Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to gas home appliances might be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as experiencing increases in comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Natural gas abundant in the United States meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and shale gas is considered the cleanest non-renewable energy source, therefore, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging option.

If you already have gas installed in your home, or are buying a new house you should look at the probable gains of switching to gas and natural gas household appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances here from King Appliance Repair:

What is a Natural Gas Home Appliance?

A gas device runs on natural gas as the main power source. These appliances present a viable alternative for electrically powered home appliances for heating your living space, providing hot water, heating your food and even cooling your home and laundry.

In the majority of situations natural gas devices still require an electricity supply but use natural gas as the primary source of power. The quantity electric needed depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a natural gas water heater will provide hot water even if the power goes out, whereas a gas tumble dryer still needs electrical components to make the drum turn.

Types of Natural Gas Appliances

Gas is not just for heating.

Keeping You Warm

Heating your home with gas is usually less expensive than heating using electricity. Your costs could be cut in half subject to your energy costs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and is more reliable.

A Fireplace

Aside from heating natural gas is perfect for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fire, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the fuss.

Air Conditioning

Gas can offer an efficient way to cool your home.

Gas powered air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is cheaper 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 heaters come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than electric water heaters. Tankless water heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand. Which is useful if you have a big household that indulges in long showers.

The fact that gas lines are almost always hidden and protected from the elements ensures you will still have the ability to shower even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

We’ve all heard the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line designed to link the use of natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the etiology the phrase is used today because it is accurate. The majority of chefs and home cooks choose natural gas for the ability to control the size of the flame, and natural gas stoves are also a less wasteful way of turning energy into heat.

Tumble Dryers

You might not instantly think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas dryers have many advantages. They work at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Using Gas Outside

Did you know you don’t just have to use gas inside your home? Outside the home, gas is a great power source for lighting and cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

Wow guests before they even reach the front door with outdoor lights, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get food cooked outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as rapidly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas fire pits set the mood as well as providing heat for luxurious outside living.

Pros of Gas Home Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to natural gas appliances. Here are some of the advantages.

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual energy costs.
Gas devices tend to be more efficient making them better for your wallet and for the planet.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is viewed as the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can still cool your home even if there’s no electricity supply.

Negatives of Natural Gas Appliances

Gas appliances generally are subject to a higher initial investment. Both the price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be more.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be costly. 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 cost a considerable amount so this should be included in any cost benefit analysis.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas devices are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?

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

If your main driver is cost natural gas is at the moment the cheaper 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. Thus, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.

Another key advantage of natural gas is stability of supply. If power failures are common where you live then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can count for a lot.

Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical home appliances. Installing renewable energy may turn out to be less expensive and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.