Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to gas devices could be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as seeing gains in performance and productivity.

Gas easy to extract in the US resulting in low, stable costs, and shale gas is considered to be the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be seen as the most eco-friendly choice.

If you already have natural gas installed in your house, or are buying a new home you may wish to look at the potential advantages of using more gas and gas appliances.

Read more about gas appliances below from ARC Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Home Appliances?

A gas device runs on gas as the primary power source. Gas home appliances offer a workable substitute to electrically powered appliances.

In general you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The amount of electricity used depends on how the appliance works. For example, a natural gas water heater will still work even during a power cut, whereas a gas clothes dryer still needs electrical components to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Operate Using Gas.

Gas is about more than cooking.

Proving Heat

Providing heat with natural gas is usually less expensive than providing heat using electrical appliances. Savings can be up to 50% subject to your fuel prices and relative efficiency gains.

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.

Fireplaces

Apart from keeping your home warm gas is great for having a fire in your home. With a gas fireplace, you still get real flames and a focal point without the hassle.

Air Conditioning

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

Gas fueled air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is better value to run and maintain meaning lower prices in the long term. Superior effectiveness has the added benefit of reducing your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

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

The fact that gas lines are almost always underground and guarded from the weather means you can still have hot water even when there’s a power outage.

Cooking

We’ve all come across the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great commercial strategy created to link the use of natural gas to effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the phrase is still around because it is accurate. The majority of chefs choose gas for the ease with which you can vary the size of the flame, and gas stoves are also a more cost effective way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Gas might not be the first place your mind goes when it comes to laundry, however, gas tumble dryers are a great choice. Gas Dryers dry clothes at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

You have to restrict your gas use to indoor appliances. When it comes to outdoor living, gas is a great power source for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

delight friends before they even get out of the car with driveway lighting, keep them warm even when the temperature drops and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the having to go to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And gas fire pits set the mood as well as giving comfort for luxurious outside living.

Pros of Natural Gas Appliances

With any decision you make it’s best weight up the pros and the cons. Here are some of the benefits.

Choosing gas will cut your power bills.
Natural gas appliances tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Natural gas is an ecologically sound choice as it is the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply more reliable. This means you can still heat your home even if you get a power outage.At worst you might need to find a match.

Negatives of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Natural gas appliances usually have a higher initial investment. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
Installing a new gas line can be costly. The price will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your supplier before making any decisions.
Moving or extending a gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should be included in any price analysis.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas appliances are not properly installed or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Gas?

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

Currently gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the cost is your main driver this can be a big part of 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. With this in mind, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another reason to choose natural gas is stability of supply. If power cuts are common where you live then having appliances that continue to work during outages can count for a lot.

Finally, the eco-friendly credentials of natural gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Opting for solar panels or a heat pump could be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.