Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to gas devices could be an option to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of comfort, convenience and efficiency.

There is a plentiful supply of natural gas in the US meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and natural gas is viewed as the cleanest fossil fuel, thus, it can be seen as the environmentally responsible option.

If you already have gas installed in your home, or are building a new dwelling you might look at the likely benefits of choosing natural gas and natural gas appliances.

Read more about gas appliances below from Evans Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas home appliance uses gas as the main fuel source. Natural gas devices offer a practicable substitute for electrically powered home appliances.

Usually you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas stove will still operate even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a gas tumble dryer still requires electrical components to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Run On Gas.

Gas is about more than cooking.

Keeping You Warm

Keeping yourself warm with gas usually costs less than providing heat using electrical heaters. The difference can be as much as 50% depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Natural gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and offers better reliability.

A Fireplace

Aside from keeping your home warm natural gas is perfect for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fire, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the mess.

Cooling Your Home

Natural gas air conditioning can offer an adept way to keep your home cool, even if there is a power outage.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is better value on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Superior efficiency has the added positive impact of reducing your C02 emissions.

Heating Water

Natural gas water boilers come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more fuel efficient than their electric substitutes. On-demand water heaters also offer a continuous supply.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually underground and protected from the weather ensures you still have the ability to heat your home even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Most people have encountered the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line designed to link the use of gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the etiology the saying is used today because it is accurate. A great many chefs choose gas for the ability to vary the heat, and natural gas hobs also offer a more cost effective way of turning fuel into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You might not immediately think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas dryers have many advantages. They work at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.

Using Gas Outside

Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, gas is often used for lighting and outdoor cooking and even to heat your spa.

delight your guests before they even reach the front door with path lights, keep them toasty on cool evenings and get food cooked outside, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like indoor water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And gas fire pits provide atmosphere as well as providing heat for luxurious indoor-outdoor living.

Pros of Gas Home Appliances

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

Choosing natural gas will cut your utility bills.
Natural gas home appliances tend to use less energy making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the planet.
Gas is an eco-friendly choice as it is the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can continue to cook even if the power goes out.

Disadvantages of Natural gas Appliances

Gas devices tend to are subject to a higher initial investment. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be more for a natural gas appliance when looking at next to electrical goods.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be costly. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also require a big outlay so this should always be included in any price analysis.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas home appliances are not properly installed or not 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 always simple and the optimal choice for you might not be the best decision for everyone.

Currently gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the price is your main motivation this can be a major factor in the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, switching to natural gas is expensive. Thus, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.

Another reason to choose gas is reliability of supply. If power outages happen often where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during outages can count for a lot.

Finally, in environmental terms, while gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical goods. Installing solar panels or a heat pump could be more cost-effective and more sustainable options in the long run.