Introduce your remodeling project to energy savings and other benefits

kitchen undergoing a remodel  

When it’s time to update your home, take advantage of the opportunity to convert your house to use natural gas to heat, cook and dry clothes. Whether you’re remodeling to get the house ready to sell, or for your own enjoyment for years to come, natural gas has a lot to offer.

The benefitsof natural gas

Here are some of the reasons natural gas may be the best choice for powering your home:

Cost-effective: Natural gas is a utility bill cost-cutter that can save you hundreds of dollars over the years you remain in your home.

Reliable: Underground natural gas lines are resilient during extreme weather and the supply is abundant, so you can be confident it will be there when you need it.

Effective: Natural gas is a highly efficient fuel, providing quick, even heating.

Convenient: Natural gas is delivered right into your home with no need to store it or replenish it.

Environment benefits: Natural Gas burns the cleanest of all the fossil fuels.

See more benefit​​s of natural gas​​

Converting to natural gas during a remodel

During a home remodel is the perfect time to upgrade to new, energy-efficient natural gas appliances. As kitchens are consistently the most popular room to remodel​, you may already be replacing the stove or range, or removing backsplash or drywall, allowing your contractor to have easy access to install a new gas line.

Also, depending on the scope of your remodel, you may already have engaged a master plumber for other work who can handle new gas line installations or modifications. These might include extending an existing gas line to the laundry room, running a new connection for a fireplace or even supplying a new furnace in the attic with natural gas.

If you don’t already have gas lines in the home and/or a gas meter installed, remodeling with natural gas requires more planning but the added comfort and potential for future cost savings makes the effort worthwhile.

Contact CenterPoint Energy if you’re not sure if natural gas is available in your area.

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Natural gas appliances and home systems

There’s a reason your favorite cooking show hosts and home renovators use gas appliances: they make life better!

Stove: Many professional chefs prefer gas stoves and ovens because they, offer precise temperature control. Switching to a gas stove or range has been one of the most common features of kitchen and home remodels for years.

Dryer: When powered by efficient natural gas, clothes dryers dry clothes quickly and are less expensive to operate. They also help keep clothes from wrinkling​ because they dissipate heat quickly after the end of the cycle.

Fireplace or insert: If your house already has a wood-burning fireplace, a remodeler can get a fireplace insert installed quickly. A gas insert is set in the existing hearth and chimney, leaving just the gas line to be put in place.

If you don’t have an existing fireplace, a vented gas fireplace is still an option. It requires an opening in an exterior wall for exhaust to exit to the outside.

Both fireplaces and inserts come in many different styles and sizes for the perfect fit for your home and taste.

Water heater: Gas water heaters are less expensive to operate and dependable for delivering an abundant supply of hot water when you need it most. Switching from electric to gas in a remodel may involve making new hookups for plumbing and electricals and new venting arrangements. Tankless water heaters have the added advantage of direct venting or outdoor installation between the wall studs.

Learn more about efficient n​atural gas applian​ces

Remodeling with natural gas safely

As mentioned, installing or modifying natural gas lines in your home must only be done by licensed plumbers to ensure work is up to code. Before starting the installation, the plumber will pull all necessary permits. If you currently do not have natural gas, contact us to start the process of installing a new service line and meter.

If your remodel involves digging in your yard for projects such as installing a sprinkler system, and you already have a gas line installed, be sure to call or click 811 and have your buried gas line marked. Note that 811 will only mark CenterPoint’s gas line and other buried utilities through the area. It is your responsibility to mark any non-CenterPoint service lines or private gas lines supplying amenities like a pool heater, gas light, grill or generator.

Find more tips on using natural gas appliances safely​.