When it’s time to replace your furnace, you’ve got a big decision on your hands. Go with a low-impact, easy-to-install electric furnace? Or opt for a high-efficiency, higher cost gas furnace? Once you’ve narrowed down the type of furnace, who do you call to install it?
Before you make up your mind (and make that service call), read this quick comparison. Furnace technology has improved significantly over the past decade. And the best choice for your family now may be different than you think!
Here are four considerations to keep in mind when picking a new furnace:
1. Electric furnaces are less expensive to purchase and install
While gas furnaces are the most common heating source in the US, they’re not the cheapest. A gas furnace can be anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars more expensive to buy and install than an electric furnace, because of the complicated gas piping, wiring, and ventilation requirements.
Electric furnaces have a lower up-front cost, and they’re often sold in kits with a new A/C unit. They’re simpler to install because they don’t need special ventilation or extra utilities hookups.
2. Gas furnaces are more energy efficient
Not only do gas furnaces heat your home more efficiently than electric furnaces, gas tends to be less expensive than electricity. This means you’ll have a warmer home and use less energy in the process, which is better for your wallet and the planet.
3. Is speed of heating your top priority? Go with gas
In addition to requiring more energy, electric furnaces can take longer to heat your home. In a small, well-insulated house, that may not be a major issue. But in a large home, or one with a complex floor plan, you may notice some significant inefficiencies with an electric furnace— especially in the middle of the cold, snowy Omaha winter.
4. Electric furnaces are cheaper to maintain, and come with fewer risks
Gas furnaces burn fuel to produce heat. That burning, in turn, produces carbon monoxide. Gas furnaces have extra ventilation to expel the toxic CO from your home. But on rare occasions, those fumes can leak into your home, posing a health risk. If you choose to install a gas furnace, it’s important to have a properly functioning CO detector— and test it periodically.
The natural gas used in a gas furnace also tends to corrode the components overtime. That’s why regular maintenance is so important!
Because electric furnaces don’t use a fuel source like gas, they’re safer to operate. With fewer moving parts, they’re also easier and cheaper to maintain. That’s why they’ve got a longer lifespan, with fewer maintenance calls along the way.
Whether you choose an electric furnace or gas, scheduling annual preventative maintenance will significantly extend the life of your unit!
At Burton, our annual furnace maintenance and system tune-up is one of the most valuable services we offer. Our licensed and highly-trained technicians will ensure your unit operates at peak efficiency and check for dangerous gas and CO leaks. Before you turn your furnace on for the winter, Just Call Burton!
