Gas in Christchurch

Tanya · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 6:40 pm Post subject: Gas in Christchurch

Can anyone tell me if there is gas into Christchuch homes?

I want to bring my range oven which is gas and can't find anything to tell me if there is gas or whether I would have to use the gas bottles and would have to have the oven modified to accept.
(yeah I know - I am sure I could buy one out there, but I love my double oven too much to give it up and once you have cooked with gas, electric ovens are so slow!)

If it is gas bottles only, has anyone got an oven hooked up to one and how long would one of the tall bottles last?

Any info would be great.

Thanks

JCM · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject:

Hi Tanya, as far as I know there is no piped gas in Christchurch. The most often advertised sellers of gas bottles are Rockgas - but other than knowing their name from adverts, I know nothing about them. Here's their website:

http://www.rockgas.co.nz/lpg/Merchants.asp?maparea=Canterbury

I hope that helps a little.

Robert · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 11:51 pm Post subject:

Large gas bottles hold 45KG propane and cost $64 delivered. there is also an annual fee of $150 for 'cylinder rental' LPG gas costs about 12c per KWH (electric is 18 peak and 9 off peak or thereabouts)
LPG for bbq in small cylinders (9KG and under) costs $1.90 per KG.

Unless gas is already installed, you would have to pay for installation too.

You can buy LPG ready ovens here and this would almost certainly be cheaper than bringing your old one.
Do check to see if it can be converted as not all can and it would be dangerous to use a natural gas appliance with LPG. There is now no natural gas to speak of in NZ although one or two towns had it in the past (Maui gas field has almost run out)

Hope this helps.

Rob

Tanya · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 11:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks to you both for the info.

Does anyone know how long a large gas container would last if hooked up to the oven?

Tanya

Raeven · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:21 am Post subject:

Hi, Tanya,

I too have struggled with the idea of abandoning my beautiful 6-burner professional grade stove in favor of electric cooking in NZ. It's true a natural gas stove will not perform properly on LPG gas and there are conversion costs involved, both for the stove/oven and the hookups -- to say nothing of transport costs for a 600 pound unit of cooking bliss.

My husband has promised we will purchase or import a new stove to hook up to LPG once we are established in a permanent residence in NZ, and I have opted to leave the stove with our home as a selling feature. The costs of transport, conversion and hookup are too high to merit dragging it along. On the other hand, he will endure many interesting meals as I readjust to cooking on an electric -- it's been at least 20 years!

All the best to you in your cooking adventures! I'll be interested to hear how it goes and your experiences in bringing your oven along.

Rae

Tanya · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 7:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Raeven

Sounds like you have similar affection for your oven, mine being a similar 6 burner, 2 oven, separate grill type thing too.

Have a look at the link below - give your hubby an idea of prices for him to save for!! (link is in NZ$)

http://www.lvmartin.co.nz/public/products/Level3Drilldown.aspx?level2code=L2FSR&level1code=L1KIT

Still want to know how long a large gas bottle would last hooked up to an oven - anybody??

Tanya

aurora · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:03 pm Post subject:

After cooking with gas in Australia, I didn't have any problem adjusting to electric cooking here. You just need to change your method somewhat, but you can still get the same results.

But I only cook for myself, maybe it's different when you have to cook for a family.

Raeven · Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 2:38 am Post subject:

Hi, Tanya and aurora,

Tanya, thanks so much for the link -- it's a relief to find that such items are available in NZ. My understanding is that Fisher & Paykel are known for the quality of their washers and driers... I'll be interested to learn their reputation with respect to ovens. The most attractive feature of the oven I'm leaving behind is the high output of the stovetop burners (15,000 btu each), so I'll be looking for a unit that can compete. Re the cost, it's not so bad when you factor in the exchange rate and what we figure it would cost us all told to ship our existing stove. I really appreciate your input!

aurora, it's certainly true that decent meals can be cooked on electric heat and I was mostly teasing about ruining my husband's dinners for months to come. I know I'll adjust -- I'd just rather not. The primary benefit of cooking with gas is the lightning-fast heat adjustment -- quick, turn down that burner before you curdle the hollandaise sauce! I really notice the difference when I'm working on delicate sauces or melting chocolate or some other operation that requires very precise heat control. There is also an argument (and this may provoke fierce debate among the chefs on this forum) that gas heat in the oven generates a moister heat than electric and therefore a superior finished baked product. My own experience is that gas heat in the oven is a very even heat (especially with convection), so baked goods finish perfectly. It's annoying to devote time to preparing a nice batch of cookies, only to have them come out slightly burned on one end of the cookie sheet and slightly raw on the other because the oven heat was not reliable. More annoying still when it's a loaf of bread you spent 20 minutes kneading!

These are trivial matters, I know, when considering all the things to think about is making such a life-changing move. But a significant amount of my time is devoted to torturing my kitchen appliances, so it's on my mind and I was grateful for this thread.

Thanks again to you both for your comments!

Rae

Fern · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:09 am Post subject:

Tanya, I to am in the same predicament as yourself, how sad are we not wanting to part with a cooker! I purchased my range cooker only last year and have contacted the manufacturer to find out if it can be used but told not able to convert to LPG, however stupid me didnt ask about bottled gas, so will have to give them another call.

What I am trying to say though is it may be worth giving the manufacturer of yours a call, just a thought.

Tina

Fern · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:10 am Post subject:

Dont wish to sound thick but is LPG and Calor gas the same thing?

Raeven · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:52 pm Post subject:

Hi, Fern,

Not thick. It's all so confusing!!

I believe that LPG stands for Liquid Propane Gas, which here in the States would be called simply propane, and is the stuff that comes in big tanks delivered to your property and periodically replaced. If that's considered "bottled gas" in the UK, I suppose LPG would be the same thing. Mostly guesswork on my part!!

So if this is all clear as mud, glad I could help!!

All the best, Rae

karltsmith · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:31 pm Post subject:

Commercial bottled gases are either Propane or Butane. LPG stands for Liquified Petroleum Gas and CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas.

Raeven · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:39 pm Post subject:

Whoops!!

Thanks for your help -- I should've known you'd know for sure!!

Redly, Rae

karltsmith · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:49 pm Post subject: