Comparing Gas And Electricity – Which Is Best For Your Home?

When it comes to purchasing energy, there are several factors that determine our decision on the energy source to use. It’s important to consider all the information available on an energy source before determining which energy source offers the best deal to meet the individual consumer’s needs. Multiple uses of energy in the home encourage the homeowner to look for an affordable and practical energy source. Both gas and electricity are available to the homeowner. Comparing gas and electricity benefits and expense can aid the consumer in making the right choice.

 

Home Appliances

Hot water heaters can be run by electricity or gas. Electric hot water heaters are reasonably priced, but can be expensive to use. Most homeowners wrap their electric heaters in insulating blankets, while others use a timer to turn the heater off during the hours it is not needed. Gas hot water heaters cost a little more than their counterpart, but do provide hot water on demand. Because gas costs less than electricity, it costs less to run a gas water heater. If the power goes out, most gas water heaters continue to provide hot water for showers, “by hand” dish washing, and “instant” meals.

 

Cooking stoves and ovens are popular in both electric and gas models, and each has its own set of benefits. Electric stoves are efficient, less expensive, easy to install, and easy to clean. An electric stove offers both large and small burners, preventing extra heat from escaping into the air and allowing the kitchen to remain cooler. Gas stoves are also efficient, allowing you complete control over flame size. Gas oven temperatures are more accurate and in line with most recipes and cookbooks. Gas stovetops allow for very even heat distribution, which reduces the risk of food scorching. There is no warm up time required for a gas stove, because the heat is instantly available. You won’t have to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during a power outage when you’re cooking with gas.

 

The clothes dryer is another household appliance that consumes a considerable amount of energy. The main difference between an electric and gas clothes dryer is the source of heat production. The electric dryer uses heating coils as a source, and the gas dryer uses a burner to create heat. Both dryers use electricity to run the motor that turns the tumbler containing the clothes to be dried, and both contain an electric fan to blow the hot air around. The initial cost of a gas dryer can be $50.00 or more than an electric dryer and there is a cost associated with installation. The cost of drying your clothes with gas is much cheaper in the long run. Because your clothes will dry more quickly, gas is easier on the fabric in your clothes and saves money spent on replacing items in your wardrobe.

 

Furnaces And Boilers

Which is best for you? Electric heat has some specific advantages, including no emissions or particulates released, no moisture is created in the living environment, and the lack of combustion eliminates the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Electric furnaces are also highly efficient, provide an excellent zoned heat solution, are easy to install, and will not need replacement as quickly as a gas furnace.

 

Natural gas furnaces, however, offer their own set of benefits to the homeowner. Gas is clean burning, cheap, has low emissions, and there is greater control of the heat. It is much easier to maintain a steady temperature with gas heat. Gas also can power room space heaters and fireplaces for transitional weather when heat is only needed occasionally. While the installation of a natural gas furnace is more expensive than an electric model, it is much cheaper to run and keeps the home cozy warm.

 

Air Conditioning

In most climates, summers are hot, and air conditioning is an essential. Most homeowners use electricity for their air conditioner’s power source. The benefits of air conditioning are many. Excessive heat can cause serious health problems, especially for those with respiratory disease, the elderly, and babies. Electric air conditioning is clean and relatively inexpensive if not overused. Gas powered air conditioning units are not as prevalent because of the initial cost and the fact they can only be used where natural gas is available. These natural gas units are highly efficient, and where in use they cost between 33% and 50% less to operate than their electric counterpart.

 

When comparing the best gas and electric prices for your home, get more info at uSwitch.com a price comparison website, and take the time to compare gas and electric options for your furnace and household appliances. By comparison shopping now, you can save money in the future.

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}