Gas Appliances

Looking at switching to natural gas appliances could be a good option to reduce your bills at the same time as seeing increases in ease, efficiency and performance.

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

If you already have gas installed at home, or are building a new dwelling you should consider the potential gains of natural gas appliances and natural gas home appliances.

Find more information about gas appliances below from Astra Appliance Repair:

What is a Natural Gas Appliance?

A gas appliance uses gas as the dominant fuel source. These goods offer a viable substitute for electrically powered home appliances.

In most instances natural gas devices nevertheless will need an electrical outlet but use natural gas as the main fuel. The quantity electric used depends on how the appliance works. For example, a gas boiler will provide hot water even when there is a power outage, whereas a gas clothes dryer still requires electricity.

Types of Gas Home Appliances

Gas can be used for more than heating.

Keeping You Warm

Keeping yourself warm with gas is typically less expensive than heating using electrical appliances. Your expenditure could halve subject to your energy costs and relative efficiency gains.

Gas heats the air in less time and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

Aside from heating natural gas is ideal for a fireplace.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a natural gas fireplace, you still get real flames and plenty of warmth without the mess.

Cooling Your Home

Gas air conditioners can be an adept way to cool your home, even if there is a power outage.

Gas fueled air conditioning requires a bigger initial investment but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Better effectiveness has the added upside of lowering your carbon footprint.

Heating Water

Gas water boilers come in two forms, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are quicker and more productive than their electric counterparts. On-demand water heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand.

The fact that gas lines are almost always dug into the ground and guarded from the weather means you still have hot water even if you don’t have electricity.

Cooking

Everyone has come across the phrase “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line created to link natural gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the phrase is still around because it is valid. Most chefs and home cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can vary the size of the flame, and natural gas ranges provide a much more efficient way of converting energy into heat.

Clothes Dryers

Gas might not be the immediate thing you think of when it comes to laundry, however, natural gas dryers are a great choice. Gas Dryers dry clothes at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.

Using Natural Gas Outside

You have to restrict your natural gas use to indoor appliances. Outside, gas is often used for lighting and cooking and even to heat your pool.

delight friends as soon as they arrive with driveway lights, keep them warm on cool evenings and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, when you like, and without the having to go to fill up your gas bottles.

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

Benefits of Natural Gas Appliances

With any decision you make it makes sense to investigate the pros and the cons. First up the benefits of choosing Natural Gas.

Gas is generally less expensive than electricity saving you money on your annual utility bills.
Gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an environmentally responsible selection as it is considered the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
Gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply more reliable. This means you can continue to cool your home even if you get a power outage.

Negatives of Gas Appliances

Natural gas home appliances generally require a higher initial cost. Both the cost of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater for a gas appliance when looking at next to electrical goods.
Installing a new gas line if you don’t already have one can be costly. The cost will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your supplier before deciding.
Having a gas line moved or extended can also require a big outlay so this should always be included in any price analysis.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if 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 Natural Gas?

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

Currently natural gas is almost always cheaper than electricity, so if the price is your main motivation this can be a major factor in the decision-making process. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, switching to natural gas is expensive. Therefore, getting a quote for installing a gas line if you don’t already have one is a good first step.

Another benefit 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 cuts can count for a lot.

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