Gas or electric appliances: which are best for you?

Have you been spending hours surfing the internet and trying to find the perfect appliances for your home? Or maybe you’re tired of spending a lot of your income paying electricity bills and are thinking about switching from gas to electric appliances or vice versa, we’ll explain which ones might be best for you.

Gas or electric appliances: which are best for you?

Although the idea of ​​saving some money on your energy bills makes switching from electric appliances to gas appliances seem quite appealing, making an impulsive decision just to save a few hundred Euros is not always the most sensible approach. Before making a hasty decision, it is worth considering factors such as whether your home is prepared for gas or electric appliances and whether you can afford the initial investment of one or the other appliance.

Reliability is another important consideration – are gas appliances as reliable as electric appliances? Take a moment to weigh these factors against the prospect of saving money, ensuring that your decision is in line with not only your budget, but also the safety and efficiency of your home.

What are electrical appliances?

As the name suggests, electrical appliances are devices that use electricity as their main source of energy. Electrical appliances can be classified into different categories, such as household appliances, portable appliances, kitchen appliances, etc.

From the electric oven you use to bake to the microwave you use to heat up leftover food, many of the appliances you use in the kitchen depend on electricity. Likewise, the television you use in the living room also falls into the category of electrical appliances.

Finding energy-efficient appliances for your home that use electricity as a power source is not a challenge and can help you save a lot of money in the long run. However, if you live in an area with frequent power cuts and are looking for reliable appliances, switching to gas appliances could be a good idea, as it will not only allow you to continue working without interruption, but it is also considered cheaper than electrical appliances.

What are gas appliances?

Gas appliances, obviously, work using natural gas or propane as the primary source of energy. Although natural gas has been used as an energy source since the mid-19th century to heat homes, much has changed since then. Just like electrical appliances, you can find several types of gas appliances, including those for cooking, heating and even washing clothes.

While there may not be an exact gas equivalent for every electrical appliance, many common household appliances, such as electric stoves and ovens, have gas alternatives. On the other hand, gas refrigerators and dishwashers are not common and finding a suitable appliance can be a challenge. So, while it may not be possible to completely switch to a gas-only home, investing in the alternatives that are currently available may be a good decision based on your situation.

Unfortunately, not all gas appliances work when the lights go out. Many gas appliances connect to an electrical power source. However, they use natural gas as an energy source to create heat, which means they continue to depend on energy to function. Typically, gas appliances, such as water heaters, continue to operate regardless of whether or not there is a power outage. However, the question of whether an electric water heater saves you money or is more expensive is an entirely different debate.

Which one is safer?

Electric appliances usually have a safety advantage and will always be safer than gas appliances. However, if you take some precautionary measures, you can use a gas appliance safely.

Firstly, make sure your home, especially the kitchen, is well ventilated. This is because gas appliances, such as stoves, regardless of whether they are working or inactive, emit nitrogen oxides and methane, among other harmful gases.

If installed incorrectly, gas appliances can produce dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide, which is an invisible, odorless, toxic gas.

According to the CPSC, CO concentrations above 200 ppm can even lead to death. Therefore, in addition to an adequate ventilation system, you should also invest in a carbon monoxide detector. It is certain that the cost will increase. But it is necessary, as a carbon monoxide detector alerts you immediately if any strange build-up of CO is detected.

Since appliances that are not well maintained or installed correctly can cause gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning, it is a good idea to have your gas appliances inspected regularly. We also recommend that you spend some extra money to have your appliances installed by professionals. This rather than doing it yourself to minimize the risk of gas leaks and fires.

Although electrical appliances may seem safer at first glance, as there is no free gas entering your apartment, care must be taken with electrical and gas appliances. While you don’t have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning or leaking electrical appliances, they present a risk of fire and electrocution if they are not installed and maintained correctly. Neither type of household appliance can be considered completely safe unless their installation and use are extremely careful.

Which one is more environmentally friendly?

Although gas appliances can help you reduce your bills, unfortunately they are not environmentally friendly. Gas appliances use natural gas as an energy source. It is mainly made up of methane, a greenhouse gas. When used, natural gas releases unburned methane and carbon dioxide into the environment.

This potent greenhouse gas is responsible for around 30% of global warming since the pre-industrial era. Gas appliances not only have adverse effects on the climate, they also affect the quality of indoor spaces. This is because they produce a series of dangerous emissions inside the home.

According to a report by the IEA (International Journal of Epidemiology), it was concluded that cooking with gas increases the risk of asthma in children. Meanwhile, it was found that children who live in a house with a gas stove have a 42% higher risk of experiencing asthma symptoms. A 2022 report by Stanford scientists also concludes that gas stoves emit about 1.3% of the gas they use in the form of unburned methane. Since electrical appliances do not emit any harmful emissions, they can be considered more environmentally friendly than gas appliances, especially when powered by renewable energy.

Which is the cheapest and which one should you buy?

Once health and safety considerations have been evaluated, cost often becomes the final deciding factor. Before making a final decision, it is important to consider the initial and long-term cost of the device.

However, before we can conclude whether appliances powered by electricity or natural gas are cheaper, it is necessary to take several factors into account. Gas appliances are cheaper in the long run. This is because the cost per unit of gas is generally lower than that of electricity in most regions. This may vary and we recommend checking current local utility rates to make accurate comparisons.

Homes are often initially configured for gas or electric systems. Therefore, the transition between the two can involve significant expenses. Whether you are switching from gas to electricity or vice versa, the cost implications may involve purchasing new appliances. Also replacing the cabling and installing the necessary infrastructure.

That said, the decision between gas and electric appliances comes down to user preferences.

Have you already decided between gas or electric appliances?