Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to gas home appliances might be an option to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of performance and productivity.

There is a high supply of natural gas in the United States resulting in low, stable prices per unit, and shale gas is considered the cleanest fossil fuel, consequently, it can be regarded as the greener option.

If you already have natural gas installed in your home, or are building a new house you should look at the probable gains of choosing natural gas and natural gas home appliances.

Read more about gas appliances here from Sterling Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Home Appliance?

A gas appliance uses gas as the dominant fuel source. These goods afford a great substitute for electrically powered goods.

In many situations natural gas appliances nonetheless require an electricity supply but use natural gas as the major source of power. The quantity electric used depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a natural gas water heater will provide hot water even during a power cut, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still requires electricity.

A List of Home Appliances That Operate Using Gas.

Natural gas isn’t just for heating.

Keeping You Warm

Providing heat with gas generally costs less than heating your home using electricity. The difference can be as much as 50% subject to your fuel costs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas heats the air more efficiently and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

Apart from keeping your home warm 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 natural gas fire, you still get all the ambiance and plenty of warmth without the fuss.

Keeping Cool

Gas air conditioners can be an adept way to cool your home, even if there is a power failure.

Gas fueled air conditioning can be a higher price to install but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Better efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Hot Water

There are two types of natural gas water boilers, non-tank and tank. Gas heaters are faster and more efficient than their electric alternatives. Tankless water heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand. Handy if you have a big family that appreciates long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually hidden and protected from the weather ensures you can still have heating even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking

We’ve all heard the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line created to link gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the phrase has stuck around because it is accurate. Most chefs and amature cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the size of the flame, and natural gas stoves are also a less wasteful way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Gas might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to laundry, however, gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. They operate a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Entertaining

Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. When it comes to outdoor living, gas is a popular choice for patio lights and cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

Wow your guests as soon as they arrive with outdoor lights, keep them cosy even when the temperature drops and get the food cooking outside, whenever you are ready, and without the having to go to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic water heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And natural gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as giving heat for the best indoor-outdoor living.

Pros of Natural Gas Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to gas appliances. First up the benefits.

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual utility bills.
Gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an eco-friendly choice as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Natural gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply more reliable. This means you can still cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Gas Appliances

Natural gas home appliances tend to require a higher initial cost. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
Having a natural gas line installed if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The price will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your energy company before making any decisions.
Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also be expensive.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas devices are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance Right for You?

Making the change between natural gas and electricity is not straightforward and the best choice for you may not be the right choice for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is at the moment the cheaper fuel. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, switching to gas comes at a cost. Thus, 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 reason to choose gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power cuts 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, the sustainability credentials of natural gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical home appliances. Choosing solar panels or a heat pump could be a better investment and more eco-friendly options in the long run.