Gas Appliances

Thinking about natural gas devices may be a way to lower expenditures while seeing increases in performance and productivity.

There is a high supply of shale gas in the United States meaning that costs are low and stable, and shale gas is relatively the cleanest fossil fuel, therefore, it can be seen as the most eco-friendly choice.

If you already have gas installed at home, or are building a new home you might look at the likely benefits of switching to natural gas and natural gas home appliances.

Read more about gas appliances below from Marion Appliance Repair:

What is a Natural Gas Home Appliance?

A gas appliance employs gas as the primary power source. Natural gas goods afford a workable substitute to electrical devices for heating your house, heating water, heating your food and even air conditioning and laundry.

Generally 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 boiler will work even during a power cut, whereas a gas clothes dryer still requires electricity to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Run On Gas.

Gas can be used for more than heating.

Keeping You Warm

Heating your home with gas typically costs less than heating using electricity. Your costs could be cut in half depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Natural gas provides higher air temperatures and offers better reliability.

Fireplaces

Apart from keeping your home warm natural gas is great for a fireplace. With a gas fire, you still get real flames and a warm home without the fuss.

Cooling Your Home

Natural gas air conditioning can be an effective means to cool your home, even if there is a power outage.

Natural gas air conditioning can be a higher price initially but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning cost savings in the long term. Better effectiveness has the added positive impact of reducing your C02 emissions.

Heating Water

There are two types of natural gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are faster and more fuel efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless heaters also give a continuous supply.

The fact that gas lines are usually hidden and sheltered from the weather ensures you still have heating even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

We’ve all come across the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link the use of gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the phrase is used today because it is accurate. The majority of chefs choose gas for the ease with which you can control the temperature, and gas hobs provide a more cost effective way of turning energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You may not immediately think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. They work a few degrees hotter thus clothes dry 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? Outside, natural gas is often used for lighting and cooking and even to heat your pool.

Impress your guests before they even reach the front door with driveway lights, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get the food cooking outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the having to go to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor water heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And gas outdoor heaters offer ambiance as well as providing comfort for luxurious indoor-outdoor living.

Advantages of Natural Gas Appliances

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

Gas is generally less expensive than electricity saving you money on your annual utility bills.
Natural gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them a more sustainable choice for your wallet and for the planet.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is the cleanest of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Natural gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can still heat your home even if you get a power outage.

Cons of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas devices tend to require a higher initial cost. Both the price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be more.
Having a natural gas line installed if you don’t already have one can be costly. The amount will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
Moving or extending a gas line can also be expensive so this should always be added to any cost comparisons.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas devices are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance The Right Choice for You?

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

Currently gas is almost always less expensive than electricity, so if the cost 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, converting 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 place to start.

Another key advantage of natural gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a big plus.

Finally, in environmental terms, while gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical appliances. Installing solar panels or a heat pump could be a better investment and more sustainable options in the long run.