Which is better - gas or electric stove? Comparison of gas and electric equipment

Differences in configuration and principle of operation

First of all, it is rational to compare the designs and principles of operation of gas and electric devices. The first type is different in that gas is used during operation, that is, food is actually cooked on an open fire. The design of the gas unit involves its connection to an autonomous gas source or to a centralized wire.Then the substance, entering the burner, mixes with oxygen compounds and ignites, leaving through the divider. On one device, as a rule, there are burners of different sizes, and the gas supply power is regulated using a special tap located on the gas distribution pipe.

In the case of a power plant, the principle of operation is different. The device is connected to the electrical network, then the current increases the temperature of the tubular electric heater to a certain value. The heat controls are located on the front of the appliance. Among them, there are both electronic and mechanical models (depending on which class the device belongs to). The maximum temperature indicator is determined by the power of the unit, as well as the materials from which the heater is created. The higher the conductivity values, the faster the cooking on electrical equipment.

Convenience and additional features

Well, everything is simple here: the induction cooker wins in all respects, although this is not such a big plus.

The fact is that induction burners are equipped with special sensors to recognize the presence / absence of dishes on the stove. If you remove the pan from the burner, it will automatically turn off. Also, the burners are able to determine the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe dishes and heat only the bottom, without wasting electricity. If necessary, you can set an automatic shutdown timer and go to bed without waiting for the dish to “come to readiness”. In the case of a gas stove, this is not possible.

Comparison

You need to compare according to certain criteria:

• Safety.
• Price.
• Functionality.
• Cooking speed.
• functionality of the oven.
• Design.

Let's start with safety: it has already been written above that both types of plates are almost equal in this matter. But there are some differences, for example, when gas is burned, harmful substances are released. This can cause headaches, but if you get a good hood, the problem will be solved. And in the electric stove, a short circuit can occur and electric shock.

Next comes the price, and at this point the gas stove wins. Firstly, the cost of the device itself and its installation is much less. Secondly, gas is cheaper than electricity. If you install an electric stove, then the payment of bills will increase very much. And you will also have to buy special dishes.

But electric stoves have more functionality. Of course, modern gas stoves have some auxiliary functions: a timer, electric ignition and convection mode of operation, but electric stoves offer much more functions. For example, they are equipped with a program of cooking recipes, which is especially useful for those who are just learning to cook and do not know much about it. The situation is similar with the functionality of the oven.

But at the same time, on gas stoves food cooks faster. This is due to the fact that you do not need to wait until the burner warms up to a certain level, as happens on electric models. You can wait once, but there are dishes that require different levels of heat at different stages of cooking. In this case, you will have to constantly wait until the oven “adjusts”.

And for the design has already been said above, both types of plates have a large number of models of various designs.

Dimensions and weight of the unit for cooking

If we consider dimensions and weight as a criterion for choosing equipment, then in this case the question “what is better?” resolved much faster.

• An ordinary stove, even a newfangled improved model, is bulky and heavy, so you need to take care in advance about the future place of its installation and about the complete set of kitchen furniture nearby. If you plan to cook often and a lot, especially to engage in seaming for the winter, then you should remember that the stove will withstand any weight load without restrictions.
• The built-in cooking surface takes up little vertical space, is very compact, allows the most useful and efficient use of the space under it. Of the minuses, we note that the maximum load per burner is 5 kilograms, and in general for the entire area no more than 15 kilos.

We heat with gas

Gas heating can rightly be considered more profitable if the gas pipe is located in close proximity to the house. To save on connecting to the highway, it is recommended to use the following rules:

1. All services must be ordered in one place. This includes the project, installation and subsequent service;
2. It is necessary to properly prepare a place for the boiler;
3. The boiler itself must correspond to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe house;
4. Select the correct chimney size.

The main advantage of gas heating is the low cost of energy. However, in fact, all the pluses end there.

Disadvantages of gas heating

1. If the house was not originally connected to the gas main, then the initial connection costs are so high that not everyone can afford it.And if the owner of a house with a plot of income growth is not expected in the future, then you can safely install an electric boiler. And do not worry about the difference in the cost of energy carriers;
2. Do not forget that gas is a rather explosive substance. And here, involuntarily, you will think again before installing gas heating in the house;
3. The gas water heating system is inconvenient for short-term use, it takes too long to warm up (when the house is used occasionally during the cold months).

The best desktop electric stoves

Electric stoves installed directly on the table are great for small families, as well as kitchen equipment in the country or in the office. You can take them with you on a car trip if you foresee a power source in advance. Energy costs for continuous operation will be small compared to full-fledged freestanding ovens.

2Kitfort KT-107

Suitable for those who appreciate simplicity and reliability without unnecessary functionality. Induction model with one burner, glass-ceramic structured surface prevents slipping of dishes. A wide range of heating modes provides the ability to use power from 200 to 1800 watts. The device is equipped with an automatic security system. It turns off if it does not receive commands from the user within two hours. The dimensions of the device are very compact. You can install it in your home kitchen or take it with you on a trip.

pros

• handles all tasks
• surface does not heat up
• cooks fast
• wide range of temperatures
• can be operated without instructions

Minuses

1Galaxy GL3053

A single burner stove heats food, not the hob. This allows you to wash it immediately during cooking, before the greasy stain has dried up. When the pan is removed, the device automatically turns off. The appliance has seven cooking programs for various dishes, including soups, cereals, frying. The desktop oven will instantly boil water and milk or will function properly as a multi-cooker. The model is equipped with a timer and a delayed start. Electronic control by means of a digital display.

pros

• democratic cost
• heat up in a couple of seconds
• economical

Minuses

We heat the house with electricity

There are two main types on the market today. electric heating systems:

• water heating;
• and using convectors.

The first type requires the presence of a coolant, which is heated and supplied, through the heating system, to the rooms to be heated.

As in any water system, a boiler is naturally needed here, which will heat the water in pipes. This type of heating is very efficient, as water has a high thermal inertia.

With convector heating, a large number of radiators are installed to heat each room. They can be installed for stand-alone operation, or they can be combined into a common system with a single control.

Installation of such a heating system is quite simple and a lot of materials are not needed for it. It is enough to fix the convector on the wall and supply 220V power to it. Affordable prices and ease of installation are the main advantages of this type of heating.

Benefits of electric heating

According to many developers, heating with electricity is more profitable for owners of country houses, since this does not require connection to the main gas pipeline, which, moreover, is not available everywhere.

This system does not require large starting costs, and the advantages are obvious:

1. Easy installation. Installing an electric boiler is quite simple - you can do it yourself. This does not require a separate boiler room, nor does it require coordination and registration of equipment installation with inspection authorities;
2. Can be quickly and cheaply equipped. No need to spend money and time on preparing and obtaining a project, technical conditions, waiting for an act of commissioning;
3. There is no need for excavation and pipe laying;
4. No need to equip a chimney and sensors that should monitor safety and smoke;
5. Higher safety and environmental friendliness. From electric boilers you can not be afraid of an explosion, they do not emit carbon monoxide and the formation of combustion products;
6. The system is very easy to operate, and electric boilers are more convenient to use.

Disadvantages of electric heating

However, this system has a lot of negative points:

1. Electricity is 7 (!) times inferior to gas in terms of heat transfer efficiency. Simply put, a gas boiler needs 7 times less fuel to heat the same area;
2. A stable voltage is required. The functioning of the system directly depends on the voltage in the electrical network (and in the private sector, interruptions often occur with this);
3. Extremely high electricity consumption during the cold season. In order to warm a room of 10 square meters, you need to spend a kilowatt of electrical energy.It turns out that for heating a house with an area of ​​​​150 square meters. m. it is necessary to constantly consume 15 kW (which in many towns and villages is the maximum power allocated to the site). And this is only for batteries, not counting other devices that consume electricity.

Of course, many owners are frightened by the prospect of paying tens of thousands of rubles a month on electricity bills in winter. Is there any way to reduce these costs?

Yes it is possible. If you reduce heat loss in the house to a minimum, thoroughly insulating it inside and out, you can significantly reduce electricity consumption, and therefore heating costs.

You can also put a multi-tariff meter. Such meters allow you to use electricity more efficiently, depending not only on current consumption, but also on the time of day.

In addition, do not forget about converter heating, where you absolutely do not need to spend money on a boiler, and the heating itself can be local.

Which boiler is more economical - electric or gas

Methane gas remains the cheapest type of fuel. When compared, which is more profitable gas column or electric water heater, and taking into account only the cost of the energy carrier, one can come to an obvious conclusion. A flow boiler running on methane will be more economical. However, upon thoughtful consideration of this issue, it becomes clear that the benefits are not so obvious. To make the right decision, you should consider the principle of operation of the equipment.

According to the laws of physics, in order to heat a liquid, the same power is required, consumed when burning gas or operating a heating element from electricity. But the column and the storage electric heater work differently. Accordingly, the costs may vary:

• Accumulative electric boiler - peak load occurs in the first 20 minutes. work. After heating the water to the required temperature, the heating element turns on for a short period of time, after 3-4 hours. Thanks to thermal insulation, heat loss is minimized. The heating element maintains the desired temperature by spending a small amount of energy. The main advantage of electric water heaters over gas flow columns is that the cost of their use decreases depending on the increase in water consumption. Another advantage is that DHW needs are met instantly. Hot water is supplied immediately after opening the tap.

Flowing boiler - a gas column is more economical than an electric water heater if it is turned on for a long time. The peak load is at the beginning of work. At this moment, the heat exchanger heats up. If you take a bath or shower, it is more profitable to pay for a gas water heater, rather than an electric water heater. But if you “pull” the tap endlessly, briefly turning on hot water, the savings will not be so obvious.

For a large family of 4-5 people, it is more convenient to use a storage electric water heater, the difference in electricity costs compared to gas equipment will not be so significant.

Is there a replacement

Wherever there is a fixed gas connection, all residents operate stoves that work on blue fuel, they do not look for alternatives to them, because the use of these models allows them to save. If we analyze all the technical nuances of these rather different models, we get the following summary:

1. The pricing policy for servicing new generation stoves is in second place, and so far it is products that run on blue fuel that are considered leaders. But many experts argue that copper coils that create induction heat dishes with contents much faster than burning gas, so the debate over which is more economical to operate - an induction or gas stove, is not over yet.
2. Functionally, today there are more opportunities for new generation models, whose work is based on the principle of eddy current induction, although gas analogues have various leakage protections and automatic electric ignition, protecting users from burns with an open flame.

Comparing all the positive and negative qualities of both options, we are convinced that induction is superior to gas in many respects, but whether it is necessary to change the gas model to the induction model is still an open question.

Blue fuel is the most economical option, but the complete safety and new possibilities of induction household appliances in the near future will bring it to the forefront, and many users will use it in their homes.

Functionality and maintenance of comparison opponents

In functional terms, modern electric stoves are superior to gas counterparts, since they are equipped with options that are difficult to implement for blue fuel appliances. Additional amenities include:

• boiling sensors;
• timers with sound signal;
• various modes of operation of the oven;
• grill;
• self-cleaning function of the oven, etc.

Any cooking appliance requires maintenance.Housewives have to use cleaning products to remove sticky greasy deposits or soot formed on the surface between the burners. When caring for a gas stove, work is supplemented by cleaning grates, protruding burners from soot, removing dirt around mechanical regulators, and cleaning the oven.

Electric stoves with glass-ceramic hobs make it easier for housewives to care - just wipe a flat surface after cooking using a special tool. In addition, to get rid of dirt on the electric oven, you can use the self-cleaning function.

Advantages and disadvantages of a gas unit

Any household appliance has its pros and cons, but first we will describe all the positive qualities:

1. The cost of the product is 10-20% lower than the electrical counterpart, while referring to the same class of plate from the same manufacturer.
2. Adjusting the flame on a gas stove is much more convenient; no model of electric stoves can compare with them in this.
3. The workflow is much faster, since the temperature of an open fire is always higher than the maximum heated burner.
4. The efficiency of a gas stove is 60-70%, while that of an electric counterpart is 30%.
5. The price for gas is much less than electricity, so a gas stove is more economical.

Flaws:

• an open fire always poses a fire hazard, in addition, a gas leak from the line may occur, and no one needs to explain what this is fraught with;
• there is no way to accurately adjust the temperature in the oven;
• various additives are added to the blue fuel, and they do not always smell pleasant, traces of soot remain from burning, which is quite difficult to remove;
• when working with gas, filters on the hood must be changed more often;
• there is no protection from child interference.

The use of natural gas is much cheaper for consumers, but the risk of fire and explosion due to leaks is real, so these stoves must be operated very carefully.

Oven cleaning functions

Folk wisdom says: "If you like to eat delicious food, love to wash the oven." Maybe the proverb is quoted not quite correctly, but the essence of this does not change: the walls of the oven must be periodically cleaned of accumulated dirt. It is better to do this after each use, because, firstly, rare cleaning of the cooking area is simply unhygienic, and secondly, it is much easier to remove fresh dirt.

Owners of cheap ovens, both electric and gas, will have to clean the walls manually. Increasingly, there are models with the EcoClear cleaning system: fat practically does not stick to the special “bioceramic” wall coating in such ovens, which means that the cleaning procedure becomes less laborious.

In more expensive units, manufacturers have provided for automatic cleaning. Two methods of self-cleaning of the oven walls are used - catalytic and pyrolytic. The technology of catalytic decomposition of fat and other contaminants directly in the process of cooking on a catalyst applied to the enamel, which covers the walls, can be implemented in both electric and gas ovens.

Oven with catalytic panels.

But pyrolysis, i.e., burning out product residues at 500 ° C, is possible only in electric models, since it is almost impossible to heat the walls to the required temperature using a gas burner.The pyrolytic cleaning method is considered the most effective, but the ovens in which it is used are the most expensive.

Oven with pyrolysis cleaning.

Selection principles

When determining the type of stove for your home, you should not be based only on personal preferences, it is important to take into account a huge number of criteria. The most significant are:

• safety;
• cooking speed;
• functionality;
• price;
• oven options;
• outward attraction.

It is worth noting that there is no specific answer regarding the appearance, which of the stoves, electric or gas, will be more attractive. The manufacturer today is trying to take into account all the wishes of the user, therefore, those and other models are represented by a wide range, among which it is not difficult to choose the option to taste

Also, some people buy what is cheaper and will not pay too much attention to the appearance or functionality. And for others, it is more important to buy the device that will be more economical to use.

Pros and cons

Any technique has positive and negative qualities - this is an axiom. Gas products are still in high demand due to the price, which is the lowest on the household appliances market, and also because blue fuel is cheaper than electricity. Installation and connection is carried out by specialists in similar equipment.

Among the shortcomings - it is necessary to ensure the laying of a gas pipeline, an increased risk of fire, since open fire is used, and the fuel itself is explosive. The difference between a standard stove and a panel is very significant: the first does not fit well with furniture, because the case gets very hot, gaps remain between the stove and cabinet furniture, where dust and small debris accumulate.

Electric surfaces made of glass ceramics have the following positive qualities:

1. Appearance aesthetics.
2. The contours of the heating zone are applied on the surface.
3. No rough grilles or rotary switches.
4. They are simple and easy to use, have small dimensions.
5. The induction version has increased comfort, high efficiency and safety.

Among the cons:

• the cost is much more expensive, especially induction panels differ in this;
• the working surface is rather capricious: as soon as a grain of sugar gets on the heated part of the stove, a small crack immediately appears, care requires the presence of special detergents;
• the carelessness of the user is fraught with chips and breakage for such a surface;
• repairs are very expensive, especially replacement after breaking even a small area.

The difference in coverage is huge, each has its own nuances, as well as flaws, so you need to weigh the pros and cons so that the chosen model does not disappoint you during operation.

Equipment energy efficiency

What promises more efficient work at minimal cost: gas heating or electric? In order to preliminarily estimate how much will be spent on heating with these and other devices, it is necessary to make a calculation.

Gas equipment

This calculation of energy costs can be done in two ways:

• taking into account the maximum gas consumption, this parameter is indicated in the boiler passport;
• using indicators of specific heat of combustion.

The first option can be called a rough calculation, the second is exact, and therefore more suitable.

Fuel consumption calculation

For calculations, you can take one of the more popular models of boilers.Anyone who has already looked after the model will be able to substitute specific data - its parameters. Here we consider a gas model with a power of 14 kW and a fuel consumption of 1.6 m3/h.

To get the daily flow, you need to carry out a simple operation: multiply 1.6 m3 / h by the number of hours in a day. 1.6 m3/h x 24 = 38.4 m3. The result is then multiplied by the gas tariff. In our case, the Moscow region is taken: 4.90 rubles / m3. The result is: 38.4 x 4.90 = 188.16 rubles per day.

Calculation based on the specific heat of combustion of gas

The specific heat of combustion of gas is 9.3-10 kW/m3. In this case, 0.1-0.108 m3 of gas will be required for each kilowatt of boiler heat output. To heat an average brick house (ceilings - 2.7 m, masonry of 2 bricks), located in the Moscow region, you need to provide 1 kW of thermal power of gas equipment for a certain area - per 10 m2. These are the average heat losses of a given building.

If the described house has an area of ​​140 m2, then the heat loss will be 14 kW / h, and per day - 336 kW (14 x 24). To calculate the amount of gas used, you must multiply:

• 0.1 - the volume of gas that is needed to produce 1 kW of thermal energy;
• 336 - daily heat loss (kW);
• 1.1 - at 90% efficiency.

The result - 36.96 m3 - remains to be multiplied by the tariff for the Moscow region: 36.96 x 4.90 = 181.1 rubles per day. The rate of 1 kW/10 m2 is calculated for the entire heating season. It takes into account both the coldest days and warmer days, so the cost per season will be 181.1 rubles per day.

Electrical units

coefficient of modern models of electric boilers more than gas units: it is 99 or 100% against 70-95%.Therefore, at maximum load, the same boiler that was considered when calculating the energy efficiency of gas equipment will consume 14.14 kW. Since the difference is not too significant, in this case it is permissible to consider the power equal to the consumption of the electrical device.

To make the comparison almost “reference”, it makes sense to take as an example the same average brick house with an area of ​​140 m2. It is clear that heat losses will be similar - 14 kW / h, and per day - 336 kW. To make up for them, the boiler will have to spend: 336 kW x 4.01 kW / h = 1347.36 rubles / day.

However, in this case, it must be taken into account that this is the maximum flow rate that can occur with heat losses of 14 kW. In reality, electric boilers operate 40 to 70% of the time, so costs are significantly reduced. If you round hundredths and tenths, you get from 538.8 to 942.9 rubles. However, the amounts are not reduced as much as the owners of the equipment would like.

Pros and cons of induction and gas stoves

The very first and most important plus of a gas stove is saving money. Even though gas prices are growing rapidly (especially for Ukrainians), it is still much cheaper than electricity. In addition, the gas stove itself is much cheaper than the induction model. So saving money when buying and during further operation is the first and indisputable advantage of gas stoves.

This is where the advantages of gas end and the advantages of electricity begin.

The principle of operation of the induction hob is based on the use of eddy current to heat the bottom of metal dishes. Eddy current occurs when a high-frequency electromagnetic field is created.This method is used in the industrial melting of metals in induction furnaces, but induction coils of much higher power are used there. Induction coils are also installed in the burners of the stove, but they only heat the metal (read the bottom of the dish), and do not melt it.

Induction stoves are much more expensive than gas stoves, this is quite logical. They consume electricity, and they are quite high power. But in fairness it should be noted that although the power of induction cookers is large, the electricity consumption is not very high.

We gave a simple example earlier:

• It takes 30 minutes to heat 2 liters of water to a boil on a simple electric burner. At the same time, electricity consumption was 1.75 kW/h;
• On an induction hotplate, 2 liters of water boiled in 5.5 minutes. Electricity consumption was 0.34 kW/h.

Hence the conclusion: although induction cookers are less economical than gas ones, they are more economical than conventional electric stoves, where ordinary heating elements or corrugated tapes are used in the burners. The efficiency of the induction hob is more than 90%, because. all the energy goes to heat the bottom of the metal cookware, while the glass-ceramic panel does not heat up at all (only from the cookware itself). Therefore, do not confuse induction cookers with simple electric ones - they are different things. Nevertheless, gas still remain more economical.

induction hob with coil

What is the difference between slab and panel?

The main difference between the stove and the hob is in the design. At the stove, the block with burners and the oven are a single unit. The cooking surface consists only of a thin, durable substrate and burners. But the oven is not included in the equipment.If desired, it can be purchased separately or not purchased at all.

The black hob looks very impressive. Gives the interior solidity and luxurious look. But it requires constant care, since dust particles, crumbs, water drops, stains and fingerprints are clearly visible on a dark surface.

Thin hobs are built into the countertop and do not "eat up" a lot of useful space in the room. Even in a small kitchen, they are conveniently placed and make the process of creating everyday and festive dishes pleasant, easy and comfortable. There is more free space in the room and the space does not look overloaded.

What and in which case it is better to choose

The most modern electric models are not inferior to gas equipment in terms of efficiency and allow precise and smooth temperature control. If in the first place for you is safety of operation or ease of self-assembly and subsequent maintenance, then the best choice would be to purchase an electric type hob.

Domestic and foreign manufacturers of gas equipment today also take into account all the wishes of consumers, and the models produced are supplied with a different number of burners, differ in color, shape and size. However, gas-type equipment “guarantees” the appearance of a rather specific coating on the dishes, which makes this option less attractive. Among other things, there is some risk of gas leakage, which requires professional service of the device.

Today, the kitchen equipment market is ready to offer the buyer a huge selection of all kinds of gas and electric hobs.At the same time, existing models differ markedly not only in price range, but also in technical parameters, which must be taken into account when choosing.