Gas Appliances

Considering switching to natural gas home appliances might be a good option to reduce your bills at the same time as seeing increases in performance and productivity.

There is a plentiful supply of shale gas in the United States meaning that prices are low and stable, and shale gas is considered to be the cleanest non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible option.

If you already have a natural gas line in your house, or are buying a new home you may wish to look at the potential gains of using more gas and natural gas household appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances here from EZ Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Appliances?

A natural gas home appliance employs gas as the main fuel source. Gas goods present a great substitute to electrical appliances for heating your home, heating water, cooking your food and even cooling your home and tumble drying.

In most situations natural gas appliances nonetheless require an electrical outlet but use natural gas as the major fuel. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas range can still be used even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a gas clothes dryer still needs electrical components.

A List of Devices That Run On Gas.

Natural gas has many purposes in your house.

Heating

Heating your home with natural gas is typically less expensive than keeping warm using electrical appliances. The difference can be as high as 50% subject to your fuel prices and relative efficiency gains.

Gas heats the air more efficiently and is more reliable.

Fireplaces

Apart from keeping your home warm gas is ideal for a fireplace.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fireplace, you still get that open fire feeling and a warm home without the fuss.

Cooling

Natural gas can offer an effective method to keep cool.

Natural gas air conditioning can be more expensive to install but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning lower prices in the long term. Better efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Water Heating

Natural gas water heaters come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more efficient than their electric counterparts. On-demand heaters also offer a continuous supply even with high demand. Handy if you have a big household that enjoys long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually dug into the ground and sheltered from the elements means you still have heating even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking

We’ve all heard the saying “cooking with gas”. A great advertising line designed to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the saying has stuck around because it is valid. A great many chefs and home cooks choose gas for the fact that they can vary the heat, and gas hobs also offer a more cost effective way of turning fuel into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You may not immediately think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas tumble dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers work at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Entertaining

You have to restrict your natural gas use to indoor appliances. Outside, natural gas is a great power source for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

Impress guests before they even reach the front door with outdoor lighting, keep them toasty on cool evenings and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as offering warmth for luxurious outside entertaining.

Benefits of Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to investigate the pros and the cons. First up the pros.

Choosing gas will reduce your energy bills.
Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them a more sustainable choice for your wallet and for the environment.
Gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can still cook even if there’s no electricity supply.

Cons of Gas Appliances

Gas home appliances usually have a higher initial investment. Both the cost of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be higher for a natural gas appliance when comparing to electrical goods.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your energy company before deciding.
Having a gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas home appliances are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance Right for You?

Making the choice between natural gas and electricity is not straightforward and the optimal choice for you probably won’t be the optimal decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is at the moment the cheaper option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, converting to gas comes at a cost. Therefore, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another benefit of gas is stability of supply. If power cuts happen often in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can count for a lot.

Finally, in environmental terms, while gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical home appliances. Installing renewable energy could be a better investment and more sustainable options in the long run.