Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to gas home appliances might be a good option to reduce your bills while experiencing higher levels of ease, efficiency and performance.

There is a plentiful supply of gas in the United States meaning that equivalent prices are low and stable, and gas is looked upon as the cleanest fossil fuel, therefore, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging option.

If you already have gas installed in your house, or are building a new house you might think about the likely gains of switching to natural gas and gas appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances below from Pearson’s Appliance Repair:

What are Gas Home Appliances?

A gas home appliance employs natural gas as the main fuel source. Natural gas devices afford a viable substitute for electrical goods.

Generally you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas stove can still be used even during a power cut, whereas a gas dryer still requires electrical components to make the drum turn.

Types of Gas Appliances

Natural gas is not just for heating.

Heating

Keeping yourself warm with gas is generally less expensive than keeping warm using electrical heaters. Savings can be as much as 50% depending on your energy costs and efficiency.

Gas heats the air faster and offers better reliability.

Fireplaces

Aside from heating gas is great for a fireplace.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and a focal point without the hassle.

Keeping Cool

Natural gas air conditioning can be an efficient means to cool your home.

Gas fueled air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is more cost effective on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Superior effectiveness has the added positive impact of lowering your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

There are two types of natural gas water heaters, non-tank and tank. Natural gas heaters are quicker and more efficient than electric water heaters. On-demand water heaters also give a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that gas lines are generally underground and guarded from the elements means you can still have hot water even if you don’t have electricity.

Preparing Food

Everyone has encountered the saying “cooking with gas”. A great marketing strategy designed to link the use of gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the phrase is still around because it is true. Most chefs choose gas for the ability to control the temperature, and natural gas ranges also offer a less wasteful way of converting energy into heat.

Tumble Dryers

Gas might not be the first place your mind goes when it comes to drying clothes, however, gas clothes dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers work at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.

Outdoor Living

You have to restrict your natural gas use to indoor appliances. When it comes to outdoor living, gas is a great power source for lighting and cooking and even to heat your spa.

Impress your guests before they even get out of the car with path lighting, keep them cosy even when the temperature falls and get the food cooking outside, when you like, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic water heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric heater. And gas patio heaters give ambiance as well as giving warmth for perfect outside living.

Pros of Gas Home Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to gas home appliances. First up the pros.

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity saving you money on your annual utility costs.
Natural gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an ecologically sound selection as it is viewed as the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, contributing around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Natural 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 Gas Home Appliances

Gas devices usually are subject to a higher initial investment. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be higher for a natural 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.
Moving or extending a gas line can also require a big outlay so this should be added to any cost comparisons.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas appliances are not installed correctly or not maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

Making the choice between natural gas and electricity is not straightforward and the optimal choice for you may not be the right decision for everyone.

Currently 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 gas, converting to natural gas is expensive. Thus, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good place to start.

Another key advantage of gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power cuts are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during outages can be a huge benefit.

Lastly, the eco-friendly credentials of gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t switch them to renewable sources in the same way you can electrical home appliances. Installing solar panels or a heat pump could be a better investment and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.