How to Find the Right Gas Stove for Your Home

20 May 2026 Posted By admin

In South Africa, Eskom direct-customer tariffs rose 12.74% in April 2024 and this one of the major reasons why households are shifting to using LPG for cooking. In fact, the national LPG consumption hit 500,000 metric tons in 2024, up from 425,000 in 2023.

Most buyers either want the best appliance in the market or one that fits tidily into their budget. However, neither is the right way to buy your gas stove. Instead, it is important to take a look at your kitchen layout, household size, or cooking habits. Failing to account for these is no doubt going to result in costly reworks and/or CoC delays.

This guide walks through the four decisions that matter most, so you choose once and choose right.

When Choosing Gas Stoves Why Getting the Choice Right Matters

Under SANS 10087-1:2024 (Edition 7), any fixed gas stove installation requires the following:

• A SAQCC-registered installer who is certified to work on domestic gas installations.
• Digital CoC or Certificate of Conformity issued by the installer after completing and inspecting the installation.
• Properly positioned electrical isolation switches (placed min 200mm either side of the appliance).
• A complaint cylinder set-up in terms of correct size, placement distances, and ventilation (which will be verified by the installer before issuing the CoC)

It is important to keep in mind that the type of stove you choose directly affects installation complexity, countertop modification requirements, and therefore cost and timeline. This makes it important to plan your appliance and installation work together.

Four Decisions that Influence Your Choice of Gas Stoves

When choosing your gas stove, these are the four decisions that matter most:

Freestanding Stove versus Built-in Hob

This is ‘the choice’ that affects everything from your kitchen layout to your installation needs. At a glance, here’s how they compare to each other.

Table 1: Comparison between freestanding gas stoves and built-in hobs.

Regardless of the type, the stove you choose must carry an SABS mark confirming that it meets South African standards. Imported appliances without an SABS approval cannot be legally certified, as a result of which the CoC cannot be issued.

How Many Burners Does Your Household Need

Not every household needs a huge four-burner gas oven. Let’s take a look at which fits a household best, based on the household profile:

Table 2: Burner recommendations based on household profile.

Choosing Between LPG and Natural Gas

Most South African residential installations use LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), especially common in Centurion and greater Gauteng. Natural gas via a piped grid is only available in select urban areas in South Africa, particularly Egoli Gas in Johannesburg and Sasol pipeline zones in Gauteng/KZN.

Many appliances are designed to work with both, supporting a jet conversion kit. However, this conversion must be done by a registered installer, not the homeowner. Further, a fresh CoC is needed on completing this conversion.

Pre-Installation Checks that Your Kitchen Must Pass

Before ordering your appliance, a site assessment must be done to check for the following:

• Electrical isolation switch position: This must be a minimum 200mm away on either side of the appliance.
• Cylinder storage location: At max, a single 9 kg cylinder can be stored indoors. The outdoor storage limit is set at two 19 kg cylinders stored in a ventilated cage.
• Orange hose length and routing: These can be max 2m in length and should not pass through walls or partitions. Copper piping must be used for routing lines through walls and partitions.
• Countertop cut-out (built-in hobs): These must match appliance cut-out template dimensions exactly.
• Ventilation in kitchen: Proper permanent ventilation is required for enclosed gas containers, failing which there will be a risk of gas buildup.

What to Look for in Any Gas Stove

Before buying your stove, it is important to check for the following:

• Flame failure device (FFD): This cuts gas automatically if the flame is extinguished and is standard on SABS-compliant appliances.
• Battery-powered ignition: These operate without electricity, which makes it resilient to load shedding.
• Cast iron or enamelled pan supports: This ensures durability and compatibility with heavy cookware.
• Sealed burners: This makes the appliance easier to clean and prevent spills reaching the burner assembly.
• LPG/natural gas conversion jets: This gives you the flexibility to switch if your gas supply type changes.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right gas stove starts with a thorough site assessment, and this can only be conducted by an SAQCC-certified installer. Opt for a certified installer who can assess your kitchen layout, advice on appliance compatibility, handle the full installation, and issue your digital CoC, ensuring your appliance is usable from day one.