Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to natural gas appliances could be an option to lower expenditures while seeing gains in comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Shale gas is in plentiful supply in the United States resulting in low, stable equivalent prices, and shale gas is looked upon as the least polluting fossil fuel, thus, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging alternative.

If you already have a gas line in your home, or are buying a new dwelling you should think about the possible benefits of choosing gas and natural gas household appliances. Learn more about gas appliances here from Triumph Appliance Repair of Troy:

What is a Natural Gas Home Appliance?

A natural gas home appliance employs gas as the primary power source. These appliances present a practicable alternative to electrically powered devices.

Generally 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 furnace will still operate even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a gas dryer still relies upon electricity to make the drum turn.

Examples of Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas has a great many purposes in your house.

Proving Heat

Heating your home with gas usually costs less than heating your home using electrical heaters. The difference can be as much as 50% subject to your fuel costs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas heats the air in less time and offers better reliability.This is very handy if you for winter power outages

A Fireplace

Aside from heating gas is ideal for a fireplace. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the hassle.

Keeping Cool

Natural gas air conditioners can offer an adept way to keep cool.

Gas fueled air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is better value to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Higher performance has the added benefit of lowering your carbon footprint.

Water Heaters

There are two styles of gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are faster and more efficient than electric water boilers. On-demand water heaters also give a continuous supply.

The fact that gas lines are usually underground and guarded from the weather ensures you will still have hot water even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

We’ve all encountered the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great marketing line created to link the use of natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the etiology the phrase is still around because it is valid. A great many chefs choose gas for the fact that they can control the size of the flame, and natural gas ranges provide a less wasteful way of turning energy into heat.

Dryers

Natural gas might not be the immediate thing you think of when it comes to drying clothes, however, gas dryers are a great choice. They heat the air a few degrees hotter thus clothes dry in less time.

Outdoor Entertaining

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

delight guests before they even reach the front door with driveway lighting, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get the food cooking outside, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric heater. And gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as providing comfort for perfect indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Advantages of Natural Gas Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to look at the pros and the cons. First up the benefits of choosing Natural Gas.

Choosing gas will save you money on your utility bills.
Natural gas home appliances tend to use less energy making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the planet.
Natural gas is an environmentally responsible selection as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less carbon dioxide 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 you get a power outage.At worst you might need to find a match.

Negatives of Gas Appliances

Gas home appliances usually require a higher initial outlay. Both the value of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be greater.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your energy company before making any decisions.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also be expensive so this should always be added to any cost comparisons.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas devices are not installed correctly or not maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

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

If your main driver is cost gas is currently the cheaper option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, switching to gas is expensive. 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 benefit of natural gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts are common where you live then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can be a huge benefit.

Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas appliances are generally more efficient you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Installing solar panels or a heat pump could be more cost-effective and more sustainable options in the long run.