $$$$$.

They are stuck in what we call a ‘bo-pian’ or no-choice situation.

It is downright dreadful, but sad to say.. This kind of back-end sales tactic has happened before and will happen again.

Out of frustration, some even decide to change their whole heater to another brand. It’s a good move because you avoid dealing with dishonesty.

On the other hand, it’s very expensive…

You can avoid this heartache by doing some homework. Buy from a reputable company.

6. Whenever Possible, Buy Direct from the Main Distributor

When I bought my first Dyson.. I went to a Reputable department store along Orchard Road. They were running a promo I couldn't resist.

Things went fine as long until my Dyson stopped working.. then the nightmares began. I got thrown around department after department of red tape.

Need to check invoice.
Need to look up sales person.
Oh.. Must send to HQ for inspection.
Now we need to order special parts.

It was a simple problem but so many layers of people and paperwork. Drove me nuts.

From that I learnt my lesson, always buy direct.

Now I get my Dyson from the main distributor. Their turnover is fast. I have absolute confidence I'm getting the latest version free from bugs and defects.

If they have issues with a model, they are upfront and transparent with me. Because I am their direct customer, they will take care of me first.

Response is also much faster!!

Sometimes, they also waive charges. Now, I'm not saying to go in with the expectation of free service. Everyone has to earn a fair wage. But I can feel the difference in the quality of customer service.

Same idea with water heaters. Want faster service? Buy direct.

7. Are You Serviced By a Bot or a Human Being?

Of course you can tell. Everything is different when it's a real person on the other end of the line.

Service is faster.

Arrangements are flexible.

You get accurate answers.

Because a real person understands your needs. A bot doesn't.

Conclusion

Singaporeans and hot water have a special relationship. We take it for granted when it is there, but we go crazy when deprived of it!!

Understanding your water heater warranty can make or break your hot water experience.

Hope the tips I’ve shared here on warranties will help you in some way!

What are you looking for?