Gas Appliances

Considering switching to gas home appliances may be a way to save money while seeing increases in ease, efficiency and performance.

There is a abundant supply of natural gas in the United States meaning that costs are low and stable, and shale gas is relatively the least polluting fossil fuel, thus, it can be seen as the greener alternative.

If you already have a gas line in your home, or are building a new home you may wish to look at the probable advantages of switching to natural gas and natural gas household appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances here from Cardinal Appliance Repair:

What is a Natural Gas Appliance?

A gas device uses natural gas as the main power source. Gas appliances offer a viable substitute to electrical goods for heating your house, heating water, cooking your food and even cooling your home and tumble drying.

In the majority of instances natural gas devices nevertheless require an electrical outlet but use gas as the main source of power. The quantity electric used depends on how the appliance works. E.g, a gas boiler will provide hot water even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a gas tumble dryer still relies upon electricity to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Operate Using Natural Gas.

Natural gas is about more than heating.

Proving Heat

Keeping yourself warm with gas is usually less expensive than heating using electrical appliances. Your expenditure could be cut in half subject to your fuel tariffs and efficiency.

Natural gas heats the air more quickly and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

A Fireplace

As well as general heating natural gas is great for a log fire with real flames.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fireplace, you still get real flames and a focal point without the fuss.

Cooling Your Home

Gas air conditioners can be an adept means to cool your home, even if there is a power failure.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is better value on an ongoing basis meaning cost savings in the long term. Superior performance also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Water Heaters

Natural gas water heaters come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are faster and more fuel efficient than their electric counterparts. On-demand water heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that gas lines are almost always underground and protected from the weather ensures you still have hot water even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking

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

Clever marketing or not the phrase has stuck around because it is accurate. Most chefs and amature cooks choose gas for the ability to vary the temperature, and natural gas stoves are also a much more efficient way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Natural gas might not be the first place your mind goes when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas tumble dryers have many advantages. They heat the air at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in a shorter time.

Outdoor Living

Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, natural gas is often used for patio lights and cooking and can even be used to heat your pool.

Impress friends before they even get out of the car with path lighting, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get the food cooking outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as fast as an electric heater. And gas fire pits provide ambiance as well as offering warmth for perfect outside entertaining.

Advantages of Gas Appliances

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

Choosing gas will cut your energy bills.
Gas home appliances tend to be more efficient making them a better choice for your wallet and for the environment.
Natural gas is an eco-friendly option as it is considered the cleanest of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Gas lines are generally run underground making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can continue to cook even if you get a power outage.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Natural Gas Appliances

Natural gas appliances usually have a higher initial investment. Both the value of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be higher.
Having a natural gas line installed 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, so it is worth talking to your energy company before making a final decision.
Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also require a big outlay so this should be added to any cost comparisons.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue 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 The Right Choice for You?

Making the decision between natural gas and electricity is not always simple and the optimal choice for you may not be the right decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is at the moment the least expensive fuel. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have 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 reason to choose gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power cuts are common where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power cuts can be a huge benefit.

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