Gas Appliances

Considering switching to gas home appliances could be a way to save money while experiencing increases in performance and productivity.

Shale gas abundant in the US meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and natural gas is viewed as the cleanest non-renewable energy source, thus, it can be viewed as the greener alternative.

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

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

What are Natural Gas Appliances?

A natural gas device employs gas as the primary fuel source. Gas goods offer a practicable alternative for electrical devices for heating your living space, providing hot water, heating your food and even air conditioning and clothes drying.

In many instances natural gas home appliances still require an electrical outlet but use gas as the primary fuel. 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 gas clothes dryer still requires electrical components to make the drum turn.

Different Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas has any number of purposes in your house.

Keeping You Warm

Providing heat with natural gas typically costs less than heating using electrical appliances. Your expenditure could be cut in half depending on your energy tariffs and efficiency.

Gas heats the air in less time and is more reliable.

Fireplaces

Apart from heating natural gas is great for having a fire in your home. With a natural gas fire, you still get that open fire feeling and plenty of warmth without the hassle.

Cooling

Natural gas can offer an effective method to keep cool.

Gas powered air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Better performance has the added upside of lowering your carbon footprint.

Hot Water

There are two styles of gas water heaters, non-tank and tank. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than electric water heaters. Tankless water heaters also give a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big family that appreciates long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually hidden and protected from the elements ensures you can still have heating even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Everyone has heard the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the etiology the saying stuck because it is valid. A great many chefs choose gas for the ease with which you can vary the size of the flame, and gas stoves also offer a much more efficient way of turning fuel into heat.

Dryers

Gas might not be the first place your mind goes when it comes to drying clothes, however, gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. Gas Dryers work at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.

Outdoor Living

Did you know you don’t just have to use gas inside your home? Outside, gas is a popular choice for patio lights and food prep and even to heat your pool.

Wow your guests as soon as they arrive with driveway lights, keep them cosy even when the temperature drops and get dinner ready outside, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as rapidly as an electric heater. And gas fire pits set the mood as well as offering heat for luxurious outside living.

Benefits of Natural Gas Appliances

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

Choosing gas will reduce your utility bills.
Natural gas devices tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an eco-friendly option as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can continue to cook even if there’s no electricity supply.

Disadvantages of Gas Appliances

Natural gas home appliances usually have a higher initial investment. Both the value of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be more for a gas appliance when looking at next to electrical appliances.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The cost 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.
Moving or extending a gas line can also be expensive.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas devices are not properly installed or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

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

Currently gas is almost always less expensive 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, retrospectively installing natural gas is expensive. Thus, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.

Another benefit of gas is reliability of supply. If power outages happen often in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can be a huge benefit.

Lastly, the environmental credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical goods. Installing renewable energy could be less expensive and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.