Gas Appliances

Looking at natural gas appliances may be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as experiencing higher levels of comfort and efficiency.

Shale gas is in plentiful supply in the United States meaning that costs are low and stable, and natural gas is considered the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be viewed as the environmentally responsible choice.

If you already have natural gas installed at home, or are buying a new dwelling you might think about the potential advantages of switching to gas and gas appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances here from Freedom Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Appliances?

A natural gas home appliance makes use of natural gas as the main power source. Gas home appliances afford a great alternative to electrical appliances for heating your living space, heating water, heating food and even air conditioning and tumble drying.

Generally you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electric used depends on how the appliance works. E.g, a natural gas heater will still work even during a power cut, whereas a natural gas clothes dryer still relies upon electrical components to make the drum turn.

Types of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Gas isn’t just for cooking.

Heating

Providing heat with natural gas typically costs less than keeping warm using electricity. Your outgoings could halve subject to your energy prices and efficiency.

Gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and offers better reliability.

Fireplaces

As well as general heating natural gas is perfect for a fireplace. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and a warm home without the mess.

Air Conditioning

Natural gas air conditioners can offer an efficient method to keep your home cool, even if there is a power outage.

Natural gas air conditioning requires a bigger initial investment but is better value to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Better performance has the added upside of cutting your C02 emissions.

Hot Water

Gas water boilers come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are quicker and more productive than electric water heaters. On-demand heaters also offer a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that natural gas lines are generally hidden and sheltered from the weather means you can still have the ability to wash even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Everyone has come across the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link the use of gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the phrase is still around because it is true. A great many chefs choose gas for the fact that they can vary the heat, and gas stoves provide a less wasteful way of turning energy into heat.

Tumble Dryers

You might not immediately think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, gas clothes dryers are a great choice. Gas Dryers work at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time.

Using Gas Outside

You have to restrict your gas use to indoor appliances. Outside the home, gas is often used for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your pool.

delight friends as soon as they arrive with path lights, keep them cosy even when the temperature drops and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, and without the having to go to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as quickly as an electric heater. And natural gas patio heaters set the mood as well as giving heat for the best outside entertaining.

Pros of Natural Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best weight up the pros and the cons. Here are some of the advantages.

Natural gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual energy bills.
Natural gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an ecologically sound option as it is considered the cleanest of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Natural 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 the power goes out.At worst you might need to find a match.

Disadvantages of Gas Appliances

Gas appliances tend to have a higher initial investment. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be greater for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The amount will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas devices are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use natural gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance Right for You?

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

Currently natural gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the cost is your main motivation this can be a big part of the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing 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 key advantage of natural gas is stability of supply. If power outages are common where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during outages can be a big plus.

Lastly, the eco-friendly credentials of natural gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Opting for renewable energy could be less expensive and more eco-friendly options in the long run.