Considering natural gas appliances might be a way to reduce your bills while seeing higher levels of performance and productivity.
There is a high supply of shale gas in the US meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and shale gas is viewed as the least polluting fossil fuel, therefore, it can be viewed as the greener choice.
If you already have a gas line in your house, or are completing a new dwelling you might consider the likely advantages of using more gas and natural gas home appliances. Read more about gas appliances here from Achieve Dearborn Appliance Repair:
What are Gas Appliances?
A natural gas appliance uses gas as the primary power source. These goods offer a great substitute for electrical appliances for heating your living space, heating water, cooking food and even cooling your home and drying your clothes.
Generally you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The quantity electricity needed depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a natural gas water heater will provide hot water even during a power cut, whereas a natural gas clothes dryer still requires electrical components.
A List of Appliances That use Natural Gas.
Gas is about more than cooking.
Proving Heat
Providing heat with gas generally costs less than providing heat using electricity. Your costs could be cut in half depending on your energy tariffs and efficiency.
Natural gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and is more reliable.
Fireplaces
Apart from keeping your home warm natural gas is great 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 real flames and a warm home without the mess.
Keeping Cool
Natural gas air conditioners can offer an efficient way to cool your home, even if there is a power failure.
Gas air conditioning are often a higher price initially but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning lower prices in the long term. Better performance has the added upside of cutting your carbon footprint.
Hot Water
There are two types of natural gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Natural gas heaters are more rapid and more fuel efficient than electric water heaters. On-demand heaters also give a continuous supply. Handy if you have a big household that indulges in long showers.
The fact that natural gas lines are usually dug into the ground and sheltered 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 marketing line conceived to link gas to effectiveness and efficiency.
Clever marketing or not the phrase has stuck around because it is true. Most chefs and home cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can control the temperature, and natural gas stoves provide a much more efficient way of converting energy into heat.
Dryers
Natural gas might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas tumble dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers heat the air at a higher temperature thus clothes dry in less time and clothes have to endure less tumbling.
Using Natural Gas Outside
You have to restrict your gas use to indoor appliances. When it comes to outdoor entertaining, gas is a popular choice for patio lights and outdoor cooking and can even be used to heat your pool.
delight friends as soon as they arrive with driveway lighting, keep them warm even when the temperature drops and get the food cooking outside, whenever you are ready, 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 fast as an electric heater. And natural gas outdoor heaters set the mood as well as offering heat for perfect outside living.
Pros of Natural Gas Home Appliances
As in all things there are pros and cons to gas home appliances. Here are some of the benefits of choosing Natural Gas.
- Natural gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual power bills.
- Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
- Gas is an environmentally responsible selection as it is viewed as the cleanest 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 continue to heat your home even if the power goes out.
Negatives of Gas Home Appliances
- Natural gas devices generally are subject to a higher initial cost. Both the price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical alternatives.
- Having a natural gas line installed can be costly. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home, so it is worth talking to your energy company before making any decisions.
- Having a gas line moved or extended can also be expensive.
- Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas home appliances are not properly installed or not maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.
Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?
Making the change between natural gas and electricity is not always simple and the best choice for you might not be the best decision for everyone.
If your main driver is cost natural gas is currently the cheaper fuel. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, converting to natural gas is expensive. Therefore, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t already have one is a good place to start.
Another key advantage of natural gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts happen often in your area then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power cuts can be a big plus.
Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas home appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical goods. Installing renewable energy may turn out to be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.