Thinking about switching to gas home appliances might be a way to lower expenditures at the same time as experiencing increases in comfort, convenience and efficiency.
There is a abundant supply of natural gas in the United States meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and natural gas is relatively the cleanest fossil fuel, thus, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging choice.
If you already have natural gas installed at home, or are buying a new house you should think about the possible gains of natural gas devices and natural gas home appliances. Learn more about gas appliances below from Elite Bloomington Appliance Repair:
What are Gas Home Appliances?
A gas home appliance employs natural gas as the primary power source. Natural gas goods present a great alternative to electrical home appliances for heating your home, providing hot water, heating your food and even air conditioning and laundry.
Usually you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a natural gas stove will still operate even when there is a power outage, whereas a gas clothes dryer still needs electrical components to make the drum turn.
A List of Appliances That use Gas.
Natural gas is about more than cooking.
Proving Heat
Keeping yourself warm with natural gas is typically less expensive than heating using electricity. Your costs could be cut in half subject to your energy costs and efficiency.
Gas heats the air more quickly and is more reliable.This is a huge benefit if you if you get power cuts
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 a focal point without the hassle.
Air Conditioning
Gas air conditioning can offer an efficient means to keep your home cool.
Natural gas powered air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning savings in the long term. Higher efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.
Water Heating
Natural gas water boilers come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more efficient than electric water heaters. Tankless heaters also give a continuous supply.
The fact that gas lines are almost always underground and guarded from the elements means you still have hot water even when you don’t have electricity.
Cooking
Everyone has come across the saying “cooking with gas”. A great advertising strategy designed to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.
Clever marketing or not the saying is still around because it is accurate. Most chefs and home cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can control the temperature, and gas stoves provide a more cost effective way of converting energy into heat.
Dryers
Gas might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to laundry, however, gas tumble dryers have many advantages. They work at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in a shorter time.
Outdoor Entertaining
Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, natural gas is a popular choice for patio lights and food prep and even to heat your pool.
delight guests as soon as they arrive with driveway lights, keep them warm even when the temperature falls and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your propane bottles.
Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as fast as an electric heater. And gas outdoor heaters provide atmosphere as well as giving heat for the best indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Pros of Natural Gas Appliances
As in all things there are pros and cons to natural gas appliances. First up the pros of choosing Natural Gas.
- Choosing natural gas will reduce your power bills.
- Natural gas devices tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
- Natural gas is an environmentally responsible option as it is the cleanest of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
- Gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can continue to heat water even if there’s no electricity supply.
Disadvantages of Gas Home Appliances
- Gas devices tend to are subject to a higher initial investment. Both the value of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when looking at next to electrical appliances.
- Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be costly. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your provider before making any decisions.
- Moving or extending a natural gas line can also be expensive so this should be added to any price analysis.
- Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use natural gas in your home.
Is a Gas Appliance The Right Choice for You?
Making the choice between gas and electricity is not always simple and the optimal choice for you might not be the best choice for everyone.
If your main driver is cost gas is currently the least expensive option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, converting to natural gas comes at a cost. Therefore, 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 benefit of gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts happen often in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a big plus.
Finally, the sustainability credentials of gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical goods. Installing solar panels or a heat pump could be a better investment and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.