Gas Appliances

Looking at gas appliances might be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as seeing higher levels of ease, efficiency and performance.

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

If you already have a gas line in your home, or are completing a new home you may wish to look at the potential advantages of natural gas devices and natural gas appliances.

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

What is a Natural Gas Home Appliance?

A gas home appliance makes use of natural gas as the main fuel source. These home appliances afford a workable alternative for electrical appliances for heating your house, providing hot water, cooking food and even air conditioning and drying your clothes.

In the majority of cases gas appliances nonetheless will need an electricity supply but use natural gas as the primary source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a gas range will still work even if the power goes out, whereas a gas clothes dryer still relies upon electricity.

A List of Home Appliances That Operate Using Natural Gas

Gas can be used for more than heating.

Keeping You Warm

Heating your home with natural gas generally costs less than heating using electricity. Savings can be up to 50% subject to your fuel tariffs and efficiency.

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

A Fireplace

As well as heating 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 natural gas fire, you still get that open fire feeling and a focal point without the fuss.

Keeping Cool

Gas air conditioners can offer an adept means to keep your home cool, even if there is a power outage.

Gas air conditioning requires a bigger initial investment but is better value on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. 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 quicker and more fuel efficient than their electric counterparts. On-demand water heaters also provide a continuous supply. Invaluable if you have a big household that indulges in long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are generally underground and protected from the weather ensures you will still have heating even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking

We’ve all heard the saying “cooking with gas”. A great advertising line created to link natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the saying is used today because it is valid. Most chefs choose natural gas for the ease with which you can control the heat, and gas hobs are also a more cost effective way of turning fuel into heat.

Dryers

You may not immediately think of using natural gas in your laundry room, however, natural gas clothes dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers heat the air a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. When it comes to outdoor living, gas is a popular choice for lighting and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

delight guests before they even reach the front door with path lighting, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get a meal prepared outside, whenever you are ready, 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 rapidly as an electric equivalent. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as providing comfort for perfect outside living.

Pros of Natural Gas Appliances

As with anything there are pros and cons to natural gas appliances. Here are some of the advantages.

Natural gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual utility bills.
Natural gas appliances tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an ecologically sound selection as it is viewed as the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can continue to cook even if there’s no electricity supply.

Negatives of Natural gas Home Appliances

Gas devices tend to have a higher initial investment. Both the price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be higher.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be costly. The cost 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.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas home appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance Right for You?

Making the choice between gas and electricity is not always simple and the best choice for you probably won’t be the right decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is currently the least expensive fuel. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing gas is expensive. With this in mind, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good first step.

Another key advantage of natural gas is stability of supply. If power cuts are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can count for a lot.

Lastly, the eco-friendly credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical appliances. Choosing solar panels or a heat pump could be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.