Gas Appliances

Considering gas devices could be a good option to save money while experiencing higher levels of ease, efficiency and performance.

Gas abundant in the United States resulting in low, stable costs, and gas is viewed as the cleanest fossil fuel, therefore, it can be regarded as the greener choice.

If you already have a natural gas line in your home, or are completing a new dwelling you should look at the likely benefits of choosing gas and natural gas household appliances.

Read more about gas appliances here from Gray Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Appliances?

A gas device employs natural gas as the main fuel source. Natural gas goods present a workable substitute for electrical home appliances for heating your home, providing hot water, cooking your food and even air conditioning and clothes drying.

Generally you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed depends on how the appliance works. E.g, a gas water heater will work even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a gas dryer still relies upon electricity to make the drum turn.

A List of Devices That Operate Using Gas.

Gas could have many purposes in your home.

Heating

Providing heat with natural gas is usually less expensive than providing heat with electricity. Your outgoings could halve depending on your energy tariffs and efficiency.

Gas provides higher air temperatures and offers better reliability.

A Fireplace

Aside from general heating natural gas is great for having a fire in your home. With a gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and a focal point without the hassle.

Cooling Your Home

Gas can be an adept method to cool your home.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning can be a higher price initially but is cheaper to run and maintain meaning savings in the long term. Higher performance has the added positive impact of reducing your C02 emissions.

Heating Water

There are two types of natural gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than their electric counterparts. On-demand water heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that natural gas lines are almost always hidden and sheltered from the elements ensures you still have heating even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking Food

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

Clever marketing or not the saying has stuck around because it is valid. A great many chefs choose gas for the fact that they can control the temperature, and gas stoves also offer a more cost effective way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Gas might not be the first place your mind goes when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas tumble dryers are a great choice. Gas Dryers operate a few degrees hotter thus clothes dry in a shorter time.

Outdoor Living

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? Outside the home, natural gas is often used for patio lights and cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

Impress guests before they even reach the front door with outdoor lights, keep them toasty even when the temperature falls and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as quickly as an electric heater. And gas patio heaters provide atmosphere as well as providing heat for the best outside entertaining.

Advantages of Gas Home Appliances

As with anything there are pros and cons to gas appliances. First up the advantages.

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity thus lowering your annual energy costs.
Gas home appliances tend to be more efficient making them better for your wallet and for the environment.
Gas is an ecologically sound option as it is considered the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can continue to cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Disadvantages of Gas Home Appliances

Gas home appliances tend to require a higher initial outlay. Both the price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be more.
Installing a new gas line can be expensive. The price will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home, so it is worth talking to your energy company before deciding.
Having a gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount so this should always be included in any price analysis.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas devices are not properly installed or regularly maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use natural gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance Right for You?

Making the choice between gas and electricity is not straightforward and the right choice for you might not be the right decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost natural gas is currently the lower priced fuel. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, switching to gas is expensive. Therefore, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another reason to choose gas is stability of supply. If power failures are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can be a big plus.

Lastly, the environmental credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical devices. Opting for solar panels or a heat pump could be a better investment and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.