Thinking about switching to gas devices may be a way to reduce your bills while seeing increases in comfort, convenience and efficiency.
Shale gas easy to extract in the United States resulting in low, stable prices, and gas is considered to be the least polluting fossil fuel, therefore, it can be regarded as the most eco-friendly alternative.
If you already have gas installed at home, or are building a new house you should consider the likely benefits of choosing natural gas and natural gas home appliances. Find more information about gas appliances here from Express Vista Appliance Repair:
What are Gas Appliances?
A gas appliance employs gas as the primary fuel source. Natural gas devices present a practicable substitute to electrical home appliances.
Generally 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 gas boiler will produce hot water even if the electricity cuts out, whereas a natural gas tumble dryer still relies upon electrical components.
A List of Appliances That Operate Using Gas.
Gas can be used for more than cooking.
Keeping You Warm
Heating your home with gas typically costs less than heating using electricity. Your expenditure could halve subject to your energy prices and efficiency.
Natural gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and is more reliable.
Fireplaces
Aside from keeping your home warm gas is great for a fireplace. With a gas fire, you still get that open fire feeling and plenty of warmth without the mess.
Cooling
Gas can offer an efficient way to cool your home, even if there is a power outage.
Natural gas powered air conditioning can be a higher price to begin with but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning lower prices in the long term. Higher efficiency has the added positive impact of cutting your carbon footprint.
Water Heaters
There are two styles of gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more productive than electric water heaters. On-demand water heaters also offer a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big household that indulges in long showers.
The fact that natural gas lines are generally dug into the ground and guarded from the elements means you still have hot water even if you don’t have electricity.
Cooking
Most people have come across the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link gas to effectiveness and efficiency.
Regardless of the etiology the phrase has stuck around because it is accurate. A great many chefs choose natural gas for the ability to control the temperature, and natural gas stoves provide a less wasteful way of converting energy into heat.
Dryers
You may not immediately think of using natural gas in your laundry room, however, gas tumble dryers have many advantages. They work a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.
Outdoor Entertaining
You have to restrict your natural gas use to indoor appliances. Outside, gas is a great power source for lighting and food prep and even to heat your spa.
Impress guests before they even get out of the car with driveway lighting, keep them toasty even when the temperature falls and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your propane bottles.
Just like domestic water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And gas fire pits set the mood as well as providing heat for luxurious indoor-outdoor living.
Advantages of Gas Appliances
As with anything there are pros and cons to gas appliances. First up the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.
- Choosing natural gas will reduce your utility bills.
- Natural gas appliances tend to be more efficient making them financially and environmentally viable.
- Natural gas is an eco-friendly selection as it is considered the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide 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 Gas Appliances
- Gas appliances generally require a higher initial investment. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater.
- Having a gas line installed can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your supplier before making any decisions.
- Having a gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount so this should be added to any cost benefit analysis.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if natural gas appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use natural gas in your home.
Should You Choose Gas?
Making the decision between natural gas and electricity is not easy and the right choice for you probably won’t be the optimal decision for everyone.
Currently natural gas is almost always less expensive than electricity, so if the price is your main motivation 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, 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 failures happen often where you live then having appliances that continue to work during power failures can be a huge benefit.
Lastly, the eco-friendly credentials of gas could be considered as relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical devices. Installing solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be a better investment and more sustainable options in the long run.