Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to gas home appliances could be a good option to lower expenditures at the same time as seeing increases in comfort, convenience and efficiency.

There is a high supply of natural gas in the United States resulting in low, stable prices, and gas is looked upon as the cleanest non-renewable energy source, therefore, it can be viewed as the least environmentally damaging alternative.

If you already have gas installed at home, or are building a new dwelling you should think about the possible gains of using more gas and natural gas household appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances below from Calhoun Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Home Appliance?

A natural gas device makes use of natural gas as the main power source. Natural gas devices are a practicable substitute for electrical home appliances.

In the majority of cases gas devices still will need an electricity supply but use gas as the main source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas water heater will still work even if the power goes out, whereas a gas dryer still needs electricity to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Run On Gas

Natural gas is not just for heating.

Proving Heat

Providing heat with natural gas is usually less expensive than keeping warm with electricity. The reduction can be as much as 50% subject to your fuel costs and relative efficiency gains.

Gas heats the air more efficiently and offers better reliability.This is very handy if you experience regular power outages in the winter

An Indoor Fire

As well as heating natural gas is great for a fireplace. With a gas fireplace, you still get real flames and a focal point without the hassle.

Cooling

Gas air conditioners can be an efficient means to keep cool, even if there is a power outage.

Gas fueled air conditioning are often more costly to begin with but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning cost savings in the long term. Higher efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

Natural gas water boilers come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are faster and more productive than their electric counterparts. Tankless water heaters also give a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big household that enjoys long showers.

The fact that gas lines are usually dug into the ground and guarded from the weather ensures you still have heating even if you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Most people have encountered the saying “cooking with gas”. A great commercial strategy designed to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the phrase stuck because it is accurate. Most chefs and amateur cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the temperature, and gas stoves are also a more cost effective way of turning fuel into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You may not instantly think of using gas in your laundry room, however, natural gas clothes dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers heat the air at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time.

Using Natural Gas Outside

You have to restrict your gas use to indoor appliances. Outside the home, natural gas is a great power source for patio lights and food prep and can even be used to heat your spa.

delight friends before they even get out of the car with path lights, keep them warm even when the temperature drops and get a meal prepared outside, 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 heat the water twice as fast as an electric heater. And natural gas patio heaters provide ambiance as well as giving heat for luxurious outside entertaining.

Pros of Gas Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best look at the pros and the cons. First up the pros of choosing Natural Gas.

Choosing gas will reduce your utility bills.
Natural gas appliances tend to use less energy making them a better choice for your wallet and for the planet.
Gas is an ecologically sound choice as it is considered the least polluting of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are generally run underground making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can still cool your home even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Disadvantages of Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas devices generally require a higher initial outlay. Both the price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be more.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The price will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also be expensive.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use natural gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?

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

If your main driver is cost natural gas is currently the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing natural gas is expensive. Therefore, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another key advantage of gas is reliability of supply. If power outages are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a big plus.

Finally, in environmental terms, while gas appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical appliances. Choosing renewable energy could be more cost-effective and more sustainable options in the long run.