Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to natural gas appliances may be a way to save money at the same time as seeing higher levels of performance and productivity.

Shale gas abundant in the United States meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and gas is viewed as the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be viewed as the most eco-friendly choice.

If you already have a gas line at home, or are building a new dwelling you may wish to look at the likely advantages of gas devices and natural gas household appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances below from Hall Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Appliance?

A gas appliance runs on natural gas as the primary fuel source. Natural gas home appliances offer a great alternative for electrically powered appliances.

Generally you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a natural gas range will still operate even during a power cut, whereas a natural gas dryer still requires electrical components to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Use Natural Gas.

Natural gas can have many purposes in your home.

Proving Heat

Heating your home with gas usually costs less than providing heat with electricity. Your expenditure could be cut in half depending on your fuel costs and efficiency.

Natural gas heats the air in less time and offers better reliability.

A Fireplace

Apart from heating gas is perfect for a fireplace. With a natural gas fire, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the mess.

Cooling

Gas can offer an effective means to cool your home, even if there is a power outage.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is better value to run and maintain meaning lower prices in the long term. Superior efficiency has the added benefit of reducing your C02 emissions.

Hot Water

There are two types of gas water heaters, on demand and tank. Gas heaters are faster and more productive than electric water boilers. On-demand heaters also give a continuous supply. Invaluable if you have a big household that indulges in long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are almost always underground and protected from the elements ensures you can still have the ability to heat your home even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking Food

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

Clever marketing or not the saying is still around because it is valid. Most chefs and home cooks choose gas for the fact that they can control the heat, and natural gas stoves also offer a less wasteful way of turning fuel into heat.

Tumble Dryers

Natural gas might not be the immediate thing you think of when it comes to drying clothes, however, gas dryers are a great choice. They heat the air at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in a shorter time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Entertaining

Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. When it comes to outdoor living, natural gas is a great power source for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

Impress friends before they even get out of the car with driveway lights, keep them toasty even when the temperature falls and get the food cooking outside, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas fire pits set the mood as well as offering heat for perfect indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Pros of Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best look at the pros and the cons. First up the benefits of choosing Natural Gas.

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual utility costs.
Natural gas home appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible option as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can continue to cool your home even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Negatives of Gas Appliances

Natural gas appliances usually are subject to a higher initial cost. Both the value of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be greater.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home, so it is worth talking to your provider before deciding.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also be expensive.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?

Making the change between gas and electricity is not easy and the best choice for you may not be the right choice for everyone.

Currently gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the price 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, switching to gas comes at a cost. Therefore, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good first step.

Another key advantage of natural gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts happen often in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a big plus.

Lastly, 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. Opting for solar panels or a heat pump could be a better investment and more eco-friendly options in the long run.