what appliances use gas in an apartment
Core Gas Appliances
The answer to “what appliances use gas in an apartment” is usually threefold:
1. Gas Stove/Oven (Range)
The icon of apartment gas utility: burners for the cooktop, often a gaspowered oven underneath. Why: Gas gives instant, adjustable flame—essential for cooks and routine meal prep. How to spot: Pilot light, gas shutoff valve nearby, clicking sound on ignition, visible open flame.
2. Gas Water Heater
Where: Closet, laundry room, or shared in larger buildings. Usage: Supplies hot water to all faucets, showers, dishwasher, and often laundry. Tankless (ondemand) and tankbased models: Both are common, with pilot lights or electric ignitions. Telltale: Metal vent or flue leading outside; label stating “natural gas” or “propane.”
3. Gas Furnace or Boiler
How it works: Burns gas to heat air (forced air/ducts) or water (for radiator coils/baseboards). Why: Cheaper per BTU than electric heating, with a fast response when properly maintained. Controls: Thermostat in unit or centrally; service required if pilot goes out or forced air is uneven.
Less Common Gas Appliances
4. Gas Dryer
How to spot: Gas line and vent pipe behind the unit; “gas” labeling on the model sticker. Why: Faster and more costeffective than electric dryers, but requires proper venting and is now less common than it was in older apartments.
5. Gas Fireplace
Where: Seen in luxury or renovated lofts. Features: Pushbutton or wall switch ignition, vented outside.
What Is Rarely Gas?
Refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, and most smaller appliances: always electric in modern codes. Clothes washers (even with hot water lines, heating is done by the water heater, not the washer itself). Lighting: Allelectric by law in codes post1980.
Safety and Maintenance
Routine discipline is critical for apartments with gas appliances:
Know all shutoff locations: Behind stove, next to heater/water heater, by laundry wall. Annual inspections: Mandatory for landlords (CO detectors, flue/pilot checks). Emergency response: Smell of rotten eggs = gas leak; open windows, shut off gas, contact maintenance or gas company ASAP.
Budgeting and Billing
Separate gas utility: Most apartments split bills between electric (for lights, plugs, and small appliances) and gas (for stove, water, heat). Read your meter and analyze monthly for seasonal spikes—heat in winter is the big driver.
Pros and Cons for Tenants
Pros: Lower heating costs than electric (usually). Preferred by cooks for stove and oven. Reliable during power outages (for stoves and tankstyle water heaters).
Cons: Minor risk of carbon monoxide or gas leaks (mitigated by routine checks and detectors). May restrict choice if you want/need allelectric living. City electrification plans could mean future upgrades or added costs.
Modern Trends
Many new builds phase out new gas appliances in favor of “green,” electriconly (induction, heat pumps) systems. Legacy apartments, especially pre2000s, are almost always primarily gas for water, heat, and cooking.
Landlord/Tenant Routine
Landlord: Inspects, repairs, maintains all gas lines and appliances. Tenant: Knows basic shutoffs, reports issues instantly, never DIY repairs.
FAQs
What appliances use gas in an apartment? Cooking range, water heater, and heating are the main three. Dryer and fireplace are possible in upscale or older/redeveloped units.
Can tenants change to electric? Only with owner approval and rarely feasible for rentals.
Who pays for gas? Mostly tenants, but always check your lease.
Checklist for New Tenants
Verify what appliances use gas in an apartment before signing—ask for last year’s utility bills. Confirm annual servicing schedule. Locate all valves and confirm presence of CO detectors.
Final Thoughts
Gaspowered appliances remain central to apartment life—heat, hot water, and easy cooking are built on gas lines and pilot lights. The key is routine discipline: inspect, report, budget, and maintain. As electrification comes, know your systems—but for most rentals today, understanding what appliances use gas in an apartment is essential for safe, affordable living. Structure is comfort; knowledge is safety. Keep your answers sharp and your planning sharper.