Gas Appliances

Looking at natural gas appliances could be an option to reduce your bills while seeing increases in performance and productivity.

Shale gas is in plentiful supply in the US resulting in low, stable costs, and gas is looked upon as the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be seen as the most eco-friendly option.

If you already have a natural gas line in your home, or are completing a new dwelling you may wish to look at the probable advantages of switching to gas and gas home appliances. Find more information about gas appliances below from Total Toledo Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas device employs natural gas as the dominant fuel source. These home appliances are a practicable alternative to electrically powered goods.

In general you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The amount of electric needed depends on how the appliance works. E.g, a gas boiler will provide hot water even if the power goes out, whereas a gas clothes dryer still requires electricity to make the drum turn.

Examples of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Gas is not just for cooking.

Heating

Providing heat with natural gas typically costs less than providing heat using electricity. The difference can be as high as 50% depending on your fuel tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

Natural gas provides higher air temperatures and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

Aside from heating natural gas is perfect for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a natural gas fire, you still get that open fire feeling and a warm home without the fuss.

Cooling

Natural gas can be an adept method to cool your home.

Gas fueled air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is more cost effective to run and maintain meaning cost savings in the long term. Higher performance has the added upside of cutting your C02 emissions.

Water Heaters

Natural gas water boilers come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more fuel efficient than electric water boilers. Tankless water heaters also offer a continuous supply even with high demand. Handy if you have a big family that enjoys long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are almost always underground and guarded from the elements ensures you will still have the ability to heat your home even if there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

We’ve all come across the saying “cooking with gas”. A great marketing line designed to link the use of natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the phrase is used today because it is accurate. The majority of chefs choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the heat, and gas hobs are also a more cost effective way of converting energy into heat.

Tumble Dryers

Natural gas might not be the immediate thing you think of when it comes to drying clothes, however, natural gas tumble dryers can be an excellent choice. Gas Dryers dry clothes a few degrees hotter thus clothes dry in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.

Outdoor Living

Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, natural gas is a great power source for patio lights and outdoor cooking and even to heat your pool.

Wow your guests before they even reach the front door with driveway lights, keep them cosy even when the temperature falls and get food cooked outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your propane bottles.

Just like indoor water heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as rapidly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas patio heaters set the mood as well as providing heat for the best outside entertaining.

Advantages of Gas Home Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to weight up the pros and the cons. First up the pros.

Choosing gas will save you money on your energy bills.
Natural gas home appliances tend to use less energy making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the planet.
Gas is an eco-friendly selection as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 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 you get a power outage.At worst you might need to find a match.

Cons of Natural Gas Home Appliances

Gas appliances usually require a higher initial cost. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be more for a natural gas appliance when looking at next to electrical appliances.
Installing a new gas line can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your provider before deciding.
Moving or extending a natural gas line can also require a big outlay.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas home appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

Making the decision between gas and electricity is not straightforward and the right choice for you might not be the best choice for everyone.

If your main driver is cost natural gas is for the time being the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, retrospectively installing gas is expensive. Thus, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another benefit of natural gas is stability of supply. If power outages are common in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during outages can be a huge benefit.

Lastly, in environmental terms, while natural gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical goods. Choosing renewable energy could be more cost-effective and more eco-friendly options in the long run.