Gas Appliances

Thinking about switching to gas appliances could be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as experiencing increases in ease, efficiency and performance.

There is a plentiful supply of gas in the United States meaning that prices per unit are low and stable, and natural gas is considered the cleanest fossil fuel, consequently, it can be seen as the most eco-friendly option.

If you already have gas installed in your home, or are completing a new dwelling you may wish to consider the likely gains of choosing natural gas and gas home appliances.

Read more about gas appliances here from Tyson’s Appliance Repair:

What is a Natural Gas Home Appliance?

A gas device makes use of natural gas as the main power source. Natural gas devices present a great substitute to electrical devices for heating your house, providing hot water, cooking your food and even air conditioning and tumble drying.

Usually you will still need to plug in a gas appliance. The quantity electric used depends on the type of appliance. E.g, a natural gas stove will still operate even when there is a power outage, whereas a gas dryer still relies upon electricity to make the drum turn.

A List of Appliances That Run On Gas

Natural gas can have a great many purposes in your house.

Proving Heat

Heating your home with natural gas generally costs less than providing heat using electrical heaters. Your expenditure could halve depending on your energy tariffs and efficiency.

Gas makes the air hotter in a shorter time and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being better protected than power lines.

A Fireplace

As well as keeping your home warm gas is ideal for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a natural gas fire, you still get all the ambiance and plenty of warmth without the hassle.

Cooling

Gas can offer an efficient method to keep your home cool.

Gas powered air conditioning requires a higher initial investment but is cheaper on an ongoing basis meaning a better return on your investment. Better performance has the added upside of reducing your C02 emissions.

Heating Water

There are two types of gas water boilers, on demand and tank. Gas heaters are quicker and more efficient than electric water heaters. Tankless water heaters also give a continuous supply.

The fact that gas lines are usually hidden and sheltered from the weather means you will still have heating even when you don’t have electricity.

Preparing Food

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

Regardless of the origin the phrase is still around because it is valid. The majority of chefs choose natural gas for the ease with which you can control the heat, and natural gas hobs are also a less wasteful way of turning fuel into heat.

Clothes Dryers

You may not immediately think of using natural gas to dry your clothes, however, gas tumble dryers have many advantages. They heat the air 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? When it comes to outdoor living, natural gas is often used for lighting and cooking and even to heat your pool.

Impress your guests before they even get out of the car with driveway lighting, keep them warm even when the temperature drops and get a meal prepared outside, whenever you are ready, and without the need to remember to fill up your gas bottles.

Just like domestic heaters a pool or spa heater will heat the water twice as rapidly as an electric equivalent. And natural gas fire pits set the mood as well as giving warmth for luxurious indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Pros of Gas Appliances

As in all things there are pros and cons to natural gas devices. First up the advantages of choosing Natural Gas.

Choosing gas will cut your power bills.
Natural gas home appliances tend to be more efficient making them a better choice for your wallet and for the environment.
Gas is an ecologically sound selection as it is viewed as the least polluting of the fossil fuels, with emissions of around 27% less C02 than oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than coal.
Gas supplies are generally more reliable and less susceptible to damage or interruption This means you can continue to cool your home even if the power goes out.At worst you might need to find a match.

Disadvantages of Natural gas Home Appliances

Gas appliances generally have a higher initial outlay. Both the price of the appliance and the installation cost are likely to be higher.
Having a natural gas line installed if you don’t already have one 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 energy company before making a final decision.
Having a natural gas line moved or extended can also cost a considerable amount so this should be added to any cost benefit analysis.
Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if natural gas home appliances are not properly installed or regularly maintained. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is essential is you use gas in your home.

Should You Choose Gas?

Making the choice between natural gas and electricity is not always simple and the right choice for you probably won’t be the best choice for everyone.

If your main driver is cost gas is currently the cheaper option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have gas, converting to natural gas comes at a cost. Therefore, 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 natural gas is that you are less likely to get interruptions in supply. If power failures happen often where you live then having appliances that continue to work during outages can count for a lot.

Lastly, in environmental terms, while gas devices are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources like you can electrical devices. Choosing renewable energy could be a better investment and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.