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If you are
building a new home, you may be faced with the decision of whether
to install a gas or electric range. Your choice will depend on
your personal cooking style and preference. To help your
decision-making process, here is some basic information about the
features, benefits and operating costs for both types of ranges.
Overall, the cost
to purchase an electric range is generally lower than the cost to
purchase a gas range. However, at the same time, the cost to
operate an electric range is generally higher. Electric ranges
offer three styles of cook tops: coils, disk elements and
smooth-top surfaces.
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Smooth tops cook
with radiant heat or with modern halogen or induction elements.
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Smooth tops and
solid disks are easy to clean and operate most efficiently with
cookware that has perfectly flat bottoms. For safety reasons,
look for a cook top that includes an indicator to alert people
when a unit is hot.
Gas ranges are
available with open and sealed burners. The sealed burner prevents
food particles and spills from falling into the area beneath the
cook top, which simplifies cleaning. The instant on-or-off heat in
a gas range means you don’t have to wait for a burner to heat up
or cool down. This also eliminates wasted energy. Since the flames
of a natural gas range can be set at any intensity, and with
accuracy, it’s easier to control the burner and prevent food from
scorching.
Today’s natural
gas ranges eliminate the need for continual burning pilot lights
and operate with higher-efficiency automatic ignition systems. If
you have small children, you may want to choose a model that does
not have easy-to-reach controls located in front of the unit.
To save money on
operating costs, choose an energy-efficient electric range. All
electric ranges sold in Canada have Natural Resources Canada’s
EnerGuide label. The label lets you easily compare the
energy-efficiency of different models -- the lower the rating, the
more efficient the model. Gas ranges are not currently rated for
energy-efficiency and do not have the EnerGuide label.
If you need
storage space under the range, electric ranges generally have a
large storage compartment under the oven. Gas ranges generally do
not have storage space.
When buying a
range, consider a self-cleaning oven. Self-cleaning ovens have
higher insulation levels and, therefore, use less energy for
cooking. Activate the self-cleaning feature right after regular
cooking. Less energy will be required to reach cleaning
temperature because the oven is already hot.
Regardless of the
type of range you choose, avoid cook tops with a built-in exhaust
fan.
These automatic
fans can waste energy by exhausting considerably more heated air
from the home than a standard range hood. In the winter, this
means that your furnace will have to work longer and harder to
keep your home warm.
If you currently
own an electric range and are considering switching to gas, there
will be additional costs to install the required pipes and
fittings. For a cost estimate, contact a qualified plumber or gas
fitter. Ultimately, the range you purchase must meet your personal
needs and cooking preference. This information should provide you
with enough background to start your comparison-shopping.
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