When you’re installing a new stove into your home, you might find yourself wondering whether a gas or an electric stove can add more value to your home. Does having a gas stove increase home value?
There are benefits to each, and whether or not either can enhance your home largely depends on how it fits into your kitchen. The truth is, it depends, as there are several factors to consider.
For example, it depends on what kind of gas the stove uses – as it seems stoves powered by natural gas could have an influence on home value.
In 2010, the National Association of Home Builders asked its members to compare the prices of newly-built single-family homes sold at the time, so that they could compare the price of those which had natural gas equipment to those with only electric equipment.
The findings showed that on average, the gas-powered home sold for 6% more than electric-powered homes.
Participants also noted that new homes with natural gas equipment such as a heater, dryer, range, water heater, or fireplace also sold quicker.
Do homebuyers prefer gas or electric stoves?
There are pros and cons to both gas and electric stoves, and so this really does come down to personal preference.
Many people prefer gas stoves because they offer superior temperature control, instant heating, and generally waste less heat as a result.
You can quickly increase or decrease heat, making them a good option for searing or other high-heat cooking methods.
On the other hand, electric stoves are popular because they provide more even heating temperatures and are generally designed to be more environmentally friendly.
They’re also safer as they eliminate the risk of gas leaks and generate less air pollution.
If you have existing gas hookups in your home, it is certainly simpler to stick to a gas stove. If you have to convert the area to accommodate a gas stove, it can be a tricky job, not to mention an expensive one.
Therefore, sometimes it’s best to stick to the system you already have in place, especially if the cost of converting is likely to be higher than the potential value it will add to your home.
Does a gas stove save money?
This is a long-running debate.
According to Consumer Reports, the prices of installing either type of stove are roughly within the same price range: $650 to $2,800 for an electric stove, and $800 to $2,300 for a gas stove.
That said, while you might save money on a low-end electric stove, the long-term cost of running it could bump the price up significantly over time.
When it comes to energy efficiency, it does of course depend on the model and quality of the stove, but the overall winner is gas, as it takes about three times more energy to produce and deliver electricity to your stove.
As a result, gas stoves are generally cheaper to run: the California Energy Commission estimates that a gas stove with an electric ignition will cost you less than half the cost of an electric stove to operate.
Of course, the final figure on your energy bill will depend on how much time you spend cooking on your stove and the level of heat you use.
According to energy company MGE, you could pay an average of $2.34 per month to run a gas range without a pilot light compared to the cost of $5.94 per month to run an electric range.
So, while it depends on the stove you have, the energy company you’re with, and the duration you use the stove for, gas is generally understood to be the more energy-efficient option.
Are gas stoves dangerous?
There are some concerns regarding air pollution generated from gas stoves.
Cooking food on any stove – even electric ones – produces particulate pollutants, however, burning gas produces nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, and sometimes even carbon monoxide.
Even brief exposures to air with high concentrations of NO2 can aggravate asthma and other respiratory issues, and prolonged exposure to the gas has even been thought to contribute to the development of such conditions.
Homes with gas stoves are thought to contain approximately 50 to 400 percent higher concentrations of NO2 than homes with electric stoves, and, because NO2 is invisible and odorless, it often goes undetected.
There are some safety precautions you can take when cooking with gas.
Gas ranges should always have a venting hood or you should have a kitchen exhaust fan. If you don’t have either of these and can’t install them, keep the windows open while you cook.
You should also cook on the back burners whenever possible, and whenever you’re using gas to fry, use more than one burner, or use the front burners, you should turn the range hood on high.
