Thinking about switching to natural gas home appliances might be a good option to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of comfort and efficiency.
Shale gas is in plentiful supply in the US meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and gas is considered to be the least polluting fossil fuel, thus, it can be seen as the least environmentally damaging option.
If you already have gas installed in your home, or are building a new dwelling you should consider the possible benefits of choosing natural gas and natural gas appliances. Read more about gas appliances here from Lee’s Summit Appliance Repair:
What are Gas Home Appliances?
A gas device runs on natural gas as the dominant fuel source. Natural gas devices afford a practicable alternative for electrically powered goods.
Generally you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed depends on the type of appliance. For example, a natural gas range can still be used even during a power cut, whereas a gas tumble dryer still needs electricity.
A List of Home Appliances That Run On Natural Gas.
Natural gas could have any number of purposes in your home.
Keeping You Warm
Heating your home with natural gas typically costs less than keeping warm with electricity. The difference can be as high as 50% depending on your fuel tariffs and efficiency.
Gas provides higher air temperatures and is more reliable.This is very handy if you experience regular power outages in the winter
Fireplaces
Apart from general heating gas is perfect for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and a warm home without the hassle.
Cooling
Natural gas air conditioners can offer an efficient method to cool your home.
Gas fueled air conditioning requires a bigger initial investment but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning cost savings in the long term. Better effectiveness has the added positive impact of cutting your C02 emissions.
Water Heaters
There are two types of gas water heaters, on demand and tank. Gas heaters are more rapid and more efficient than electric water boilers. On-demand heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand. Invaluable if you have a big household that enjoys long showers.
The fact that gas lines are usually hidden and protected from the weather ensures you still have hot water even when there’s a power outage.
Cooking
Everyone has encountered the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great advertising strategy conceived to link natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.
Clever marketing or not the saying stuck because it is accurate. Most chefs choose gas for the fact that they can control the size of the flame, and gas hobs also offer a less wasteful way of converting energy into heat.
Clothes Dryers
Gas might not be the immediate place your mind goes when it comes to drying clothes, however, gas dryers can be an excellent choice. Gas Dryers work a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in a shorter time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.
Outdoor Entertaining
Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside, gas is a popular choice for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.
Wow friends as soon as they arrive with path lights, keep them warm even when the temperature falls and get the food cooking outside, whenever you are ready, and without the having to go to fill up your gas bottles.
Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as giving heat for perfect indoor-outdoor living.
Benefits of Natural Gas Home Appliances
As with anything there are pros and cons to natural gas devices. First up the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.
- 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.
- Natural gas is an environmentally responsible option as it is the cleanest of the fossil fuels, with emissions of 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 still heat your home even if there’s no electricity supply.
Disadvantages of Gas Appliances
- Gas home appliances tend to require a higher initial investment. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater for a natural gas appliance when looking at next to electrical appliances.
- Installing a new gas line 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 be expensive so this should be included in any cost benefit analysis.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas devices are not properly installed or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.
Should You Choose Gas?
Making the decision between natural gas and electricity is not easy and the best choice for you probably won’t be the best choice for everyone.
Currently natural gas is almost always less expensive than electricity, so if the cost is your main motivation this can be a big part of the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing natural gas comes at a cost. With this in mind, 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 benefit of gas is stability of supply. If power outages are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can count for a lot.
Lastly, the environmental credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Opting for renewable energy could be more cost-effective and more eco-friendly options in the long run.