Gas Appliances

Considering gas appliances might be a way to save money while seeing higher levels of comfort, convenience and efficiency.

Gas is in plentiful supply in the US meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and natural gas is viewed as the cleanest fossil fuel, thus, it can be regarded as the least environmentally damaging alternative.

If you already have natural gas installed at home, or are building a new house you may wish to consider the likely gains of switching to natural gas and gas home appliances.

Read more about gas appliances below from J&L Thousand Oaks Appliance Repair:

What are Natural Gas Home Appliances?

A natural gas appliance makes use of natural gas as the primary fuel source. Natural gas appliances afford a workable substitute to electrical devices.

In the majority of cases gas appliances nonetheless require an electrical outlet but use natural gas as the major fuel. The quantity electric needed depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a gas water heater will still work even when there is a power outage, whereas a gas clothes dryer still requires electrical components to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Operate Using Natural Gas.

Gas can be used for more than cooking.

Heating

Keeping yourself warm with gas is generally less expensive than heating using electrical heaters. The difference can be as high as 50% depending on your fuel prices and efficiency.

Gas heats the air more efficiently and offers better reliability.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.

An Indoor Fire

As well as keeping your home warm gas is great for a fireplace. With a gas fireplace, you still get all the ambiance and plenty of warmth without the mess.

Air Conditioning

Natural gas air conditioners can be 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 to run and maintain meaning a better return on your investment. Superior efficiency has the added positive impact of lowering your carbon footprint.

Hot Water

There are two styles of natural gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Gas heaters are more rapid and more fuel efficient than their electric substitutes. Tankless water heaters also provide a continuous supply even with high demand. Invaluable if you have a big household that appreciates long showers.

The fact that natural gas lines are usually underground and sheltered from the elements means you can still have the ability to wash even if you don’t have electricity.

Cooking Food

Everyone has heard the phrase “cooking with gas”. A great advertising line created to link the use of gas with effectiveness and efficiency.

Clever marketing or not the saying is used today because it is accurate. Most chefs choose natural gas for the ability to vary the temperature, and gas stoves are also a more cost effective way of converting fuel into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You might not instantly think of using gas to dry your clothes, however, natural gas dryers have many advantages. Gas Dryers operate at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in a shorter time.

Outdoor Entertaining

Did you know you don’t just have to use gas inside your home? Outside the home, natural gas is a popular choice for lighting and cooking and even to heat your spa.

Impress guests as soon as they arrive with driveway lights, keep them warm even when the temperature falls and get a meal prepared outside at the perfect temperature, whenever you are ready, 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 equivalent. And gas patio heaters set the mood as well as giving comfort for luxurious outside entertaining.

Benefits of Natural Gas Appliances

As with anything there are pros and cons to gas devices. First up the benefits.

  • Choosing natural gas will save you money on your utility bills.
  • Gas appliances tend to use less energy making them a better choice for your wallet and for the environment.
  • Gas is an environmentally responsible choice as it is the least polluting of the fossil fuels, emitting around 27% less carbon dioxide than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
  • Natural gas lines are less exposed to the elements making supply less likely to get interrupted. This means you can still heat water even if the power goes out.At worst you might need to find a match.

Disadvantages of Gas Home Appliances

  • Gas home appliances tend to have a higher initial investment. Both the price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be greater.
  • Having a gas line installed can be expensive. The price will vary depending on a number of factors.
  • Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also require a big outlay so this should always be included in any cost comparisons.
  • Safety first! Carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas appliances are not properly installed or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use natural gas in your home.

Should You Choose Natural Gas?

Making the decision between natural gas and electricity is not always simple and the right choice for you might not be the best decision for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is for the time being the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, converting to natural gas comes at a cost. Thus, finding out how much a new gas line would cost if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good first step.

Another key advantage of gas is stability of supply. If power failures are common in your area then having appliances that continue to work during power cuts can be a huge benefit.

Lastly, the environmental credentials of gas could be considered as relatively short term, as 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.

Additional Types of Appliances