Natural gas appliances in the home are not only desirable, but they also can significantly impact the resale price of your house (yes, really!). Homes with natural gas sell for 6% more on average than those using electric energy.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), homes with natural gas have a 4% higher resale value than those with oil or propane. In response, many neighborhoods, where there are no pre-existing natural gas pipelines, are campaigning to bring natural gas to their streets.
“It all depends on what the current heat source is in the house. If it's an old oil setup, it may be beneficial to convert to gas,” McGarty says. “If it already has an induction cooktop and a heat pump for heat, then gas isn't adding any value. There's no need to do it.”
While some home buyers might like natural gas if they have a choice, many are fearful of it. Don't expect it to add any appraised value to your home.
“Certainly any new kitchen appliance package that was recently put into a home would factor into the negotiations for the home's selling price,” Goller said. “New appliances help hold the asking price of a home and increase the likelihood of going above asking price, as well.
Making your house more efficient, adding square footage, upgrading the kitchen or bath and installing smart-home technology can help increase its value.
Sure, electric stoves do not eliminate risks of burns or fires, but they are generally considered safer. You also risk gas leaks if not properly hooked up to a gas line or a knob turns enough to release gas without igniting. To be on the safe side, any home with a gas stove should have a carbon monoxide detector.
The costs of converting from propane to natural gas can really add up. With the price of natural gas at least one-third less than the price of propane, over time the switch may be worth the investment. Most natural gas companies have calculators on their websites to help customers estimate costs and savings.
Is a gas stove more energy efficient? Yes. It takes three times as much energy to deliver electricity to your stove than gas, so buying a gas range could save you money in the long run.
Natural gas, propane, oil, electric
Compared to electric, oil and propane, natural gas saves money annually.
On average, natural gas is cheaper than electricity, so a gas furnace will save money on your bills. Electrical furnaces often run quieter than gas furnaces, as they have less mechanical parts used for the conversion of fuel to heat. Electrical furnaces, by and large, are safer.
What Uses The Most Gas in a House? According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the majority of natural gas used in homes is for space heating, which includes both air and water. But whether homes use natural gas or not depends on the type of water heater and central heating system it has.
Bottom line: there is NO performance difference between propane and natural gas unless you're grilling in the arctic. The only major difference is the convenience of natural gas and never running out of fuel.
Propane is more expensive than natural gas but natural gas burns much faster than propane. In fact, it burns at a rate of two to one. This means that to heat two spaces of the same size, you'll use twice as much natural gas than propane.
So, is electric or gas heat cheaper? Using off-peak electricity, conventional electric heating may cost about twice as much as gas heating to run. And here's why: electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient.
Natural gas and propane stoves can release carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other harmful pollutants into the air, which can be toxic to people and pets.
Gas stoves also emit carbon monoxide (CO), a tasteless, odourless, and colourless gas that inhibits oxygen intake. Although a carbon monoxide detector will go off at dangerous concentrations, low levels of carbon monoxide can cause fatigue, and are harmful to people with underlying medical conditions.
Closure of facilities – public services, employment, amenities; if any of these services close, it could impact the value of your house as they're often appealing to buyers. Low school ratings – buyers pay to live in areas with good schools because they want their children to have access to the best education.
While it may be unlikely that one or two new appliances alone can increase the overall value of your home, upgrading key rooms—particularly the kitchen—can net you an excellent return on investment when you're selling.