Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to gas appliances could be an option to reduce your bills while experiencing higher levels of comfort and efficiency.

There is a abundant supply of shale gas in the US meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and natural gas is viewed as the cleanest non-renewable energy source, thus, it can be regarded as the greener alternative.

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

Learn more about gas appliances below from Miller Appliance Repair:

What is a Natural Gas Appliance?

A gas device makes use of gas as the dominant fuel source. Natural gas goods present a viable alternative to electrically powered appliances for heating your living space, heating water, heating food and even cooling your home and tumble drying.

In many cases gas devices nevertheless require an electrical outlet but use gas as the primary source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a natural gas boiler will work even when there is a power outage, whereas a natural gas dryer still requires electricity.

A List of Appliances That use Natural Gas.

Natural gas can be used for more than cooking.

Keeping You Warm

Heating your home with natural gas is typically less expensive than heating your home using electricity. Your costs could halve subject to your energy prices and efficiency.

Gas provides higher air temperatures and is more reliable.This is very handy if you if you get power cuts

An Indoor Fire

Aside from general heating natural gas is ideal for a fireplace.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 a warm home without the fuss.

Cooling

Gas air conditioners can be an adept way to keep cool.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning are often more costly to begin with but is better value on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Higher performance also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Water Heating

There are two styles of gas water heaters, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more fuel efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless water heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that gas lines are almost always hidden and protected from the elements means you can still have the ability to heat your home even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

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

Clever marketing or not the phrase has stuck around because it is accurate. Most chefs and amature cooks choose natural gas for the ability to vary the heat, and gas hobs are also a much more efficient way of converting fuel into heat.

Dryers

You may not instantly think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. They work at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.

Outdoor Entertaining

Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, gas is often used for lighting and food prep and even to heat your spa.

delight your guests before they even get out of the car with driveway lighting, keep them warm on cool evenings and get food cooked outside, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor water heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as rapidly as an electric equivalent. And gas fire pits provide atmosphere as well as offering comfort for perfect outside living.

Advantages of Gas Home Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to natural gas devices. First up the benefits.

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual utility costs.
Gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an eco-friendly selection as it is the cleanest of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply less likely to get interrupted. 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 Appliances

Natural gas home appliances usually require a higher initial investment. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas appliances are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Gas?

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

If your main driver is cost natural gas is at the moment the least expensive option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing gas is expensive. Thus, 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 stability 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 count for a lot.

Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical goods. Choosing renewable energy could be more cost-effective and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.