Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to gas home appliances may be an option to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Natural gas easy to extract in the United States meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and gas is viewed as the least polluting non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible option.

If you already have natural gas installed at home, or are building a new dwelling you should think about the potential advantages of choosing natural gas and natural gas appliances.

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

What is a Natural Gas Appliance?

A gas appliance makes use of natural gas as the main power source. Gas devices offer a workable substitute for electrical home appliances for heating your home, heating water, cooking your food and even air conditioning and laundry.

In many instances gas appliances nonetheless will need an electrical outlet but use natural gas as the main source of power. The quantity electricity needed depends on how the appliance works. For example, a gas boiler will provide hot water even if the power goes out, whereas a gas clothes dryer still relies upon electricity to make the drum turn.

Examples of Natural Gas Appliances

Gas could have any number of purposes in your home.

Proving Heat

Heating your home with gas typically costs less than keeping warm using electrical appliances. Your outgoings could be cut in half depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Gas heats the air more efficiently and is more reliable.

A Fireplace

As well as heating natural gas is great for a log fire with real flames.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a natural gas fire, you still get all the ambiance and a focal point without the hassle.

Cooling Your Home

Gas can be an adept means to keep your home cool, even if there is a power cut.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning may be more costly to begin with but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Superior efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

Gas water boilers come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are quicker and more efficient than electric water boilers. On-demand water heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that natural gas lines are generally dug into the ground and sheltered from the weather ensures you still have heating even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Everyone has heard the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line designed to link natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the phrase is used today because it is accurate. The majority of chefs and home cooks choose gas for the ability to control the heat, and gas hobs also offer a more cost effective way of converting energy into heat.

Tumble Dryers

You might not instantly think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas clothes dryers are a great choice. They heat the air at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

Did you know you don’t just have to use gas inside your home? When it comes to outdoor entertaining, gas is a great power source for lighting and outdoor cooking and even to heat your pool.

Impress your guests before they even reach the front door with path lighting, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get dinner ready 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 heat the water twice as fast as an electric heater. And gas fire pits set the mood as well as offering comfort for the best outside entertaining.

Benefits of Gas Appliances

As with anything there are pros and cons to gas home appliances. Here are some of the benefits of choosing Natural Gas.

  • Natural gas is generally less expensive than electricity saving you money on your annual energy bills.
  • Gas home appliances tend to use less energy making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the environment.
  • Natural gas is an ecologically sound option as it is considered the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
  • Gas lines are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can continue to cook even if the power goes out.

Disadvantages of Natural Gas Appliances

  • Gas home appliances usually have a higher initial outlay. Both the price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be more for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
  • 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, so it is worth talking to your energy company before deciding.
  • Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount so this should be included in any cost comparisons.
  • Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas devices are not properly installed or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?

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

Currently gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the cost is your main driver this can be a major factor in the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, switching to gas comes at a cost. Thus, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another reason to choose natural gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power cuts happen often in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power cuts can be a big plus.

Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical goods. Opting for renewable energy could be a better investment and more eco-friendly options in the long run.

Additional Types of Appliances