Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to natural gas home appliances may be a good option to lower expenditures at the same time as experiencing increases in ease, efficiency and performance.

There is a plentiful supply of shale gas in the US resulting in low, stable prices per unit, and gas is viewed as the least polluting non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be seen as the most eco-friendly alternative.

If you already have a gas line at home, or are buying a new home you should look at the likely benefits of switching to natural gas and natural gas household appliances.

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

What are Natural Gas Home Appliances?

A gas home appliance makes use of natural gas as the primary fuel source. Natural gas devices afford a viable alternative for electrically powered home appliances for heating your house, providing hot water, cooking food and even cooling your home and tumble drying.

In general you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a natural gas water heater will work even during a power cut, whereas a gas clothes dryer still needs electrical components.

Different Natural Gas Home Appliances

Gas can be used for more than heating.

Heating

Providing heat with natural gas usually costs less than providing heat with electricity. The difference can be up to 50% depending on your fuel tariffs and efficiency.

Gas heats the air in less time and offers better reliability.This is a huge benefit if you if you get power cuts

An Indoor Fire

As well as heating gas is great for having a fire in your home. With a natural gas fire, you still get that open fire feeling and a warm home without the mess.

Air Conditioning

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

Gas powered air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is cheaper to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Better effectiveness has the added upside of reducing your C02 emissions.

Water Heaters

Gas water boilers come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are quicker and more productive than electric water heaters. On-demand heaters also offer a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big household that enjoys long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are generally hidden and guarded from the elements ensures you still have the ability to heat your home even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

Most people have come across the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great marketing line conceived to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying stuck because it is accurate. Most chefs and amateur cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the temperature, and natural gas ranges also offer 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 clothes dryers can be an excellent choice. They operate at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in a shorter time.

Using Natural Gas Outside

You have to restrict your gas use to indoor appliances. Outside, gas is a popular choice for lighting and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your pool.

delight guests as soon as they arrive with path lights, keep them warm on cool evenings and get dinner ready outside, whenever you are ready, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And natural gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as providing heat for the best indoor-outdoor living.

Benefits of Natural Gas Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to investigate the pros and the cons. Here are some of the benefits.

Natural gas is generally cheaper than electricity thus lowering your annual energy bills.
Natural gas devices tend to be more efficient making them a better choice for your wallet and for the planet.
Gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can still cool your home even if you get a power outage.

Disadvantages of Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas appliances generally are subject to a higher initial cost. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when looking at next to electrical goods.
Having a natural gas line installed if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The price will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your supplier before making any decisions.
Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also be expensive.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

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

Currently gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the cost 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, converting to natural gas comes at a cost. With this in mind, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.

Another benefit of gas is reliability of supply. If power failures happen often in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power failures can be a big plus.

Finally, the sustainability credentials of gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical home appliances. Opting for solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.