Gas Appliances

Considering switching to natural gas devices could be a good option to save money while seeing higher levels of ease, efficiency and performance.

There is a abundant supply of shale gas in the United States resulting in low, stable prices per unit, and gas is considered to be the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be viewed as the environmentally responsible alternative.

If you already have a gas line in your home, or are completing a new house you might think about the likely benefits of using more natural gas and gas home appliances.

Read more about gas appliances here from Spencer Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Appliances?

A gas device makes use of gas as the dominant power source. Gas home appliances offer a great alternative for electrically powered devices for heating your house, heating water, heating food and even cooling your home and drying your clothes.

In many instances gas devices nevertheless require an electricity supply but use natural gas as the main fuel. The amount of electricity needed depends on the type of appliance. For example, a natural gas water heater will still work even during a power cut, whereas a gas clothes dryer still needs electrical components.

A List of Appliances That Use Gas

Natural gas has any number of uses in your house.

Heating

Heating your home with natural gas is usually less expensive than heating your home using electrical heaters. Your expenditure could be cut in half subject to your energy tariffs and efficiency.

Natural gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

Fireplaces

Apart from general heating natural gas is great 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 that open fire feeling and a warm home without the mess.

Keeping Cool

Gas air conditioners can be an effective method to keep cool, even if there is a power failure.

Gas air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Higher efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

Natural gas water heaters come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are faster and more fuel efficient than their electric substitutes. On-demand heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that natural gas lines are almost always dug into the ground and guarded from the weather means you still have heating even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking

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

Clever marketing or not the phrase is still around because it is true. A great many chefs and amateur cooks choose gas for the ease with which you can vary the heat, and natural gas stoves are also a much more efficient way of converting fuel into heat.

Tumble Dryers

You might not immediately think of using gas in your laundry room, however, gas clothes dryers are a great choice. Gas Dryers operate at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.

Outdoor Entertaining

Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. When it comes to outdoor entertaining, gas is often used for lighting and food prep and even to heat your spa.

delight guests as soon as they arrive with driveway lights, keep them cosy even when the temperature falls and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like indoor water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as rapidly as an electric heater. And gas fire pits set the mood as well as giving heat for perfect indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Advantages of Natural Gas Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to investigate the pros and the cons. Here are some of the pros.

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity thus lowering your annual power costs.
Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an ecologically sound selection as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are generally run underground making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can continue to cool your home even if the power goes out.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Gas Home Appliances

Gas home appliances generally have a higher initial outlay. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical appliances.
Having a gas line installed can be costly. The amount will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your provider before deciding.
Having a gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount.
Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.

Is a Gas Appliance The Right Choice for You?

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

If your main driver is cost natural gas is currently the cheaper option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, converting to natural gas is expensive. 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 first step.

Another benefit of natural gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power outages are common where you live 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 gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical goods. Choosing renewable energy may turn out to be less expensive and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.