At one point, nearly every home in America was powered by natural gas. But while electric lights supplanted gas lamps over time, gas appliances are still commonplace today. Most homes contain at least one. However, the growing popularity of electric appliances has led to considerable debate over which is most cost-effective. For homeowners concerned about utility bills and operating costs, here is a brief rundown to help you decide what is more efficient, gas or electric, for each area of your home.
Price vs. Performance
Gas heat not only generates more thermal energy, it also reaches its maximum potential in less time than electric heat. As a result, relying on natural gas generally leads to greater energy savings. Because air conditioning runs exclusively off electricity, the debate over energy sources is focused almost entirely on home heating systems such as:
Furnaces
Gas prices are lower than electricity in most parts of the country. Based on current rates, homeowners can expect to pay around 60 percent less to run a gas furnace compared to an electric one. What’s more, because gas furnaces heat up quickly, they cycle less often and burn less energy.
Electric heat pumps are an alternative to traditional furnaces. They operate on the same principle as an air conditioner, only instead of transferring heat out of your home, they release it into your home. A 2,000 square foot house requires a 4-ton heat pump, which costs around $500-$700 a year to run, roughly equivalent to a gas furnace. However, because heat pumps do not function well in colder climates, they may not be a viable substitute in your area.
Ovens & Stoves
Gas stoves and ovens not only heat up faster; they provide better temperature control because you can see and adjust the flame. Burning gas also releases small amounts of water vapor, which affects certain foods. While it helps meat dishes retain moisture, the added humidity makes it harder to brown items such as potatoes and cookies. By contrast, electric ovens, which produce a much drier heat, are great for crisping.
Fireplaces
Wood burning fireplaces are romantic, but messy. Rather than deal with the headache of sweeping up ash and soot, many homeowners are switching to gas fireplaces instead. They’re not only cleaner; they produce fewer carbon emissions as well. Electric fireplaces produce even fewer emissions, but can only generate a maximum of 10,000 BTUS (gas fireplaces can generate up to 40,000). Their smaller output also limits their heating area, so you have to huddle up to feel their warmth.
Water Heaters
Gas water heaters heat water more quickly, ensuring a greater supply of hot water. By contrast, electric water heaters take longer to recover and may struggle to keep up with high demand.
Dryers
Electric dryers have a smaller heat output than gas-powered units and therefore take longer to dry your clothes. Extended drying cycles lead to wrinkles and static electricity, because clothes spend more time tumbling around in contact with the drum. Gas dryers not only consume less energy per load, they also dissipate heat faster, giving wrinkles less of a chance to set in.
Energy Efficiency
One of the main advantages of electric power is that nearly 100 percent of it is converted into heat. With gas appliances, some energy is always lost during the combustion process. Devices with open flames, such as gas ovens and stoves, only convert 50-60 percent of their fuel into heat, while gas furnaces, whose seals the flames inside a combustion chamber, convert over 90 percent.
Air Quality
Burning natural gas, even under controlled conditions, emits harmful fumes such as nitrogen dioxide, though the health risks are negligible. However, homes that rely on natural gas do have to take precautions against carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, which occurs when fuel is burned incompletely. CO is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, which makes it impossible to identify without a safety device. To protect your family, place a CO detector on every floor of your house, including the basement. There should be one within 10-15 feet of every bedroom and one inside your attached garage as well.
Homeowners should also learn the signs and symptoms of gas leaks, which can occur due to corrosion, damaged seals, faulty installation, and general wear and tear. These include:
- Smell of rotten eggs
- Unusually high gas consumption
- Hissing sounds from gas lines or appliances
- Air bubbles in pools or puddles outside your house
- Dead or dying plants inside and outside your house
- Health problems such as headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and difficulty breathing
Switching to electrical systems eliminates these worries. That said, electric cooktops can produce fumes if not properly cleaned, due to burn off from food residue, so always wipe them down after cooking.
Environmental Impact
Due to the rise in renewable energy, switching to electrical power generally lowers your home’s carbon footprint. The size of the reduction depends on the mix of power plants in your area. Households in areas powered by fossil fuels will see a smaller decrease than ones supplied by a large network of wind turbines and hydroelectric dams. Purchasing electric appliances also lets you take better advantage of solar panel technology, either by installing them in your home or joining a community solar garden.
Maintenance
Even though electrical devices don’t always lower energy costs, they can produce savings long-term due to maintenance costs. Because gas appliances contain complex mechanical and combustion systems with a large number of moving parts (valves, burners, ignition switches, etc.), they are more prone to operational wear. Electrical appliances, by contrast, have comparatively simple designs that leave them less likely to malfunction. Consequently, they generally require less service and preventative care.
Save on Home Repairs with Agway EnergyGuard™
While both gas and electricity have their strengths, each requires expert support in order to function reliably over the course of their lifespan. Even the most robust system will experience some degree of deterioration from daily use. Home insurance doesn’t cover this type of damage, but Agway does. Our EnergyGuard™ program protects your heating, cooling, and electrical systems from wear and tear.
When the need for repair occurs, our customers don’t waste time searching for a qualified repairman. They call us instead. Our service team maintains a network of qualified technicians in your area and will send the first available one straight to your door. There are no service fees or deductibles either. We pay for the cost of the visit and all covered parts. Protect your home and your budget. Sign up and start enjoying the benefits of EnergyGuard™ today!
