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When I moved to the US I was amazed to see the prevalence of electric stoves here. I was even more confused when every cooking-related article or show talked about using gas as the only way to cook properly. Where I come from (a developing country), no one uses electric stoves due to prohibitive cost vs gas. So the question is, why do most apartments and a fair number of houses in the US come only with electric ranges?
A few reasons - wouldn't it be much easier/safer/cheaper to install electric ranges, rather than gas, especially for a landlord?
Another reason -- no gas lines in the neighborhood. My old house had gas heating but still had an electric range. My new(er) house (50 years old) is in a neighborhood where there is no gas at all. I do see a few houses that installed propane tanks on the outside, and I'm guessing that is for cooking.
I grew up learning to cook on a gas range, and never thought I'd like electric. My old stove at the other house had the traditional rings and they were a pain to clean! But now that I have the smooth glass cooktop, I'm fine with just electric.
Where I live, nobody uses gas heat or gas water heaters anymore, therefore most people don't want to run a gas line just for a stove. Most homes here are "total electric".
Because developers saved money by adding one less utility to homes they built. Many were given special electric rates for whatever reason.. In the long run gas is the winner. Gas is cheaper and just as safe as electric in most cases. Hook up/ installation is easy and inexpensive on either. Most people prefer Gas to electric. If one is on LP gas then the choice might be a toss up for safety and economic reasons.
I like all electric homes. My neighborhood is all electric, no gas lines, and that is fine with me.
I love my smooth glass cooktop. And the self clean option is nice too, although I've only had to use it once.
Once I bought a home that had a gas dryer, water heater and gas range. I didn't like any of them, especially the gas dryer. I always looked for all electric homes after that experience.
I like all electric homes. My neighborhood is all electric, no gas lines, and that is fine with me.
After that neighborhood in Indianapolis blew up, I'm fine with it too! Every time I hear of some neighborhood/street that's evacuated because of a gas leak, I'm so thankful that there's none around here.
Confession: I've always been a little afraid of gas stoves/ovens. I once had an apartment with an oven where you had to light the pilot light every time you used it (it was ancient). That little "whoosh" sound when it lit scared me every time!
After that neighborhood in Indianapolis blew up, I'm fine with it too! Every time I hear of some neighborhood/street that's evacuated because of a gas leak, I'm so thankful that there's none around here.
Confession: I've always been a little afraid of gas stoves/ovens. I once had an apartment with an oven where you had to light the pilot light every time you used it (it was ancient). That little "whoosh" sound when it lit scared me every time!
I was always afraid to light pilot lights. And I worried that if the flame went out the gas would fill the room.
My grandma had a gas furnace that developed a leak but she was unaware of it. She called me very upset because her pet parakeet died suddenly, he was young and had no health problems. I called the gas company to come out and check for a leak in her house. I was afraid they would think I was crazy when I told then her bird died suddenly but they sent a guy right over within minutes, and he found a gas leak in the furnace. He said it was a good thing I called!
After that incident I am convinced that electric is safer.
And by the way, I live about 15 miles north of the Indianapolis neighborhood that blew up.
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In the long run gas is the winner. Gas is cheaper and just as safe as electric in most cases. Hook up/ installation is easy and inexpensive on either. Most people prefer Gas to electric. If one is on LP gas then the choice might be a toss up for safety and economic reasons.
