Gas Appliances

Considering natural gas appliances might be a good option to reduce your bills at the same time as seeing increases in comfort and efficiency.

There is a plentiful supply of natural gas in the United States meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and natural gas is viewed as the cleanest non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible option.

If you already have a gas line at home, or are building a new house you should look at the likely gains of switching to gas and gas appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances below from Hawk Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas appliance runs on natural gas as the dominant power source. These devices offer a great alternative for electrically powered appliances for heating your house, heating water, cooking food and even cooling your home and laundry.

In general you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a natural gas range can still be used even if the power goes out, whereas a natural gas dryer still requires electrical components.

A List of Devices That Run On Natural Gas.

Natural gas can have a great many purposes in your house.

Keeping You Warm

Heating your home with gas is generally less expensive than heating your home with electricity. Your expenditure could be cut in half subject to your energy tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas heats the air more quickly and offers better reliability.

Fireplaces

Apart from heating gas is perfect for a log fire with real flames. With a gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and a focal point without the hassle.

Air Conditioning

Gas air conditioning can be an effective method to cool your home.

Natural gas powered air conditioning could be a higher price to begin with but is cheaper to run and maintain meaning cost savings in the long term. Better efficiency has the added benefit of cutting your carbon footprint.

Water Heaters

Natural gas water boilers come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless heaters also provide a continuous supply.

The fact that gas lines are usually hidden and protected from the elements ensures you will still have heating even if you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Everyone has come across the saying “cooking with gas”. A great advertising strategy designed to link natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the saying is used today because it is true. The majority of chefs and amature cooks choose gas for the ease with which you can control the size of the flame, and gas stoves are also a much more efficient way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You may not instantly think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas dryers are a great choice. They heat the air a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time.

Outdoor Living

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? Outside, gas is often used for patio lights and food prep and even to heat your pool.

Impress guests before they even reach the front door with path lights, keep them warm even when the temperature falls and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the having to go to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And natural gas patio heaters set the mood as well as offering warmth for luxurious indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Pros of Natural Gas Appliances

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

Natural gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual utility bills.
Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an ecologically sound selection as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can still cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Gas Home Appliances

Gas devices tend to require a higher initial investment. Both the value of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be greater for a natural gas appliance when comparing to electrical goods.
Having a natural gas line installed can be costly. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your supplier before deciding.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also be expensive.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas devices are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

Making the choice between gas and electricity is not easy and the right choice for you probably won’t be the best decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost natural gas is at the moment the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have 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 natural gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power cuts are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a huge benefit.

Finally, the environmental credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Installing renewable energy could be a better investment and more sustainable options in the long run.