Kitchen Gas Appliances - New House--Gas Appliances?
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marylou
11-17-05, 07:24 AM
I have been researching the HVAC and appliances for our new home construction. I am leaning towards using propane gas (natural not available) for the boiler for heating the house and hot water. I am planning on having a gas cooktop, small gas stoves for additional heat sources, a gas dryer, and, eventually, a gas heated hot tub.
My husband would be satisfied with all electric but I can't see that as ever being efficient unless we eventually add solar.
My questions: will using the gas appliances actually be cost effective in the long run even with the hike in fuel prices? I have never had gas appliances but I am interested because they can be run during power outages--are they safe? I also want to add a propane powered generator for outages--any suggestions on those?
Thanks in advance for any input!
My husband would be satisfied with all electric but I can't see that as ever being efficient unless we eventually add solar.
My questions: will using the gas appliances actually be cost effective in the long run even with the hike in fuel prices? I have never had gas appliances but I am interested because they can be run during power outages--are they safe? I also want to add a propane powered generator for outages--any suggestions on those?
Thanks in advance for any input!
Sharp Advice
11-17-05, 06:36 PM
Hello marylou. Welcome to my Gas Appliances topic.
Gas of either type overal will be the best choice cost wise over the long term. Check the rates in your area. Also consider the fact that natural gas is often used to power electical generators the power companies use. Nat gas burns cleanly and reduces emissions. So gas is still used to make electrical power.
As far as todays modern gas appliances, many will not operate without electrical power anyway. So, if using them during any power outages you may not be able to or will still need to make or use electrical power from your own generator.
Having a generator to power the entire house must meet all local codes so as not to have power in any of the cities electrical lines during a power outage. About the only cost effective & safe method is to have a portable generator large enough kwh wise to run appliances. Which many demand huge amounts to operate. No real easy way around a cities power outage.
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Web Site Host, Forums Monitor, Web Sites Moderator Hiring Agent, Gas Appliances Topic Moderator & Multiple Forums Moderator & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Gas of either type overal will be the best choice cost wise over the long term. Check the rates in your area. Also consider the fact that natural gas is often used to power electical generators the power companies use. Nat gas burns cleanly and reduces emissions. So gas is still used to make electrical power.
As far as todays modern gas appliances, many will not operate without electrical power anyway. So, if using them during any power outages you may not be able to or will still need to make or use electrical power from your own generator.
Having a generator to power the entire house must meet all local codes so as not to have power in any of the cities electrical lines during a power outage. About the only cost effective & safe method is to have a portable generator large enough kwh wise to run appliances. Which many demand huge amounts to operate. No real easy way around a cities power outage.
Use the reply button to add additional information or questions. Using this method keeps the topic back up to the top of the list automatically.
Web Site Host, Forums Monitor, Web Sites Moderator Hiring Agent, Gas Appliances Topic Moderator & Multiple Forums Moderator & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Pendragon
11-21-05, 01:38 PM
I personally prefer gas appliances, some people aren't comfortable with gas though. Between the two, I also prefer propane for a number of reasons.
Propane is usually cheaper, and you can purchase when you want to (ie when prices are lower in the summer). There's no monthly "here's your fee for the priviledge of being our customer".
Depending on your area, some natural gas companies shut off the flow during storms (here in florida, especially along the beaches), so if you are on natural gas, have all your appliances and that nifty natural gas generator, you are still out of luck!
Generac makes a fine selection of whole house, propane capable generators. The 15kw model is about $3000 (not including installation), and uses, as I recall, about 2 gallons/hour under full load.
The advantage of having other propane fired appliances is the reduced electrical demand. Not having to power a hot water heater or stove means you can use a smaller generator than the house next door that has to power those items electrically. For reference, my 6500 watt (gasoline) generator will run everything in the house except the heat pump, and two small window units will keep the place comfortable enough for hurricane outages.
The pilotless appliances will still need power to work (except a cooktop, which you can light the old fashioned way), but you've got that covered with the generator (or even a small battery backup).
In my area, a 500 gallon underground tank will run about $1500 installed, plus the cost of fuel (about $1.50 a gallon right now I think). That will last a pretty good while (maybe 2 years), even if used for primary heating depending on your climate.
Propane is usually cheaper, and you can purchase when you want to (ie when prices are lower in the summer). There's no monthly "here's your fee for the priviledge of being our customer".
Depending on your area, some natural gas companies shut off the flow during storms (here in florida, especially along the beaches), so if you are on natural gas, have all your appliances and that nifty natural gas generator, you are still out of luck!
Generac makes a fine selection of whole house, propane capable generators. The 15kw model is about $3000 (not including installation), and uses, as I recall, about 2 gallons/hour under full load.
The advantage of having other propane fired appliances is the reduced electrical demand. Not having to power a hot water heater or stove means you can use a smaller generator than the house next door that has to power those items electrically. For reference, my 6500 watt (gasoline) generator will run everything in the house except the heat pump, and two small window units will keep the place comfortable enough for hurricane outages.
The pilotless appliances will still need power to work (except a cooktop, which you can light the old fashioned way), but you've got that covered with the generator (or even a small battery backup).
In my area, a 500 gallon underground tank will run about $1500 installed, plus the cost of fuel (about $1.50 a gallon right now I think). That will last a pretty good while (maybe 2 years), even if used for primary heating depending on your climate.
marylou
11-23-05, 03:15 PM
Thank you so much for the information--it is very helpful to get feedback from people who are not trying to sell me something.
we are building in West Va so we do have to plan for cold winters--I am looking at gas powered furnace for forced hot air heat. I wanted to have radiant floor heat but the prices are still too high for us.
I am assuming a gas furnance would also be more cost effective than an all electric heat system in the long run if past history is any standard. These days with all fuel prices going up and down erratically I think it is difficult to tell what is going to be cost effective. Thank goodness we have a wood stove and lots of dead wood on our property.
we are building in West Va so we do have to plan for cold winters--I am looking at gas powered furnace for forced hot air heat. I wanted to have radiant floor heat but the prices are still too high for us.
I am assuming a gas furnance would also be more cost effective than an all electric heat system in the long run if past history is any standard. These days with all fuel prices going up and down erratically I think it is difficult to tell what is going to be cost effective. Thank goodness we have a wood stove and lots of dead wood on our property.