Natural Gas Air Conditioner Pros and Cons

Here we share our guide to natural gas air conditioner pros and cons including what it is, its costs, how it works, and ideas about if gas air conditioning is good for your home. 
Ever since the 1960s, electricity has become the primary source of power for air conditioning units. However, advances in natural gas air conditioning technology have been developed and recognized in recent years. 

Natural gas is not only excellent for cooking, heating water, warming up buildings, fueling automobiles, and powering huge industrial and commercial facilities, but it can also make you feel comfortable and keep you cool during hot weather at a lesser cost than electric counterparts.

The premise that an air conditioner operates using natural gas, which is a type of energy that can be easily preserved, is revolutionary. In this article, we will weigh the pros and cons of using a natural gas air conditioner. But first, let us define natural gas air conditioners and clarify how they work.

What Is A Natural Gas Air Conditioner? 

Natural gas is used to power a gas air conditioner. Its basic structure is reliable and well-designed, and it should function at high-efficiency standards for many decades.

Certain gas air conditioning systems use a zero-compressor absorption technique if you utilize natural gas. During the wintertime, these can also be used to warm up your home.

Because they necessitate little ductwork, natural gas air conditioner systems can also be appropriate for multi-zone cooling. These HVAC systems employ sealed refrigerants, which means they do not need to be recharged.

They are indeed safe for the environment as they do not release particulates into the atmosphere. Moreover, they include fewer moving parts, thus they are easy to maintain.

How Does A Natural Gas Air Conditioner Work?

The primary function of natural gas air conditioning is to obtain liquid refrigerant. Once it gets the liquid-based refrigerant, it transforms it to gas by a pressure change. 

Natural gas air conditioners transmit heat to the exterior, absorbing it from the interior air. The compressed gas-based refrigerant in the unit collects the excessive heat before being pumped via the pipework to an exterior coil in a covered system. A blower blasts air past the heated coil, delivering the refrigerant’s collected heat to the exterior air.

The interior air gets conditioned as the heat has been excluded. Hence, the refrigerant is re-cooled and compressed here before being returned to the system to repeat the cycle. There are several intricate and minor activities occurring within your air conditioning system, but this is the core operation of the system.

It is crucial to note, nonetheless, that most gas air conditioning units are not entirely dependent on gas and still require minimal electricity to work.

The furnace and the condenser are the two basic elements of an HVAC system. The furnace is exclusively the one that is being powered by gas if you are using a natural gas air conditioning unit. On the other hand, the condenser continues to get powered by electricity whenever the unit is turned on.

Residential Natural Gas Air Conditioner Pros

Excellent Airflow – The most significant advantage for individuals who switch to an AC unit with a gas furnace is that the unit runs more effectively in many cases, resulting in enhanced airflow and cooler air.

Thus, if you want to optimize the performance of your air conditioning unit, shifting to gas-powered air conditioning would be a fantastic method to do so.

Very Cost-Effective And Economical – Natural gas air conditioning systems are substantially more economical than electric-powered units, making the long-term expenditures drastically less. According to some reports, natural gas systems can save users up to 50% on air conditioning expenses.

Expenses can be substantially lowered even more by adjusting the size of the natural gas air conditioning system to the overall size of the room being cooled.

A more compact unit that precisely provides the necessary amount of cold air can be installed in a smaller location. This helps you prevent wasting energy.

Shifting from conditioning or cooling electricity to natural gas would significantly cut high summertime power demand, reducing the need for expensive peaking power facilities.

Low-Maintenance – There are no complex compressors present in a gas air conditioner. Moreover, the moving parts inside the unit are very few. The two types of compressors used are reciprocating and screw compressors.

Very Quiet Operation – The majority of natural gas air conditioners are virtually noiseless. You will not be bothered by its operation, especially if you are working or concentrating on a particular task.

Residential Natural Gas Air Conditioner Cons

It Has Higher Installation Cost than Electric Air Conditioning Units – The main downside of natural gas-powered air conditioning units is that they are more costly to buy and install than standard electric air conditioning units.

Nevertheless, that potential downside is just a short-term one; it is not a major problem. Because, at the end of the day, you will discover that it is still cost-effective as you are only using a minimal amount of electricity.

Improper And Faulty Installation Of Gas Air Conditioning Unit Could Cause Serious Issues – Gas is hazardous and can induce nausea and, in some situations, suffocation.

If the gas air conditioning unit malfunctions and leaks gas, it can also cause skin inflammation and dryness as well as increased pulse rate. Prolonged exposure to this gas could result in fatal medical issues.

Natural Gas Air Conditioner Cost 

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The average cost of installing a gas pack unit is around $6,500. The most affordable gas-packed units cost around $3,500 to $4,000, while the most expensive gas-packaged units cost around $8,000 to $9,000.

These are the costs for a prompt replacement. There will be added expenditures if new duct work or other serious improvements are necessary. See more duct cleaning maintenance ideas here.

Is A Natural Gas Air Conditioner Good For The Home?

Yes. Natural gas air conditioning systems often have lower operational costs than electric-based air conditioning units and ultimately pay for themselves through saving energy.

Furthermore, a natural gas air conditioner may lessen your reliance on the electricity network. Even if the electricity goes out, you may still have a functioning air conditioner.

Indeed, a very effective thing you can accomplish to upgrade your home is to purchase and install a natural gas air conditioning unit. You will not only obtain cold (or even the warm) air you require but will also get it in a timely and cost-effective way as well. 

Visit our article on the pros and cons of duct cleaning for more related content.