Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to gas home appliances could be an option to reduce your bills while seeing gains in performance and productivity.

There is a abundant supply of shale gas in the United States meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and natural gas is considered the least polluting non-renewable energy source, therefore, it can be viewed as the environmentally responsible alternative.

If you already have gas installed at home, or are completing a new home you may wish to think about the potential advantages of choosing natural gas and gas household appliances. Read more about gas appliances here from Warwick Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas appliance makes use of gas as the main power source. These appliances present a viable alternative to electrically powered goods.

In many cases gas appliances nevertheless will need an electrical outlet but use natural gas as the primary fuel. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas water heater will produce hot water even when there is a power outage, whereas a gas dryer still requires electrical components.

A List of Home Appliances That Operate Using Gas

Natural gas can be used for more than heating.

Heating

Heating your home with natural gas is generally less expensive than providing heat with electricity. Savings can be as high as 50% subject to your fuel tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

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

An Indoor Fire

Aside from general heating gas is perfect for a fireplace. With a gas fireplace, you still get that open fire feeling and plenty of warmth without the fuss.

Cooling Your Home

Natural gas air conditioning can offer an efficient method to keep cool, even if there is a power outage.

Gas powered air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning savings in the long term. Superior efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Water Heaters

Gas water heaters come in two forms, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than electric water heaters. On-demand heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand. Invaluable if you have a big household that appreciates long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are generally dug into the ground and sheltered from the elements means you will still have heating even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking

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

Regardless of the origin the saying stuck because it is accurate. The majority of chefs and home cooks choose gas for the fact that they can control the heat, and natural gas ranges provide a less wasteful way of turning energy into heat.

Dryers

You may not immediately think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas clothes dryers can be an excellent choice. They operate at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

You have to restrict your natural gas use to indoor appliances. When it comes to outdoor living, natural gas is a great power source for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your pool.

delight guests before they even get out of the car with driveway lighting, keep them toasty 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 water heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as rapidly as an electric heater. And gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as providing comfort for perfect indoor-outdoor living.

Pros of Natural Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to look at the pros and the cons. Here are some of the pros.

Natural gas is generally cheaper than electricity thus lowering your annual power costs.
Natural gas home appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an eco-friendly option as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can still cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Disadvantages of Natural Gas Appliances

Gas devices usually are subject to a higher initial investment. Both the cost of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors.
Moving or extending a gas line can also be expensive so this should be included in any cost comparisons.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas home appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Gas?

Making the decision between gas and electricity is not straightforward and the best choice for you may not be the optimal decision for everyone.

Currently natural gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the cost 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 comes at a cost. Thus, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.

Another key advantage of natural gas is stability of supply. If power failures are common in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during outages can count for a lot.

Lastly, the sustainability credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical devices. Opting for solar panels or a heat pump could be less expensive and more eco-friendly options in the long run.