Gas Appliances

Considering switching to natural gas devices could be a good option to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of ease, efficiency and performance.

Shale gas is in plentiful supply in the US meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and natural gas is viewed as the cleanest fossil fuel, therefore, it can be regarded as the greener choice.

If you already have natural gas installed in your home, or are completing a new home you might look at the likely advantages of choosing natural gas and gas home appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances below from Elite El Monte Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Home Appliance?

A natural gas device runs on gas as the main fuel source. These home appliances offer a great substitute to electrically powered goods.

In general you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The amount of electricity used depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a gas boiler will produce hot water even if the power goes out, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still needs electricity to make the drum turn.

Different Natural Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas is not just for cooking.

Heating

Keeping yourself warm with natural gas typically costs less than providing heat using electricity. The difference can be as high as 50% depending on your fuel tariffs and efficiency.

Natural gas provides higher air temperatures and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

As well as heating gas is perfect for a fireplace. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get real flames and a warm home without the mess.

Cooling Your Home

Gas can be an efficient way to keep your home cool.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning requires a bigger initial investment but is cheaper to run and maintain meaning cost savings in the long term. Better effectiveness has the added positive impact of reducing your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

There are two styles of gas water heaters, non-tank and tank. Gas heaters are more rapid and more fuel efficient than their electric substitutes. On-demand water heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand. Which is useful if you have a big family that indulges in long showers.

The fact that gas lines are generally underground and guarded from the weather ensures you will still have the ability to wash even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking

Most people have encountered the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great advertising strategy created to link gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the phrase stuck because it is valid. A great many chefs and amateur cooks choose natural gas for the fact that they can control the heat, and natural gas stoves are also a much more efficient way of converting fuel into heat.

Dryers

You may not instantly think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, gas dryers are a great choice. They dry clothes a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Using Natural Gas Outside

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? When it comes to outdoor entertaining, natural gas is often used for lighting and cooking and even to heat your pool.

delight guests 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, whenever you are ready, and without the having to go to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas patio heaters offer ambiance as well as offering comfort for luxurious outside living.

Pros of Natural Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best look at the pros and the cons. Here are some of the pros of choosing Natural Gas.

Natural gas is generally less expensive than electricity thus lowering your annual power bills.
Gas devices tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an environmentally responsible selection as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can still cool your home even if the power goes out.At worst you might need to find a match.

Negatives of Natural gas Appliances

Gas devices generally require a higher initial outlay. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater.
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, so it is worth talking to your supplier before making a final decision.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should be included in any cost comparisons.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

Making the change between gas and electricity is not always simple and the optimal choice for you may not 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 gas, switching to gas comes at a cost. With this in mind, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another key advantage of natural gas is stability of supply. If power outages happen often where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during outages 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 like you can electrical appliances. Installing renewable energy could be more cost-effective and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.