Gas Appliances

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

Gas is in plentiful supply in the US meaning that costs are low and stable, and shale gas is looked upon as the cleanest non-renewable energy source, thus, it can be seen as the least environmentally damaging choice.

If you already have a natural gas line in your house, or are buying a new house you should look at the possible gains of using more natural gas and gas household appliances.

Read more about gas appliances below from Ally Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas appliance employs natural gas as the main power source. These devices offer a practicable alternative to electrical appliances for heating your home, heating water, heating food and even air conditioning and tumble drying.

In most cases gas home appliances still require an electrical outlet but use gas as the major source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a natural gas boiler will still work even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still relies upon electrical components to make the drum turn.

Types of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas can be used for more than heating.

Proving Heat

Keeping yourself warm with gas is generally less expensive than heating your home with electricity. The reduction can be up to 50% subject to your fuel tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas provides higher air temperatures and offers better reliability.

An Indoor Fire

Apart from general heating natural gas is great for a fireplace. With a gas fireplace, you still get real flames and a warm home without the mess.

Air Conditioning

Gas air conditioners can offer an adept method to keep cool.

Natural gas air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is cheaper to run and maintain meaning cost savings in the long term. Superior performance also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

There are two styles of natural gas water heaters, on demand and tank. Gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than their electric counterparts. Tankless water heaters also offer a continuous supply.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually hidden and sheltered from the weather means you will still have the ability to shower even if you don’t have electricity.

Preparing Food

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

Regardless of the origin the saying is used today because it is valid. A great many chefs choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the temperature, and natural gas stoves provide a less wasteful way of converting energy into heat.

Dryers

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

Outdoor Living

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

Wow guests as soon as they arrive with path lighting, keep them warm on cool evenings and get food cooked outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, and without the having to go to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And gas fire pits set the mood as well as offering warmth for the best outside entertaining.

Advantages of Natural Gas Home Appliances

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

Choosing gas will reduce your power bills.
Gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is considered the least polluting of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less C02 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 the power goes out.

Disadvantages of Gas Appliances

Gas devices generally require a higher initial cost. Both the value of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical goods.
Having a natural gas line installed can be costly. The price will vary depending on a number of factors.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also require a big outlay.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas appliances 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.

Should You Choose Gas?

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

Currently natural gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the cost is your main motivation this can be a major factor in the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing gas is expensive. Thus, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good first step.

Another reason to choose gas is stability of supply. If power failures are common in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power cuts can count for a lot.

Lastly, the environmental credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical home appliances. Choosing renewable energy could be a better investment and more eco-friendly options in the long run.