Natural gas is one of the most powerful and popular energy sources in the United States. According to the latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), America generates forty-three percent of its electricity through the burning of natural gas. Most parts of the country rely on it whenever they flick on a light switch, but besides providing electricity, what is natural gas used for in your home?
Advantages of Natural Gas
Natural gas has remained one of the country’s biggest sources of heat and electrical power for over a century, partially due to its abundance. By most estimates, America has enough reserves to last for the next 80-100 years. (Texas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania have the biggest gas reservoirs and are some of the biggest gas-consuming states.) But natural gas also offers several other advantages, which helps explain why it’s become so widespread.
- High Output. Natural gas is actually a mix of gases, mostly methane, with small amounts of ethane, propane, butane, and carbon dioxide – compounds that burn rapidly and contain a tremendous amount of energy. As a result, natural gas appliances produce a lot of heat very quickly.
- Energy Efficiency. Even though the number of homes with natural gas has risen steadily since 1975, natural gas consumption has remained stable thanks to advancing technology. Though all gas heating systems lose some heat to the surrounding atmosphere, modern systems keep waste to an absolute minimum – less than two percent in some cases!
- Low Cost. Natural gas production is cheap. Extracting, transporting, and burning it costs significantly less than generating the electricity required to run any household appliance.
American homeowners choose natural gas because it allows them to spend less to heat their homes. While electricity is more efficient (electric appliances convert 100 percent of their energy into heat), its comparatively low output means electric devices have to run longer to achieve the same results, leading to higher energy costs in the long run.
Uses of Natural Gas in Your Home
The majority of natural gas is consumed by power plants and the industrial sector, for electricity generation, chemical production, and steel manufacturing, as well as the refinement of crude oil into diesel and gasoline. Residential use only accounts for around 4.99 trillion cubic feet, or fifteen percent of total consumption. However, despite this relatively small share, natural gas benefits nearly every aspect of your home and daily life, including:
Heating
More than half of all new houses in America use gas furnaces as their primary heat source. Gas furnaces not only reach their maximum operating temperature in under 15 minutes, they convert approximately 98 percent of their fuel, making them a powerful, efficient, and reliable heating system.
In addition to central heating, natural gas also helps keep you warm outdoors. Installing a gas fireplace or fire pit allows you to enjoy your patio and garden even when temperatures dip at night or during winter, without the hassle of chopping wood or cleaning soot and ash.
Cooking
Because you can see and adjust the flames, gas stoves and ovens provide precise temperature control. It’s not surprising that when asked, over 98 percent of chefs prefer cooking with gas rather than electric cooktops. Besides powering fireplaces and radiant heaters, gas also provides your outdoor grill with a steady fuel source, so you never have to worry about firing up the burners.
Water Heating
Gas water heaters recover faster, which makes them a great choice for high demand households. Gas provides plenty of hot water for your shower, dishwasher, and washing machine, even during a power outage.
Drying Clothes
It only takes a gas clothes dryer 5-10 minutes to reach its maximum temperature. A short drying cycle gets your clothes out faster, so wrinkles have less time to set in. It also cuts down on the amount of static electricity, which is generated by prolonged contact with the drum as the clothes tumble around inside.
Swimming
Unlike heat pumps or solar heaters, gas pool heaters can operate in any weather conditions. They act fast, warming the water to your desired level regardless of the ambient temperature. Due to their high output, they’re perfect for large pools and spas, allowing you to heat water on demand rather than running the system constantly throughout the day.
Other Factors to Consider
Natural gas remains one of the safest and most efficient sources of energy in the country. However, there are a few concerns to keep in mind before making the switch.
- Emissions. Like all fossil fuels, burning natural gas creates a few undesirable byproducts. The worst is carbon monoxide, which occurs when the combustion process doesn’t consume all the available fuel, generally due to a clogged or malfunctioning burner. Installing carbon monoxide detectors will alert you, should there be an issue.
- Carbon Footprint. Burning hydrocarbons such as methane, butane, and ethane releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Natural gas may be the cleanest fuel on the market, but because it’s a non-renewable energy source, it minimizes pollutants instead of eliminating them.
- Natural Gas Leak. Gas pipelines typically last decades without any major incident. However, they can develop leaks due to damage, corrosion, and improper installation. The stench of rotten eggs is the most common sign of a gas leak. The odor is mixed in to help you smell gas in your home. (It’s naturally odorless.) Dead plants, hissing sounds, and unusually high energy consumption are also typical warning signs.
Today, more and more communities are embracing natural gas. Because prices are so low, its upsides can be enjoyed at little expense and downsides are easily managed.
Save Money with Agway
Natural gas powers some of the most important parts of your home, but can’t function without sound, expert support. Even the most robust system experiences stress and strain from daily use. Home insurance doesn’t protect you from this type of damage, but we do. Our EnergyGuard™ Home Repair Program covers your heating, cooling, and electrical systems from wear and tear.
What’s more, when the need for repair occurs, our customers don’t have to waste time searching for a qualified repairman. They call us instead. Our service team maintains a network of licensed contractors 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 visit and all covered parts. Contact Agway Energy for reliable gas supply and repair protection with EnergyGuard™.
