I maintain that a good cook or at least a decent one or better can cook on anything. There's snobs out there and I won't get into the debate with them over gas vs. electric. I'll take a good electric stove over a junk gas one any day. There's advantages to both. There's a learning curve to go from one to the other. The one big benefit of electric is, assuming of course you're reasonably matching the burner size, the heat goes to the pan rather than up the sides like on gas so you can use more of the power. I use gas at the lake and camping. Have had electric at home for 35+ years and used gas at home prior to that. I've used gas stoves at other peoples' homes and I've used electric stoves at others places too. They all are a little different and it's up to the cook to adapt to it and I don't find it all that difficult. Some will. The cautions I've heard from people with the glass tops are to be careful to not drop cast iron on them or you'll have an expensive repair. I had a Corning top stove for a lot of years. I replaced it with a basic coil GE stove about a year ago. Response time is basically as good as gas for my use and I'm a much happier cook with it. Gas does *not* give "instantaneous" response as the "gasbags" as I like to call them would have you believe. They still heat the grates and the pans and there's residual heat there too, not that unlike electric. Nitpick all you want, don't fear the stove. Use it. It's a tool and if it's that big a deal to you or if you can't adjust to it, replace it and move on. I thought about running a gas line and going with gas but didn't think it was worth it. After a year with my new stove, I'm happy.

No, the furnace is located in the attic and is electric. The electric water heater is in the garage in a closet. And I will be buying a new dryer. I will check and see what the cost is to run a line just to the house. I would think the most likely spot would be through the brick into the garage. Then I could probably get it routed to the water heater. But then I am thinking about possible fuel spills with lawn equipment, paint thinner use etc. Having a gas water heater would not be a good idea with an open flame present. So maybe it's just best to stay with electric and insulate the tank and pipes as best I can.

We moved from electric cooktop to gas cooktop too a decade ago. We had gas just below in an cement gas furnace room, as well as a gas range so one of those got tapped. Cost: $200. Check your city code: emergency turn off valves may be required, as well as specific code diameter of gas pipe (half inch for us I think). Investigate your range purchase specs for what diameter gas pipe hook up is required and match that. I've seen one require 3/4" gas pipe. This may save you aggravation and money later on. Know where your house gas turn off valve is (black or blue is common) to turn off, as well as your out side gas meter location for access, and put your gas company's number in your cell phone or other in case of emergency as your gas company must have people immediately responsive to their gas customers. A cooktop with drawers underneath allows the emergency shut off valve to be prominent in blue or blue towards the rear of the draw ensemble. Easily accessed. A range is a different story: 400 pounds of range defies emergency pull out alone. Some run an emergency valve to the cabinet above; others run the line out one of the side of the range. If code doesn't require this, some may just rely on shutting the main gas valve off down below. Painting this valve blue or black, and water red and showing family members their location may truly be of benefit to all. I've used my red one once and glad I knew where it was. For gas cooking though, you have less time, and I'm planning the shut off valve near the range. I love to cook on a gas cooktop. I bet I'd like induction too. Lucky we have these choices and regular supply of both gas and electricity.

Those specifications are part of the fuel gas codes, not the electrical codes. Gas codes may vary depending on the jurisdiction. In my area, the required distance from an electrical panel to a gas fitting (not a gas line) is 4 feet.