Gas Appliances

Considering switching to gas devices may be a way to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of comfort and efficiency.

There is a abundant supply of gas in the US meaning that costs are low and stable, and natural gas is considered to be the cleanest fossil fuel, therefore, it can be viewed as the most eco-friendly option.

If you already have a natural gas line in your home, or are buying a new house you may wish to think about the likely benefits of natural gas devices and gas home appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances below from Speedy Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Appliances?

A natural gas appliance runs on natural gas as the dominant fuel source. Natural gas home appliances afford a practicable alternative to electrically powered home appliances for heating your living space, providing hot water, cooking your food and even air conditioning and drying your clothes.

In the majority of cases natural gas devices still require an electricity supply but use natural gas as the major fuel. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a natural gas water heater will still work even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a natural gas dryer still relies upon electrical components.

A List of Appliances That use Gas.

Gas could have a great many purposes in your house.

Proving Heat

Providing heat with gas is generally less expensive than providing heat with electricity. The reduction can be as much as 50% depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Natural gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and offers better reliability.This is very handy if you for winter power outages

An Indoor Fire

As well as heating gas is ideal for having a fire in your home. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and plenty of warmth without the mess.

Cooling

Natural gas can be an efficient method to keep your home cool.

Natural gas powered air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is better value to run and maintain meaning lower prices in the long term. Superior effectiveness also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Hot Water

Natural gas water boilers come in two forms, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than electric water boilers. On-demand heaters also offer a continuous supply even with high demand. Which is useful if you have a big family that enjoys long showers.

The fact that gas lines are generally hidden and sheltered from the elements means you will still have the ability to shower even if there’s a power outage.

Preparing Food

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

Regardless of the etiology the saying is still around because it is valid. The majority of chefs choose natural gas for the ability to vary the heat, and natural gas ranges provide a more cost effective way of turning fuel into heat.

Tumble Dryers

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

Using Natural Gas Outside

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? Outside, natural gas is often used for lighting and food prep and even to heat your pool.

Impress your guests before they even reach the front door with outdoor lights, keep them toasty on cool evenings and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the worry of remembering 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 heater. And gas fire pits offer ambiance as well as providing warmth for luxurious outside entertaining.

Advantages of Gas Home Appliances

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

Choosing gas will save you money on your energy bills.
Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Gas lines are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can still cook even if the power goes out.

Negatives of Natural gas Appliances

Natural gas home appliances usually have a higher initial cost. Both the price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be more for a natural gas appliance when looking at next to electrical goods.
Having a natural gas line installed can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home, so it is worth talking to your energy company before making a final decision.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should be added to any cost benefit analysis.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas appliances 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 Gas Appliance Right for You?

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

If your main driver is cost gas is at the moment the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing gas comes at a cost. With this in mind, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another benefit of natural gas is reliability of supply. If power failures are common where you live then having appliances that continue to work during outages can be a big plus.

Finally, in environmental terms, while gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical goods. Installing renewable energy may turn out to be a better investment and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.