- 16821 PARK CIRCLE DR. CHAGRIN FALLS, OH 44023
- (440) 543-1777
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GAS AND ELECTRIC FURNACES
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Furnaces have been the most common type of home heating system for many decades. There are other alternatives out there, such as boilers, heat pumps, radiant floor heaters and ductless systems but gas and electric furnaces are still the most popular.
If you are in the market for a new furnace, it will help if you do your research. Furnaces come in many different models and operate from different energy sources. So, one of the first questions you might ask yourself would be which is best for me …. gas or electric. Let’s look at the main differences.
Gas furnaces have more heating power than electric furnaces. Even old drafty houses can be kept very warm and comfortable with this system. A gas furnace uses a heat exchanger to collect high temperature combustion gas inside a metal chamber, the heat from the from the metal warms up the air passing around it; these heat exchangers can be quite costly to replace, that coupled with the upfront costs of installing a gas furnace might be too much of a strain on some budgets.
Electric furnaces last longer and have the lowest installation cost. Also, electric furnaces do not use combustion or vent exhaust; so, they don’t go through the same aging process as a gas furnace. Since electric furnaces heat the air directly using heating elements which burn hot as electricity passes through them, thereby eliminating the need for a heat exchanger. With an electric furnace, there is no need for any other fuel source, you could see a significant rise in your electric bill, though. In colder climates an electric furnace may have to strain to keep up with the heating needs. So, keep that sweater handy!
A little side note, you may think if you choose a gas furnace that you won’t have to concern yourself with electrical power outages. This is not true as gas furnaces contain some important electrical components such as the blower fan and the electronic ignition system. So even though a gas furnace uses natural gas to create heat, it will still need some electrical power.
As you can see there are many things to consider and after looking at the pros and cons, it’s ultimately up to you to decide. Call Auburn Heating Plumbing and Air Conditioning at 440-543-1777 to help you make the right decision. Proudly serving Chagrin Falls, Solon, Macedonia, Twinsburg & Mayfield Heights, Ohio for more than 40 years.
If you are in the market for a new furnace, it will help if you do your research. Furnaces come in many different models and operate from different energy sources. So, one of the first questions you might ask yourself would be which is best for me …. gas or electric. Let’s look at the main differences.
Gas furnaces have more heating power than electric furnaces. Even old drafty houses can be kept very warm and comfortable with this system. A gas furnace uses a heat exchanger to collect high temperature combustion gas inside a metal chamber, the heat from the from the metal warms up the air passing around it; these heat exchangers can be quite costly to replace, that coupled with the upfront costs of installing a gas furnace might be too much of a strain on some budgets.
Electric furnaces last longer and have the lowest installation cost. Also, electric furnaces do not use combustion or vent exhaust; so, they don’t go through the same aging process as a gas furnace. Since electric furnaces heat the air directly using heating elements which burn hot as electricity passes through them, thereby eliminating the need for a heat exchanger. With an electric furnace, there is no need for any other fuel source, you could see a significant rise in your electric bill, though. In colder climates an electric furnace may have to strain to keep up with the heating needs. So, keep that sweater handy!
A little side note, you may think if you choose a gas furnace that you won’t have to concern yourself with electrical power outages. This is not true as gas furnaces contain some important electrical components such as the blower fan and the electronic ignition system. So even though a gas furnace uses natural gas to create heat, it will still need some electrical power.
As you can see there are many things to consider and after looking at the pros and cons, it’s ultimately up to you to decide. Call Auburn Heating Plumbing and Air Conditioning at 440-543-1777 to help you make the right decision. Proudly serving Chagrin Falls, Solon, Macedonia, Twinsburg & Mayfield Heights, Ohio for more than 40 years.
