Gas Appliances

Looking at natural gas appliances could be a way to reduce your bills while experiencing increases in ease, efficiency and performance.

Natural gas abundant in the US resulting in low, stable equivalent prices, and natural gas is considered the least polluting fossil fuel, therefore, it can be viewed as the least environmentally damaging choice.

If you already have gas installed at home, or are building a new dwelling you may wish to consider the probable gains of switching to natural gas and gas home appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances here from Dunn Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Home Appliances?

A gas home appliance uses gas as the main power source. Gas home appliances afford a workable alternative to electrically powered appliances.

In the majority of cases gas home appliances nevertheless require an electrical outlet but use gas as the main source of power. The amount of electric needed depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a gas furnace will still work even if the power goes out, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still relies upon electricity.

A List of Appliances That Run On Natural Gas.

Gas is about more than cooking.

Heating

Heating your home with gas usually costs less than heating your home using electrical appliances. The reduction can be as much as 50% subject to your energy tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas heats the air more efficiently and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

Aside from keeping your home warm natural gas is ideal 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 that open fire feeling and plenty of warmth without the fuss.

Keeping Cool

Natural gas air conditioning can be an adept means to cool your home, even if there is a power cut.

Gas air conditioning could be more expensive to begin with but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning cost savings in the long term. Superior efficiency has the added benefit of lowering your carbon footprint.

Water Heaters

Natural gas water boilers come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are quicker and more efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless water heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand. Which is useful if you have a big family that appreciates long showers.

The fact that gas lines are generally dug into the ground and protected from the weather means you will still have the ability to shower even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

Most people have heard the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the saying is still around because it is true. A great many chefs and amature cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the temperature, and natural gas stoves provide a more cost effective way of turning energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You might not immediately think of using gas in your laundry room, however, natural gas tumble dryers are a great choice. They operate at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in less time.

Outdoor Living

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

delight friends before they even get out of the car with outdoor lighting, keep them toasty even when the temperature falls and get food cooked outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as rapidly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as offering warmth for luxurious indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Advantages of Natural Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to weight up the pros and the cons. First up the pros.

Gas is generally less expensive than electricity saving you money on your annual utility costs.
Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the planet.
Gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is considered the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption 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 Gas Home Appliances

Gas home appliances usually are subject to a higher initial cost. Both the price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be greater for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical appliances.
Having a natural gas line installed 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 provider before making any decisions.
Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount so this should always be added to any cost benefit analysis.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas home appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

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

Currently gas is almost always less expensive than electricity, so if the price is your main driver 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 gas, switching to gas is expensive. Therefore, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good first step.

Another benefit of natural gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power failures are common where you live then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a huge benefit.

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 eco-friendly options in the long run.