Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to gas home appliances may be a way to reduce your bills at the same time as seeing higher levels of comfort, convenience and efficiency.

There is a plentiful supply of natural gas in the United States meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and gas is considered to be the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging choice.

If you already have a gas line in your home, or are building a new house you might think about the possible advantages of natural gas devices and gas appliances.

Read more about gas appliances here from A&L Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Appliances?

A gas device makes use of natural gas as the primary power source. These appliances are a viable substitute for electrical goods.

In general you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The quantity electric used depends on how the appliance works. For example, a gas water heater will provide hot water even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a natural gas clothes dryer still requires electricity.

A List of Home Appliances That Run On Gas

Gas could have any number of purposes in your home.

Heating

Providing heat with gas typically costs less than heating using electrical heaters. The reduction can be as high as 50% depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Natural gas heats the air faster and is more reliable. This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.

Fireplaces

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

Cooling Your Home

Natural gas can be an effective method to keep cool.

Gas powered air conditioning could be a higher price to install but is better value to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Superior effectiveness also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Hot Water

Gas water heaters come in two forms, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more fuel efficient than their electric alternatives. Tankless heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that gas lines are generally underground and guarded from the weather ensures you will still have heating even when you don’t have electricity.

Preparing Food

Most people have encountered the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the phrase is still around because it is true. Most chefs choose gas for the ease with which you can vary the temperature, and natural gas stoves are also a more cost effective way of turning fuel into heat.

Tumble Dryers

You may not immediately think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers operate a few degrees hotter thus clothes dry in a shorter time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Entertaining

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? Outside, natural gas is a popular choice for lighting and food prep and even to heat your pool.

delight friends as soon as they arrive with driveway lighting, keep them warm on cool evenings and get the food cooking outside, when you like, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And natural gas outdoor heaters give ambiance as well as giving heat for luxurious outside entertaining.

Benefits of Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best investigate the pros and the cons. Here are some of the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.

Natural gas is generally less expensive than electricity thus lowering your annual energy costs.
Natural gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an ecologically sound option as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can still heat water even if the power goes out.

Disadvantages of Gas Home Appliances

Gas home appliances tend to require a higher initial cost. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be higher.
Having a gas line installed can be expensive. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Gas?

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

If your main driver is cost natural gas is at the moment the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, retrospectively installing natural gas comes at a cost. Thus, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good place to start.

Another key advantage of gas is stability of supply. If power failures happen often in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power failures can be a big plus.

Lastly, 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. Choosing solar panels or a heat pump could be more cost-effective and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.