Thinking about natural gas home appliances could be a way to lower expenditures while experiencing increases in performance and productivity.
Natural gas is in plentiful supply in the US resulting in low, stable equivalent prices, and shale gas is viewed as the cleanest fossil fuel, consequently, it can be viewed as the most eco-friendly alternative.
If you already have natural gas installed in your house, or are building a new home you may wish to think about the potential benefits of using more natural gas and gas appliances. Find more information about gas appliances here from Waukegan Appliance Repair:
What is a Natural Gas Appliance?
A gas home appliance runs on gas as the primary power source. Gas goods afford a practicable substitute for electrically powered devices.
Usually you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a natural gas range will still work even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still needs electrical components to make the drum turn.
Types of Gas Home Appliances
Gas can be used for more than cooking.
Heating
Keeping yourself warm with natural gas typically costs less than heating your home using electricity. The difference can be up to 50% subject to your fuel tariffs and efficiency.
Natural gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.
A Fireplace
Aside from general heating gas is perfect for having a fire in your home. With a gas fire, you still get all the ambiance and plenty of warmth without the hassle.
Keeping Cool
Gas can offer an adept method to keep cool.
Natural gas air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is cheaper to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Higher effectiveness has the added positive impact of cutting your carbon footprint.
Water Heating
There are two styles of natural gas water heaters, on demand and tank. Gas heaters are faster and more productive than electric water boilers. On-demand heaters also give a continuous supply.
The fact that natural gas lines are generally underground and protected from the weather ensures you still have the ability to wash even if there’s a power outage.
Cooking Food
Most people have encountered the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great advertising strategy designed to link natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.
Regardless of the origin the saying stuck because it is accurate. The majority of chefs and amature cooks choose natural gas for the fact that they can control the size of the flame, and gas stoves provide a more cost effective way of turning fuel into heat.
Clothes Dryers
Gas might not be the first place your mind goes when it comes to laundry, however, gas dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers operate a few degrees hotter thus clothes dry in less time.
Using Gas Outside
Did you know you don’t just have to use gas inside your home? Outside the home, gas is often used for lighting and cooking and can even be used to heat your pool.
Impress guests before they even get out of the car with driveway lights, keep them cosy even when the temperature drops and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, 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 fast as an electric heater. And natural gas outdoor heaters provide atmosphere as well as providing warmth for perfect indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Advantages of Natural Gas Home Appliances
As in all things there are pros and cons to natural gas appliances. Here are some of the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.
- Choosing natural gas will save you money on your power bills.
- Gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them better 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, 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 still cook even if there’s no electricity supply.
Negatives of Natural Gas Appliances
- Gas appliances usually have a higher initial outlay. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be higher for a natural gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
- Having a gas line installed if you don’t already have one can be expensive. The amount will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
- Moving or extending a gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should always be included in any cost benefit analysis.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use gas in your home.
Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?
Making the change between gas and electricity is not easy and the optimal choice for you probably won’t be the right choice for everyone.
Currently gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the price is your main motivation 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, converting to natural gas is expensive. Therefore, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good first step.
Another key advantage of gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts happen often in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during outages can be a huge benefit.
Lastly, the eco-friendly credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical goods. Choosing renewable energy may turn out to be a better investment and more eco-friendly options in the long run.