If you're dealing with new construction or simply replacing your old heating system, you have an听key听decision to make:听Should you buy a gas furnace or shift to an electric unit? Or听could听a heat pump be听the best choice?听To assist in your decision-making process, 天美传媒 would like to听provide听some听comparisons between gas and electric furnaces,听as well as offer听our thoughts about听the ideal scenarios for using a heat pump.
Gas vs. Electric Furnace Installation Costs and听Needs
Gas furnaces are听usually听more expensive to purchase and install听than electric furnaces. The equipment听itself听has听extra听components听that are not听necessary听in an electric听unit, which听leads to a higher production cost, thus a higher retail price.听In addition, gas furnaces听require听more听advanced听installation and ventilation systems to听properly听take out听combustion gases from the home.听Therefore,听you need more听space听to听accommodate听the installation. Plus, if you听did not听have a听gas line and appliance hookup, you’ll need to听include that cost into your decision as well.
On the other hand, electric furnaces are听fairly听simple to install, they听can fit into a smaller space, and听will not听need听a ventilation system听because no combustion fuels are involved.听However, they will听have to have听a connection听to a 240-volt electrical circuit, which isn’t听common听in some older homes.听As such, you听will probably听need听an electrician to听add听a new receptacle and upgrade your electric panel.
Gas vs. Electric Furnace Efficiency and Energy Costs
The听higher听up-front听cost听of a gas furnace听normally听provides a financial return听rather quickly because it’s听often听less expensive to听run听than an electric furnace.听This may surprise you,听given听that electric furnaces听will often听achieve higher annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE).听In the end, it boils down to听the lower per-unit听cost听of natural gas听compared听to electricity, which听generally听overcomes even a听substantial听difference in AFUE ratings.
Keep in mind, energy costs听change听by region and change over time,听making听electricity听less costly听in some听areas.听It also makes sense to choose听an electric heating system if you .听Bear in mind,听heat pumps听generally听cost听considerably听less to operate than electric furnaces, so听think about听this option if you听expect听to save with an electric-based heating system.
Heat pumps听function听on the same principles as an听air conditioner,听using听refrigerant to听shift听heat rather than听producing听it from a fuel source.听For that matter, thanks to a reversing valve, heat pumps can听serve听as efficient air conditioners听in听the summer,听ridding yourself of听the need to听use听a separate听cooling system.
While efficiency and cost are two of the positives,听heat pumps听have some听downsides.听Given that听they听generate听heat from cold air, the delivery temperature is听considerably听lower than听the听gas or electric furnaces.听Traditional听heat pumps must also听rely听on听an inefficient听electric resistance heater during听cold snaps. While this听ensures听home comfort, it听will also inflate your monthly energy costs. Cold-climate heat pumps听provide听improved听performance at low temperatures,听and you'll want to look into this option if you live in a subzero winter climate.
Gas vs. Electric Furnace Heating Effectiveness
Without question,听gas and electric furnaces are听effective听at听warming your home,听but听gas furnaces听are likely to be听more powerful and听faster听at听warming听large spaces. Gas furnaces听generate听heat by burning natural gas, which听forms听hot air that听circulates听throughout听the home via ductwork.听In contrast, electric furnaces use electrical resistance heating,听and it simply takes longer to get up to speed.
Gas vs. Electric Furnace Fuel听Availability
The听selection听of a gas or electric furnace听may well听come听down to what fuels are听available听in your听region. Gas furnaces听would need听access to a natural gas line,听which, believe it or not, is not available in every location.听Even if you can get natural gas, you may听be unable to afford the cost of installing the gas line, which is understandable.听If that is true, an electric furnace or heat pump may be the only听practical听choice听for听keeping your family warm at home during the winter.
Gas vs. Electric Furnace Maintenance and Safety
Both gas and electric furnaces听need听regular听maintenance听to听guarantee听safe and efficient听functionality. But gas furnaces听will need听extra听maintenance,听including听regular inspections and cleaning of the gas burners and heat exchanger.听Of course, electric furnaces still听should have听routine听filter changes and听inspections听of the heating elements and blower motor.
From a safety standpoint, gas furnaces听have听a听small听risk of听carbon monoxide听leakage听if not听maintained听or installed听appropriately.听This is why听you should prioritize听standard听inspections and听in no way听try to install the furnace on your own. Electric furnaces can’t leak carbon monoxide, but they still听need to have听professional installation and maintenance to听ensure听safe听functionality.
Install a New Gas or Electric Furnace
For听help听figuring out听the听optimum听home heating system for听you,听turn to听天美传媒 Total home Comfort. We can听assess听your听unique听circumstances and help you make听a smart听decision about听what type听of furnace to听install. We’re so听confident听you’ll be听delighted听with our services that we听provide听a听天美传媒 Guarantee!听To learn more听or to听set up听a free听furnace installation听estimate, please contact a听天美传媒听office near you.
