Gas Appliances

Considering gas appliances may be a way to reduce your bills while seeing increases in comfort and efficiency.

There is a high supply of gas in the United States meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and gas is considered the least polluting fossil fuel, thus, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible alternative.

If you already have natural gas installed in your home, or are buying a new dwelling you may wish to consider the potential benefits of using more natural gas and natural gas appliances.

Read more about gas appliances here from Griffin Appliance Repair:

What is a Natural Gas Home Appliance?

A gas appliance employs gas as the dominant fuel source. These appliances present a workable alternative for electrically powered appliances.

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 natural gas tumble dryer still needs electrical components.

Examples of Natural Gas Appliances

Natural gas isn’t just for cooking.

Keeping You Warm

Keeping yourself warm with natural gas generally costs less than heating using electrical heaters. The difference can be as high as 50% depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Gas heats the air more quickly and is more reliable.

A Fireplace

As well as general heating natural gas is ideal for a fireplace. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get real flames and a focal point without the fuss.

Cooling Your Home

Natural gas can offer an adept method to keep your home cool.

Natural gas air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning savings in the long term. Higher efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Hot Water

Natural gas water boilers come in two forms, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are faster and more productive than electric water boilers. Tankless heaters also offer a continuous supply.

The fact that natural gas lines are almost always hidden and guarded from the elements ensures you can still have hot water even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

Most people have heard the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line designed to link natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying is used today because it is true. A great many chefs and amateur cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the temperature, and gas hobs also offer a much more efficient way of turning fuel into heat.

Dryers

You might not immediately think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas dryers can be an excellent choice. Gas Dryers heat the air at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, gas is often used for patio lights and outdoor cooking and even to heat your spa.

Impress friends before they even reach the front door with outdoor lighting, keep them warm even when the temperature drops and get the food cooking outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your propane bottles.

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

Advantages of Gas Home Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to natural gas appliances. First up the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.

Choosing natural gas will reduce your power bills.
Natural gas appliances tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an eco-friendly option as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can continue to cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Disadvantages of Natural gas Home Appliances

Gas devices generally have a higher initial cost. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be more for a natural gas appliance when comparing to electrical appliances.
Having a gas line installed can be costly. The price will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your provider before making a final decision.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should always be included in any cost comparisons.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas home appliances are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential 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 always simple and the optimal choice for you might not be the best decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost natural gas is for the time being the least expensive fuel. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, retrospectively installing 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 key advantage of gas is reliability of supply. If power outages are common where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power failures can be a huge benefit.

Finally, the eco-friendly credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical devices. Opting for renewable energy may turn out to be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.