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If you are ready to purchase a new range for your kitchen, you might feel overwhelmed at the various choices. Do you stick with your electric range or is time to convert to a gas range? You have a large number of choices to make, including the brand and model that you desire. There are various factors that go into your decision, making it important to understand the pros and cons of both.

Electric Ranges

There are many pros for installing an electric range in your home including:

Easy installation – all you have to do is plug it into the wall, there is no expertise required

Less Expensive – typically, electric ranges cost less than gas ranges

Greater Functions – electric ranges typically offer more functions than the gas range

Simple Care – because they offer a smooth surface, there are not a lot of grooves and crevices to clean, making cleanup and care simple

Easy Use – Simply turn it on and the stove starts without any flames or gas being emitted into the air

With every purchase come a few cons: Read more

When it comes to powering your appliances, Natural Gas is an excellent and cost effective alternative to electricity.  However, just like any power source, gas leaks can cause serious harm if they are not dealt with properly and quickly.  Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself and your family from a gas leak.

Clear out - If you smell a lingering scent of rotten eggs (and it’s not coming from the two month old eggs in the refrigerator), you might have a gas leak.  Gather your family, and leave the premises.  You don’t want to extend your own or your family’s exposure to the gas leak any longer than possible.
Read more

When you think of inspecting your home for potential problems, you probably think about checking the roof for broken shingles, trimming tree lines away from power lines and eyeballing your water pipes for possible leaks. You may not think about inspecting your gas lines and gas pipes – and this could be a potentially life-threatening oversight. It is essential that you inspect your gas line and gas pipe on a regular basis, not only to ensure your own safety, but also to save money.

The primary reason why you need to inspect your gas line and gas pipe is for safety. A gas leak can lead to explosions, which can cause death. If your gas is leaking and you are unaware, the gas will create a “gas pocket” – a central location around the leak that is full of gas. Under the right circumstances, this gas pocket can ignite and explode – causing destruction of property and injury if people are present at the time of the explosion. Read more

Having a gas leak in your home can be a frightening experience, especially if you do not know what procedures to follow. Home emergencies can end badly when people are not ready for the unexpected. This is why families are encouraged to have their own fire drills at home – to make sure everyone, especially children, know exactly what to do in the event of a fire.

A gas leak is an emergency; but if you are prepared and know what to do when a leak occurs, there is no need to panic.

The good news is that it is fairly easy to know when you have a gas leak. Instead of spending each day in fear, remember that gas has a “rotten egg” odor. This is added to the gas to help make it easy to notice. If you ever smell that stinking odor, you know that you have a potential problem. There are also gas detectors, much like smoke detectors, that will alert you if you have a gas leak. Read more

Whether it’s a water heater, a stove, or a furnace, most households have at least one appliance that is dependent upon natural gas.  While natural gas makes our lives easier and more comfortable, it does pose a potential health hazard.

Do you know what to do to keep your family safe and keep your natural gas appliances effective and efficient?

Upkeep - The first step to natural gas safety is prevention.  If you can prevent a natural gas incident, you won’t need to know how to respond in such an instance.  Your appliances need consistent cleaning for greatest efficiency and safety.  Clear out filters, remove lint, clean burners, etc. Read more

There are many reasons why you might need an additional gas line installed in your home. Perhaps you bought a gas stove to replace your electric stove or you need to install a new gas water heater. No matter what the reason is for the installation of a gas line, there are a few things you should keep in mind. These do’s and don’ts will help you decide if you need a new gas line and, if so, the best way to go about having it installed.

Do hire a professional. When you are dealing with gas lines, unless you have the proper certification to install the lines yourself, leave it to the pros. There is just too much risk of injury and even death with improperly installed gas lines.

Don’t assume that you know best. No matter how skilled you may be at other handy work, you do not know more than the professionals do. Let them come in and install your gas lines so they are up to code. Read more

Summertime is just around the corner.  As the temperatures rise, people are contemplating the end of school, days at the pool, and backyard get-togethers with friends.  These visions wouldn’t be complete without that checkered picnic tablecloth, ice cold lemonade, and something delicious cooking out on the grill.  If you are considering constructing an outdoor room this summer, here are a few reasons why a gas grill is a must for your outdoor decor.

1. Family fun and food - The most important elements of any outdoor room focus on the family’s ability to use it for fun and food.  Who wants to be stuck indoors cooking on a beautiful summer day?  A gas grill allows you to enjoy the sunshine while you feed your family and friends.

2. A unique cooking place – While you can try to mimic grilled taste in your indoor kitchen, there is no way to truly get that hot-off-the-grill goodness without a grill.  Your new outdoor room provides a perfect opportunity for you to get that great grill taste without smoking up the kitchen. Read more

Fall may finally be here in Colorado. Warm days and cool nights mean its time to bring out the warm blankets and sweaters, and turn on the fireplace – inside and out.

It’s also the time when you’ll hear about natural gas poisoning affecting families around the area. Over the summer, gas lines may have cracked or broken while working in the yard, or simply from old age.

Many people are subjected to natural gas poisoning, yet don’t notice any of the warning symptoms before its too late. Natural gas poisoning isn’t limited to your indoors environment; you can be affected just as easily outdoors. As you turn on your gas lines this season, watch for early warning signs in you and your family. Read more

If you haven’t set up an outdoor room yet, now is the time to get started! The fall is a beautiful time of year in most areas, and having a comfortable space to enjoy it will encourage your entire family to spend time outside. The fresh air, crisp fall weather, and lovely colors of changing leaves can do wonders for the spirits as well as overall well-being. Set up your outdoor room and enjoy more time in the changing beauty of autumn!

Central Focus of your Outdoor Room
To begin, it helps to have a central focus for your outdoor room. Patio fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, or other attractive heat sources are an excellent choice. If you are serious about your outdoor room, you can hire a plumber to run a gas line outside for your exterior fireplace. By spending a little extra cash on the professional, you can eliminate the need to gather firewood or other types of portable fuel each season.
Read more

Natural gas is something that may be in use in a variety of ways throughout your home. You use it to heat your home, you may use it outside for your grill or fire pit, and you may use it indoors for your stove or clothes dryer.

Natural gas is an odorless, shapeless, colorless gas that contains no liquid or mass. Because you can’t detect it until it’s too late, gas companies add a rotten egg odor so that it’s more easily detected.

Natural gas itself is not always the killer; instead, its carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a gas leak. Carbon monoxide kills over 500 people in America every year, and sends over 15,000 people to the emergency room. As we enter the winter months when we close up our homes, its more important than ever to use a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home. And it’s also important to know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, and seek safety and medical advice if you ever suspect a gas leak.

Carbon monoxide poisoning will most likely start out with flu like symptoms. Headaches, dizziness, tiredness and nausea are all common signs. It can quickly progress to impaired judgment, poor memory and loss of coordination. If several people within your home suddenly have the same or similar symptoms, and improve when they leave your home, it may also be a sign your home should be checked for carbon monoxide.

Though carbon monoxide is one of the deadliest components of natural gas, natural gas can also be a hazard if it leaks. A rotten egg smell, puddling or dirt blowing away from your home, or a hissing sound could all be signs of a gas leak. Never turn on lights, or continue to stay in your home; a professional should assess the situation, make corrections, and ensure your safety before you return home.

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