Looking at natural gas appliances may be a good option to lower expenditures while seeing higher levels of comfort, convenience and efficiency.
Gas easy to extract in the US meaning that costs are low and stable, and natural gas is considered the least polluting non-renewable energy source, thus, it can be regarded as the environmentally responsible alternative.
If you already have gas installed at home, or are buying a new house you might think about the possible benefits of using more natural gas and natural gas appliances. Learn more about gas appliances here from Nifty Nashville Appliance Repair:
What is a Natural Gas Home Appliance?
A natural gas device runs on gas as the dominant fuel source. Gas goods present a practicable substitute for electrical devices for heating your house, providing hot water, cooking food and even air conditioning and tumble drying.
In many cases gas devices nonetheless require an electrical outlet but use gas as the main source of power. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. For example, a natural gas cooker will still work even during a power cut, whereas a gas tumble dryer still requires electrical components to make the drum turn.
Examples of Natural Gas Home Appliances
Natural gas isn’t just for heating.
Proving Heat
Providing heat with natural gas usually costs less than keeping warm using electricity. Your outgoings could halve depending on your energy prices and relative efficiency gains.
Natural gas provides higher air temperatures and offers better reliability.
An Indoor Fire
Aside from keeping your home warm gas is perfect for having a fire in your home. With a gas fire, you still get all the ambiance and a focal point without the hassle.
Cooling Your Home
Gas air conditioners can offer an efficient way to keep your home cool, even if there is a power cut.
Natural gas air conditioning requires a greater initial investment but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Higher efficiency also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.
Heating Water
Gas water heaters come in two forms, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Natural gas heaters are faster and more efficient than their electric counterparts. Tankless heaters also offer a continuous supply.
The fact that natural gas lines are almost always dug into the ground and sheltered from the weather ensures 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 advertising strategy conceived to link gas to effectiveness and efficiency.
Clever marketing or not the phrase stuck because it is true. Most chefs and amateur cooks choose natural gas for the ease with which you can control the heat, and natural gas hobs are also a less wasteful way of converting fuel into heat.
Tumble Dryers
You may not instantly think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas clothes dryers are a great choice. They dry clothes a few degrees hotter thus clothes dry in less time.
Outdoor Living
Did you know you don’t just have to use gas inside your home? Outside the home, gas is a popular choice for patio lights and outdoor cooking and even to heat your spa.
delight your guests before they even reach the front door with path lighting, keep them toasty even when the temperature falls and get dinner ready outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, and without the worry of remembering to fill up your propane bottles.
Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as quickly as an electric equivalent. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as offering heat for perfect indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Benefits of Gas Home Appliances
With any decision you make it makes sense to weight up the pros and the cons. Here are some of the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.
- Choosing gas will save you money on your utility bills.
- Gas devices tend to be more efficient making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the environment.
- Natural gas is an eco-friendly selection as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less C02 than coal.
- Natural gas lines are generally run underground making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can still heat your home even if there’s no electricity supply.
Disadvantages of Natural Gas Appliances
- Gas home appliances usually require a higher initial cost. Both the ticket price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be more for a gas appliance when comparing to electrical goods.
- Having a natural gas line installed can be expensive. The cost will vary depending on how close the nearest supply is to your home, so it is worth talking to your provider before deciding.
- Moving or extending a natural gas line can also cost a considerable amount so this should always be added to any cost benefit analysis.
- Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas home appliances are not installed correctly or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.
Is a Gas Appliance Right for You?
Making the choice between gas and electricity is not easy and the best choice for you may not be the optimal choice for everyone.
Currently 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 natural gas, retrospectively installing gas comes at a cost. Thus, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good place to start.
Another key advantage of natural gas is stability of supply. If power outages 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, the environmental credentials of natural gas may be relatively short term, as you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical home appliances. Installing renewable energy may turn out to be more cost-effective and more eco-friendly options in the long run.