Thinking about switching to natural gas devices could be an option to reduce your bills at the same time as experiencing increases in comfort, convenience and efficiency.
Natural gas easy to extract in the US resulting in low, stable equivalent prices, and shale gas is relatively the least polluting fossil fuel, consequently, it can be seen as the least environmentally damaging choice.
If you already have gas installed at home, or are building a new house you should consider the likely benefits of choosing gas and natural gas appliances. Find more information about gas appliances below from Fort Smith Appliance Repair:
What are Gas Appliances?
A natural gas appliance uses natural gas as the primary fuel source. These appliances afford a workable alternative to electrical goods for heating your home, providing hot water, cooking your food and even air conditioning and clothes drying.
In most instances natural gas home appliances still require an electrical outlet but use gas as the primary fuel. The amount of electricity needed will vary from appliance to appliance. E.g, a gas furnace will still operate even during a power cut, whereas a gas tumble dryer still relies upon electricity to make the drum turn.
Different Natural Gas Appliances
Natural gas has a great many purposes in your home.
Heating
Keeping yourself warm with natural gas is usually less expensive than heating your home with electricity. Your expenditure could halve subject to your fuel prices and efficiency.
Gas heats the air more efficiently and is more reliable.This is due to gas lines being less exposed to the elements than power lines.
An Indoor Fire
Aside from general heating gas is perfect for having a fire in your home.Forget the hassle of having to collect or buy logs or clean out the ashes. With a gas fire, you still get that open fire feeling and a focal point without the mess.
Keeping Cool
Gas air conditioning can offer an adept method to keep your home cool.
Gas air conditioning requires a bigger initial investment but is better value to run and maintain meaning cost savings in the long term. Superior effectiveness also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint.
Heating Water
Natural gas water heaters come in two main designs, tank heaters and non-tank or on-demand heaters. Gas heaters are quicker and more fuel efficient than their electric counterparts. Tankless water heaters also give a continuous supply.
The fact that natural gas lines are generally underground and guarded from the weather means you will still have heating even when there’s a power outage.
Cooking Food
Everyone has heard the saying “cooking with gas”. A gas company marketing line conceived to link the use of gas with effectiveness and efficiency.
Clever marketing or not the saying has stuck around because it is accurate. The majority of chefs and home cooks choose gas for the ability to control the heat, and natural gas hobs provide a more cost effective way of converting energy into heat.
Clothes Dryers
Natural gas might not be the first place your mind goes when it comes to laundry, however, gas dryers are a great choice. Gas Dryers heat the air at a higher temperature thus drying clothes in less time.
Outdoor Living
You have to restrict your gas use to indoor appliances. Outside the home, natural gas is a great power source for lighting and outdoor cooking and even to heat your pool.
delight your guests before they even reach the front door with driveway lighting, keep them warm even when the temperature falls and get food cooked outside at the perfect temperature, 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 get up to temperature twice as fast as an electric equivalent. And natural gas outdoor heaters offer atmosphere as well as giving warmth for luxurious indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Benefits of Gas Home Appliances
As with anything there are pros and cons to natural gas appliances. First up the benefits of choosing Natural Gas.
- Choosing natural gas will cut your energy bills.
- Natural gas appliances tend to use less energy making them more sustainable for your wallet and for the planet.
- Natural gas is an environmentally responsible option as it is viewed as the least environmentally damaging of the fossil fuels, emitting 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 still heat water even if the power goes out.
Cons of Gas Home Appliances
- Gas devices usually have a higher initial outlay. Both the price of the appliance and the associated installation costs are likely to be higher.
- 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 deciding.
- Having a gas line moved or extended can also require a big outlay so this should always be included in any cost comparisons.
- Safety comes first and carbon monoxide can be an issue if gas appliances are not properly installed or regularly maintained. making sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm is non-negotiable is you use gas in your home.
Should You Choose Natural Gas?
Making the change between natural gas and electricity is not straightforward and the best choice for you probably won’t be the optimal choice for everyone.
If your main driver is cost gas is currently the lower priced option. However, while studies show that three-quarters of new home buyers are choosing to have natural gas, retrospectively installing gas comes at a cost. Therefore, getting a quote for installing a natural gas line if you don’t currently have gas appliances is a good place to start.
Another benefit of natural gas is stability of supply. If power failures are common where you live then being able to heat water, heat or cool your home and cook during outages can be a huge benefit.
Finally, in environmental terms, while gas appliances are generally more efficient you can’t power them from renewable sources in the same way you can electrical devices. Installing renewable energy could be a better investment and more environmentally responsible options in the long run.