Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to natural gas appliances could be an option to lower expenditures at the same time as seeing gains in comfort and efficiency.

There is a high supply of shale gas in the United States resulting in low, stable costs, and shale gas is looked upon as the least polluting non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be seen as the most eco-friendly choice.

If you already have a gas line in your home, or are building a new house you might consider the potential benefits of natural gas home appliances and natural gas household appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances below from Powell Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Home Appliances?

A gas appliance makes use of natural gas as the dominant fuel source. Natural gas devices offer a viable alternative for electrically powered devices.

Generally you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The quantity electric needed depends on how the appliance works. For example, a natural gas water heater will provide hot water even when there is a power outage, whereas a gas dryer still requires electricity to make the drum turn.

A List of Home Appliances That Run On Natural Gas

Gas has a great many uses in your house.

Keeping You Warm

Providing heat with natural gas usually costs less than heating your home using electrical heaters. Savings can be as high as 50% depending on your energy costs and efficiency.

Gas heats the air in less time and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.

A Fireplace

Apart from general heating natural gas is great for a log fire with real flames. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get real flames and a warm home without the hassle.

Air Conditioning

Natural gas air conditioning can be an efficient method to keep your home cool.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning are often more expensive to install but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning lower prices in the long term. Better effectiveness has the added positive impact of reducing your C02 emissions.

Hot Water

There are two types of gas water boilers, non-tank and tank. Gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than their electric substitutes. Tankless heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that natural gas lines are generally hidden and protected from the elements ensures you can still have heating even if you don’t have electricity.

Cooking Food

Everyone has come across the saying “cooking with gas”. A great advertising line conceived to link the use of gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying stuck because it is accurate. Most chefs choose gas for the ability to vary the heat, and natural gas hobs provide a less wasteful way of converting fuel into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Natural gas might not be the immediate thing you think of when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas tumble dryers are a great choice. They work a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

You have to restrict your natural gas use to indoor appliances. Outside the home, natural gas is often used for lighting and cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

Impress your guests before they even get out of the car with path lights, keep them warm on cool evenings and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the having to go to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as fast as an electric heater. And natural gas fire pits provide ambiance as well as providing heat for luxurious indoor-outdoor living.

Pros of Gas Home Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to gas home appliances. Here are some of the advantages.

Choosing natural gas will cut your utility bills.
Gas appliances tend to use less energy making them better for your wallet and for the environment.
Gas is an eco-friendly choice as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Gas lines are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can continue to heat your home even if the power goes out.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Gas Home Appliances

Gas appliances tend to require a higher initial cost. Both the value of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be higher.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The amount will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home, so it is worth talking to your supplier before making any decisions.
Moving or extending a gas line can also cost a considerable amount.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas home appliances are not properly installed or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance The Right Choice for You?

Making the change between natural gas and electricity is not always simple and the optimal choice for you may not be the right choice 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 natural gas comes at a cost. With this in mind, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good place to start.

Another benefit of gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts are common where you live then having appliances that continue to work during outages can be a big plus.

Finally, the eco-friendly credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical goods. Opting for renewable energy could be more cost-effective and more eco-friendly options in the long run.