Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to gas appliances might be an option to save money while seeing higher levels of performance and productivity.

Natural gas abundant in the US resulting in low, stable prices, and shale gas is considered to be the least polluting fossil fuel, thus, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging option.

If you already have gas installed at home, or are buying a new home you should consider the possible advantages of choosing natural gas and gas household appliances.

Read more about gas appliances below from Hub City Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Appliance?

A natural gas appliance runs on natural gas as the main fuel source. Gas home appliances afford a practicable substitute for electrical devices.

Generally you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas stove will still operate even during a power cut, whereas a gas tumble dryer still relies upon electricity.

Examples of Gas Appliances

Natural gas can have any number of purposes in your home.

Heating

Keeping yourself warm with natural gas is generally less expensive than heating your home with electricity. Your outgoings could be cut in half depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Gas heats the air faster and is more reliable.This is a huge benefit if you for winter power outages

Fireplaces

Aside from heating natural gas is ideal for a fireplace. With a natural gas fire, you still get that open fire feeling and a focal point without the hassle.

Keeping Cool

Gas air conditioning can be an efficient means to cool your home.

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

Water Heating

Natural gas water heaters come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are quicker and more efficient than electric water boilers. On-demand heaters also offer a continuous supply even with high demand. Invaluable if you have a big family that indulges in long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually hidden and protected from the elements ensures you will still have hot water even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

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

Clever marketing or not the phrase has stuck around because it is accurate. Most chefs choose gas for the ease with which you can control the temperature, and natural gas hobs provide a much more efficient way of turning energy into heat.

Dryers

You might not immediately think of using gas in your laundry room, however, natural gas dryers have many advantages. They heat the air at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time.

Outdoor Living

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? When it comes to outdoor living, natural gas is a popular choice for patio lights and food prep and can even be used to heat your spa.

delight guests as soon as they arrive with driveway lights, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as rapidly as an electric heater. And natural gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as providing heat for the best outside entertaining.

Pros of Natural Gas Home Appliances

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

Choosing gas will reduce your utility bills.
Gas appliances tend to use less energy making them a more sustainable choice for your wallet and for the environment.
Gas is an eco-friendly selection as it is 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 generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can continue to heat water even if there’s no electricity supply.

Negatives of Natural gas Home Appliances

Natural gas appliances usually have a higher initial investment. Both the value of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be greater.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The price will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
Moving or extending a gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should be included in any price analysis.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

Making the decision between gas and electricity is not straightforward and the best choice for you might not be the optimal choice for everyone.

Currently natural gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the price is your main driver 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 gas, switching to gas is expensive. Thus, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another reason to choose natural gas is stability of supply. If power cuts are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can be a huge benefit.

Lastly, the sustainability credentials of gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical goods. Installing solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.