Considering switching to natural gas devices may be a way to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of ease, efficiency and performance.
Shale gas abundant in the United States meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and gas is considered to be the cleanest non-renewable energy source, thus, it can be regarded as the most eco-friendly choice.
If you already have a natural gas line in your house, or are completing a new house you should look at the potential gains of choosing gas and gas home appliances. Read more about gas appliances below from Shine Sunrise Appliance Repair:
What are Gas Home Appliances?
A natural gas home appliance makes use of natural gas as the dominant fuel source. These home appliances offer a workable alternative to electrical goods for heating your home, providing hot water, heating food and even air conditioning and drying your clothes.
Usually you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electric needed depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a gas heater can still be used even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a natural gas clothes dryer still relies upon electrical components.
A List of Home Appliances That use Natural Gas.
Natural gas isn’t just for cooking.
Heating
Providing heat with gas is generally less expensive than heating your home using electrical heaters. Savings can be up to 50% subject to your fuel tariffs and relative efficiency gains.
Gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and offers better reliability.
Fireplaces
As well as keeping your home warm natural gas is great for a fireplace. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and a warm home without the mess.
Cooling Your Home
Gas air conditioners can offer an effective method to cool your home.
Natural gas air conditioning can be a higher price to install but is better value on an ongoing basis meaning savings in the long term. Better effectiveness has the added positive impact of lowering your carbon footprint.
Hot Water
Natural gas water boilers come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than their electric alternatives. Tankless heaters also provide a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big household that indulges in long showers.
The fact that gas lines are generally underground and guarded from the elements means you still have hot water even if you don’t have electricity.
Cooking Food
Most people have heard the saying “cooking with gas”. A great commercial strategy designed to link the use of natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.
Regardless of the origin the phrase has stuck around because it is valid. The majority of chefs and amature cooks choose natural gas for the ability to control the temperature, and natural gas stoves provide a much more efficient way of turning energy into heat.
Dryers
Gas might not be the immediate place your mind goes when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. They heat the air at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.
Using Natural Gas Outside
You have to restrict your natural gas use to indoor appliances. Outside, natural gas is often used for patio lights and food prep and even to heat your spa.
delight your guests before they even reach the front door with path lighting, keep them cosy even when the temperature falls and get the food cooking outside, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.
Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric heater. And natural gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as offering warmth for the best outside living.
Advantages of Natural Gas Home Appliances
As with anything there are pros and cons to gas home appliances. First up the pros of choosing Natural Gas.
- Choosing natural gas will reduce your power bills.
- Gas home appliances tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
- Gas is an ecologically sound choice as it is viewed as the cleanest of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
- Gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can continue to heat your home even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.
Negatives of Natural Gas Home Appliances
- Natural gas devices generally have a higher initial cost. Both the price of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be more.
- Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be costly. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home.
- Moving or extending a natural gas line can also be expensive.
- Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use gas in your home.
Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?
Making the change between gas and electricity is not straightforward and the best choice for you may not 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 big part of the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing natural gas comes at a cost. 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 stability of supply. If power failures happen often where you live then having appliances that continue to work during outages can be a big plus.
Lastly, in environmental terms, while gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t switch them to renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Installing solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be less expensive and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.