Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to natural gas home appliances could be an option to save money while seeing gains in comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Shale gas easy to extract in the US meaning that prices are low and stable, and gas is considered the least polluting non-renewable energy source, consequently, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging choice.

If you already have natural gas installed at home, or are completing a new home you might consider the possible gains of using more natural gas and natural gas appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances below from Same-Day Skokie Appliance Repair:

What is a Gas Appliance?

A natural gas appliance runs on natural gas as the dominant power source. Natural gas appliances are a practicable alternative to electrically powered home appliances.

In most situations gas appliances nonetheless will need an electrical outlet but use gas as the major source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas boiler will still work even if the power goes out, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still relies upon electricity.

A List of Home Appliances That Use Natural Gas.

Natural gas could have a great many purposes in your house.

Keeping You Warm

Keeping yourself warm with gas is generally less expensive than heating using electricity. Savings 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 a huge benefit if you for winter power outages

An Indoor Fire

As well as heating natural gas is perfect for a fireplace. With a natural gas fire, you still get all the ambiance and plenty of warmth without the fuss.

Keeping Cool

Gas can be an adept method to keep your home cool.

Natural gas powered air conditioning are often a higher price to begin with but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning lower prices in the long term. Superior performance has the added upside of cutting your C02 emissions.

Water Heating

There are two types of gas water heaters, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless heaters also provide a continuous supply. Which is useful if you have a big family that indulges in long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually hidden and sheltered from the weather means you can still have hot water even if there’s a power outage.

Preparing Food

We’ve all come across the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line created to link gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying is still around because it is valid. A great many chefs choose gas for the ease with which you can vary the temperature, and gas stoves are also a less wasteful way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You may not instantly think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, gas dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers operate at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time.

Using Gas Outside

Did you know you don’t just have to use natural gas inside your home? Outside, gas is a great power source for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your spa.

Impress friends before they even reach the front door with outdoor lighting, keep them cosy on cool evenings and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like indoor heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as fast as an electric heater. And gas fire pits set the mood as well as giving comfort for perfect indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Pros of Natural Gas Home Appliances

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

Gas is generally less expensive than electricity saving you money on your annual energy costs.
Natural gas home 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, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide 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 still cook even if there’s no electricity supply.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Gas Home Appliances

Gas appliances tend to have a higher initial outlay. Both the cost of the appliance and the cost to install are likely to be higher 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 energy company before deciding.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also require a big outlay.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas home appliances are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential 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 right choice for you might not be the optimal choice for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is currently the least expensive option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, converting to gas comes at a cost. Thus, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.

Another key advantage of gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power failures happen often where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power failures can count for a lot.

Finally, in environmental terms, while gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical home appliances. Choosing renewable energy could be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.