Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to natural gas appliances could be a good option to reduce your bills while seeing gains in ease, efficiency and performance.

Natural gas abundant in the US resulting in low, stable equivalent prices, and gas is looked upon as the least polluting fossil fuel, therefore, it can be viewed as the greener alternative.

If you already have natural gas installed at home, or are buying a new home you might look at the possible benefits of choosing gas and natural gas household appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances below from Finch Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Home Appliance?

A gas home appliance employs gas as the dominant fuel source. These devices present a great substitute to electrically powered goods.

In the majority of situations natural gas appliances nonetheless require an electrical outlet but use gas as the primary source of power. The amount of electricity used depends on the type of appliance. For example, a gas range can still be used even when there is a power outage, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still needs electrical components to make the drum turn.

Different Gas Appliances

Natural gas has many uses in your house.

Heating

Providing heat with natural gas generally costs less than heating with electricity. Your outgoings could have subject to your energy tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

Gas heats the air more quickly and offers better reliability. This is a huge benefit if you experience regular power outages in the winter

A Fireplace

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

Cooling

Gas air conditioners can offer an adept method to cool your home, even if there is a power cut.

Natural gas powered air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Better efficiency has the added positive impact of reducing your C02 emissions.

Water Heaters

Natural gas water heaters come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more productive than their electric substitutes. On-demand water heaters also offer a continuous supply even with high demand.

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

Cooking

Most people have encountered the saying “cooking with gas”. A great advertising line designed to link the use of natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying is used today because it is valid. A great many chefs and amateur cooks choose gas for the fact that they can control the size of the flame, and natural gas hobs provide a less wasteful way of turning fuel into heat.

Dryers

You may not immediately think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas tumble dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers operate at a higher temperature thus drying clothes 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? When it comes to outdoor entertaining, gas is often used for lighting and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your pool.

Wow your guests as soon as they arrive with driveway lights, keep them warm even when the temperature drops and get dinner ready outside, whenever you are ready, 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 quickly as an electric heater. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as giving comfort for luxurious outside living.

Pros of Natural Gas Appliances

As with anything there are pros and cons to natural gas devices. Here are some of the pros.

Choosing gas will save you money on your power bills.
Gas home appliances tend to use less energy making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the environment.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible option as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can still heat water even if you get a power outage.At worst you might need to find a match.

Negatives of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Gas home appliances usually have a higher initial investment. Both the price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical appliances.
Having a gas line installed if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your supplier before deciding.
Moving or extending a gas line can also require a big outlay so this should be added to any price analysis.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas devices are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?

Making the change between gas and electricity is not always simple and the right choice for you might not be the best choice for everyone.

Currently gas is almost always less expensive than electricity, so if the price is your main driver this can be a big part of the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, converting to gas is expensive. Thus, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another reason to choose natural gas is reliability of supply. If power outages happen often in your area then having appliances that continue to work during outages can count for a lot.

Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical devices. Choosing solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be more cost-effective and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.