More than a third of U.S. consumers have expressed interest in switching to gas appliances from electric. According to a survey by consulting firm Accenture, 38 percent of Americans are considering switching to a gas range or water heater, 37 percent to a gas furnace and 30 percent to a gas clothes dryer. The main driver? SAVINGS.
For example, homeowners could save $1,698 a year using a gas furnace versus an electric one, according to Wisconsin Public service, a utility that offers both kinds of fuel. Annual savings from using a gas range could tally $79; a clothes dryer, $81; and a water heater, $297.
In the kitchen, many gas conversions occur when home-owners remodel to include chef-worthy kitchens. Gas tends to be the preferred cooking method, for its fine degree of control.
Off-setting the savings of gas is the cost of the appliances. There’s also the cost of installing a gas line. Homes dating from the 1970s and earlier often don’t have one. Even newer homes may have a gas line in the laundry room or utility area, but not the kitchen, or vice-versa.
Give us a call when you are thinking about converting your stove, dryer, hot water heater or oven from electricity. If you are considering a redesign for your kitchen, or the clean efficiency of a gas boiler, talk to us about your options.
Gas Dryer or Stove Hook-up
Gas connections for your oven or dryer are really pretty simple—it’s mostly a matter of screwing stuff together. But knowing which fittings to use where can be tricky, and using the wrong ones can lead to a dangerous leak. The experts at Eric M. Butler Plumbing & Heating can do the work quickly, safely, and affordably. Give us a call for an estimate on your gas appliance hook-up.
Installing a Gas Line
The distance from the gas meter to where the appliance will be installed, the size of the line and work required will influence the cost of the installation. The closer you are to where the gas meter is or where an existing line can be tapped off of, the less expensive the installation will be.
Converting to a Gas Hot Water Heater
When your water heater begins to leak, you have to replace it fast. This may be the best time to install a gas water heater in less than a day. Even if you don’t need a new water heater right now, chances are you will within the next few years. Water heaters tend to last seven to 15 years. If yours is getting old, consider upgrading to a gas hot water heater. Plumbing codes vary by region. Better to hire a plumber experienced with gas lines first so you don’t have to change things later!
Converting to a Gas Furnace
The vast majority of oil furnaces are in the Northeast, almost a third of our residential heating systems. That’s largely becasue we are close to the ports where oil barges deliver their loads and the fact that oil was a cheaper option back when our houses were built.
Unlike oil, which gets delivered by truck, natural gas comes into your house from a pipe, either by a utility company’s main line or from a propane tank. So making the switch requires having a gas main under your street or installing a large gas tank by your home.
Is it worth spending potentially a few grand in conversion costs to switch to gas? Well, at last year’s prices, typical fuel-cost savings alone would pay the cost back in less than five years. The decision usually comes down to how complicated the conversion will be for your house—and how good the incentives are that the utilities and state agencies are offering.
Still, there are reasons other than money to make the switch. Gas has lower carbon emissions than oil, so it’s better for the environment. Plus, with a gas supply, you can get that professional kitchen-style, six-burner stove you’ve always wanted.