Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to natural gas appliances may be an option to save money at the same time as experiencing higher levels of ease, efficiency and performance.

There is a plentiful supply of shale gas in the US resulting in low, stable costs, and natural gas is looked upon as the cleanest non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be viewed as the greener alternative.

If you already have natural gas installed at home, or are buying a new home you may wish to think about the possible benefits of using more gas and natural gas appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances here from United Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas home appliance employs natural gas as the primary fuel source. Natural gas home appliances afford a viable substitute for electrically powered devices.

In the majority of cases natural gas appliances nonetheless will need an electricity supply but use natural gas as the major source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a gas cooker will still operate even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a gas dryer still requires electricity to make the drum turn.

Examples of Natural Gas Appliances

Gas is about more than heating.

Keeping You Warm

Keeping yourself warm with natural gas typically costs less than heating using electricity. The reduction can be up to 50% depending on your energy costs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas heats the air in less time and offers better reliability.

A Fireplace

Apart from heating natural gas is ideal for a fireplace. With a natural gas fire, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the mess.

Cooling Your Home

Natural gas air conditioning can be an adept means to keep cool.

Gas fueled air conditioning may be more expensive to begin with but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Better effectiveness has the added positive impact of reducing your carbon footprint.

Water Heating

There are two types of natural gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are faster and more fuel efficient than their electric substitutes. Tankless water heaters also offer a continuous supply.

The fact that natural gas lines are generally underground and sheltered from the weather ensures you still have hot water even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

We’ve all encountered the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link the use of natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying stuck because it is accurate. The majority of chefs and amature cooks choose gas for the fact that they can control the heat, and natural gas stoves provide a less wasteful way of turning energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Gas might not be the immediate place your mind goes when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas dryers are a great choice. They heat the air at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Using Natural Gas Outside

Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. When it comes to outdoor living, natural gas is often used for lighting and food prep and even to heat your pool.

Wow friends before they even reach the front door with outdoor lights, keep them warm even when the temperature drops and get the food cooking outside, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And gas fire pits give ambiance as well as providing comfort for luxurious outside entertaining.

Advantages of Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best weight up the pros and the cons. First up the pros of choosing Natural Gas.

Choosing gas will cut your power bills.
Natural gas home appliances tend to use less energy making them a better choice for your wallet and for the environment.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible selection as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can still heat water even if there’s no electricity supply.

Negatives of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas appliances generally are subject to a higher initial cost. Both the price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be higher.
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, so it is worth talking to your energy company before deciding.
Moving or extending a gas line can also cost a considerable amount.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas devices are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance The Right Choice for You?

Making the change between natural gas and electricity is not easy and the best choice for you might not be the right decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is for the time being the cheaper option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, retrospectively installing natural gas is expensive. With this in mind, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.

Another key advantage of natural gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power failures happen often in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a huge benefit.

Finally, the eco-friendly credentials of gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical devices. Opting for renewable energy may turn out to be a better investment and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.