Gas Appliances

Looking at natural gas home appliances may be an option to lower expenditures at the same time as seeing gains in ease, efficiency and performance.

Shale gas is in plentiful supply in the US resulting in low, stable costs, and natural gas is considered the least polluting non-renewable energy source, therefore, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible choice.

If you already have a natural gas line in your house, or are buying a new house you may wish to consider the likely advantages of switching to gas and gas appliances.

Read more about gas appliances below from Patriot Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Appliances?

A gas home appliance makes use of gas as the main power source. Gas devices offer a great substitute for electrical goods.

In general you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed depends on the type of appliance. For example, a natural gas boiler will provide hot water even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a gas dryer still needs electricity to make the drum turn.

Different Natural Gas Appliances

Gas can have many uses in your house.

Heating

Keeping yourself warm with gas typically costs less than heating your home using electrical appliances. The difference can be up to 50% subject to your fuel tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas provides higher air temperatures and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

Aside from heating gas is ideal for a log fire with real flames.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fire, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the mess.

Cooling

Natural gas can be an effective way to keep your home cool.

Gas fueled air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Higher performance also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Water Heaters

There are two styles of gas water boilers, non-tank and tank. Gas heaters are more rapid and more efficient than their electric substitutes. Tankless water heaters also provide a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big household that enjoys long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually underground and protected from the weather means you can still have heating even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking

Most people have come across the saying “cooking with gas”. A great marketing strategy created to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying is still around because it is accurate. Most chefs choose natural gas for the ability to vary the size of the flame, and gas ranges also offer a less wasteful way of turning fuel into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Gas might not be the immediate thing you think of when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas clothes dryers have many advantages. They dry clothes at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

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

Wow your guests before they even reach the front door with driveway lights, keep them warm even when the temperature falls and get dinner ready outside, whenever you are ready, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas fire pits give atmosphere as well as giving comfort for the best indoor-outdoor living.

Benefits of Natural Gas Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best investigate the pros and the cons. First up the advantages.

Gas is generally less expensive than electricity thus lowering your annual utility costs.
Gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an ecologically sound option as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels, emitting 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 still heat water even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Natural gas Home Appliances

Gas devices generally require a higher initial outlay. Both the price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be higher for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical appliances.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors.
Having a gas line moved or extended can also be expensive so this should always be added to any price analysis.
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 choice between gas and electricity is not easy and the optimal choice for you may not be the best decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is for the time being the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing natural gas is expensive. Therefore, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good place to start.

Another reason to choose gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in 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 be a big plus.

Lastly, the eco-friendly credentials of natural gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical devices. Choosing renewable energy could be more cost-effective and more eco-friendly options in the long run.