Gas Appliances

Looking at natural gas home appliances may be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as seeing gains in performance and productivity.

Natural gas is in plentiful supply in the United States meaning that prices are low and stable, and shale gas is considered to be the cleanest fossil fuel, consequently, it can be seen as the least environmentally damaging option.

If you already have gas installed in your house, or are building a new dwelling you may wish to look at the possible benefits of choosing natural gas and natural gas home appliances.

Learn more about gas appliances below from A&L Tempe Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Appliance?

A gas device runs on natural gas as the dominant power source. Natural gas appliances present a viable alternative for electrical devices.

Usually you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electric used depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a gas water heater will provide hot water even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a natural gas clothes dryer still needs electrical components.

A List of Appliances That use Gas.

Gas could have a great many uses in your house.

Heating

Heating your home with gas typically costs less than providing heat using electrical heaters. Savings can be as much as 50% depending on your energy costs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas provides higher air temperatures and is more reliable.

An Indoor Fire

Aside from keeping your home warm gas is ideal for a fireplace. With a gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and a warm home without the fuss.

Air Conditioning

Natural gas can be an effective means to keep your home cool.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning lower prices in the long term. Superior efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

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

The fact that gas lines are usually dug into the ground and sheltered from the weather ensures you can still have the ability to shower even when you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

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

Regardless of the etiology the saying is still around because it is accurate. Most chefs and amateur cooks choose natural gas for the ability to vary the heat, and gas ranges also offer a more cost effective way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Gas might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas clothes dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers heat the air a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time.

Outdoor Entertaining

Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, gas is a popular choice for patio lights and food prep and can even be used to heat your spa.

Wow your guests before they even reach the front door with outdoor lights, keep them cosy on cool evenings 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 water heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as quickly as an electric heater. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as giving warmth for luxurious outside entertaining.

Advantages of Natural Gas Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to natural gas appliances. Here are some of the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.

Natural gas is generally less expensive than electricity thus lowering your annual power costs.
Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an ecologically sound choice as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can continue to cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Gas Home Appliances

Gas home appliances usually are subject to a higher initial outlay. Both the value of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be more.
Having a natural gas line installed can be expensive. The amount will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home, so it is worth talking to your provider before making any decisions.
Having a gas line moved or extended can also require a big outlay so this should be added to any price analysis.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas home appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use natural gas in your home.

Is a Natural Gas Appliance The Right Choice for You?

Making the change between natural 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 less expensive than electricity, so if the price 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 natural gas comes at a cost. Therefore, 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 natural gas is stability of supply. If power cuts happen often where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power failures can be a huge benefit.

Lastly, in environmental terms, while gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Installing solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.