Gas Appliances

Considering gas devices may be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as experiencing gains in ease, efficiency and performance.

Shale gas easy to extract in the United States resulting in low, stable prices, and shale gas is looked upon as the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible option.

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

Read more about gas appliances here from Pace Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Appliances?

A gas device uses natural gas as the main power source. Natural gas home appliances present a practicable substitute for electrically powered goods for heating your house, providing hot water, cooking your food and even cooling your home and clothes drying.

Generally you will still need to supply electricity to a gas appliance. The amount of electricity needed depends on the type of appliance. For example, a gas water heater will work even if the power goes out, whereas a natural gas clothes dryer still needs electricity.

A List of Devices That Run On Natural Gas.

Natural gas can have any number of purposes in your home.

Heating

Keeping yourself warm with natural gas is generally less expensive than keeping warm with electricity. Savings can be up to 50% depending on your energy tariffs and relative efficiency gains.

Gas heats the air more quickly and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.

Fireplaces

Apart from keeping your home warm gas is ideal for a fireplace. With a gas fire, you still get real flames and a warm home without the fuss.

Cooling

Natural gas can be an efficient method to keep your home cool, even if there is a power cut.

Natural gas fueled air conditioning are often a higher price initially but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Superior efficiency has the added positive impact of lowering your C02 emissions.

Water Heaters

Natural gas water boilers come in two styles, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are faster and more efficient than their electric substitutes. Tankless water heaters also offer a continuous supply even with high demand. Which is useful if you have a big family that appreciates 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 when there’s a power outage.

Cooking Food

Most people have heard the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Regardless of the origin the phrase has stuck around because it is accurate. A great many chefs and home cooks choose gas for the fact that they can vary the size of the flame, and natural gas stoves are also a more cost effective way of turning energy into heat.

Tumble Dryers

You may not immediately think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas clothes dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers heat the air a few degrees hotter thus drying clothes in less time.

Using Gas Outside

Natural Gas doesn’t just have indoor uses. Outside the home, gas is a great power source for lighting and food prep and can even be used to heat your pool.

Wow friends as soon as they arrive with path lights, keep them warm on cool evenings and get food cooked outside, when you like, and without the having to go to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will get up to temperature twice as rapidly as an electric heater. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as providing comfort for the best outside living.

Pros of Natural Gas Appliances

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

Gas is generally cheaper than electricity thus lowering your annual utility costs.
Gas devices tend to use less energy making them financially and environmentally viable.
Gas is an eco-friendly option as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Natural gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can still heat water even if there’s no electricity supply.

Negatives of Gas Appliances

Gas appliances tend to require a higher initial investment. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be greater.
Installing a new gas line can be expensive. The price will vary depending on a number of factors, so it is worth talking to your supplier before making any decisions.
Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a killer if gas home appliances are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. Having a carbon monoxide alarm is a must is you use gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

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

Currently gas is almost always cheaper 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, switching to gas is expensive. With this in mind, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good place to start.

Another key advantage of gas is reliability of supply. If power cuts happen often where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during power failures can be a huge benefit.

Finally, in environmental terms, while natural gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical appliances. Choosing solar panels or a heat pump may turn out to be less expensive and more sustainable options in the long run.