Need a New Furnace? Choosing Between Gas and Electric

If you need to purchase a new furnace for your home, you have the choice of choosing between gas and electric. If you do not know a lot about furnaces, you might be unsure of which to choose. Below is some information about each of them to help you get the right one for your home.

Electric Furnaces

There are many advantages of choosing an electric furnace over a gas one. First of all, installation is much easier for an electric furnace, which results in a lower installation bill. Even though it is easy, you should still hire a professional to install it for you.

An electric furnace is generally less expensive than a gas furnace and less expensive to maintain.  You do have to consider how much the furnace will run, however. For example, if you live in a cold climate, an electric furnace would cause your electric bill to rise as it would run a lot. An electric furnace is as safe as anything else that uses an electrical outlet in your home.

Electric furnaces run quieter when compared to gas and are generally more durable. You can expect a new electric furnace to last approximately 15 years. Maintaining an electric furnace does not take a lot of effort and is pretty straightforward. The furnace will need to be cleaned both inside and out, the wiring will need to be checked, and the internal components will need to be examined every so often.

Gas Furnace

A gas furnace does not use a lot of electricity, so it is cheaper to operate when compared to an electric furnace. This is because natural gas is less expensive than electricity. A gas furnace will heat your home quicker than an electric unit and will be more effective at heating during the cold, winter months. This is because gas can achieve a higher temperature than electricity.

A gas furnace does not last as long as an electric one and the installation costs will be higher. This installation process is much more involved. It is also important that you maintain the gas furnace. This is because the gas emits a low level of carbon monoxide. It helps if you set up a schedule with an HVAC company to maintain the furnace on a regular basis.

If you have more questions, contact a HVAC contractor like Sullivan Super Service. They can go over more pros and cons of both an electric and gas furnace to help you decide.