Gas Appliances

Considering switching to natural gas appliances may be a good option to reduce your bills while seeing gains in comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Shale gas abundant in the United States resulting in low, stable prices, and shale gas is relatively the cleanest non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible alternative.

If you already have a natural gas line in your house, or are completing a new dwelling you should consider the probable advantages of choosing natural gas and gas home appliances.

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

What is a Gas Home Appliance?

A natural gas home appliance runs on gas as the main power source. These home appliances afford a great alternative for electrically powered devices.

In many situations natural gas appliances nevertheless require an electrical outlet but use gas as the main source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a natural gas heater will still operate even during a power cut, whereas a gas dryer still needs electricity to make the drum turn.

Different Natural Gas Appliances

Natural gas could have a great many purposes in your house.

Heating

Providing heat with natural gas is typically less expensive than keeping warm using electricity. The difference can be up to 50% subject to your fuel prices and efficiency.

Gas heats the air faster and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

As well as keeping your home warm gas is great for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get that open fire feeling and a focal point without the fuss.

Cooling

Natural gas air conditioners can be an adept method to keep cool.

Natural gas air conditioning are often a higher price to begin with but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Better efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

Gas water heaters come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are faster and more efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless water heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand.

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

Cooking

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

Clever marketing or not the phrase is still around because it is accurate. A great many chefs 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 turning energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You might not instantly think of using natural gas in your laundry room, however, gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. They operate at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in less time.

Outdoor Living

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? Outside, gas is a great power source for patio lights and cooking and even to heat your pool.

Impress your guests before they even get out of the car with path lights, keep them cosy even when the temperature drops and get food cooked outside, when you like, 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 rapidly as an electric heater. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as providing comfort for the best outside entertaining.

Benefits 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 gas will save you money on your energy bills.
Gas home appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible selection as it is the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can still heat water even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Gas Appliances

Gas appliances usually require a higher initial investment. Both the value of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be greater.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
Having a gas line moved or extended can also require a big outlay.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas devices are not properly installed or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential 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 best choice for you might not be the optimal decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is currently the least expensive fuel. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing 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 reason to choose gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in 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 be a huge benefit.

Lastly, in environmental terms, while natural gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical appliances. Installing solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be a better investment and more eco-friendly options in the long run.