Gas and electric furnaces are both popular ways to heat U.S. homes. Both use a forced air system that blows warm air through your house via ducts and registers. However, there are differences between them that you should know about. Some of these differences can be pros or cons depending on your needs and the needs of your household.
Gas Furnaces: Pros and Cons
Both types of furnaces start to work when you turn on the thermostat. In a gas furnace, the thermostat sends a signal to the gas control. The gas control then tells the pilot light or igniter to turn on the burner, and the resulting hot air is distributed via a blower. The air cools down as it’s distributed through the house and returns to the furnace, where it’s reheated and blown through the ductwork and vents again.
Gas furnaces are the most popular type of heating equipment. They heat your home quickly no matter how cold it gets outside. They’re very efficient, which means they don’t cost as much to run as other units, plus they burn clean. A gas furnace can be paired with a central air conditioning unit to keep you cool in the summer as well.
One disadvantage of a gas furnace is that it doesn’t last as long as an electrical model. The working life of a gas system is only between 10 and 15 years. Also, not every home can have one, as it needs to be hooked up to a gas company. A gas furnace is also pricey to install, and a leak can expose your household to carbon dioxide.
Electric Furnaces: Pros and Cons
Instead of a gas furnace that needs a pilot light, an electric furnace depends on electrical resistance to heat up air. Other than this, it works much the same way as a gas heating system. An electric furnace costs less to install and doesn’t need as much maintenance as a gas-powered furnace. It also has a very long working life. Some electric furnaces have lasted for as long as 30 years. Because nearly all homes in the United States are electrified, it can be installed in places that can’t be connected to a fuel company. Electric furnaces are also efficient. You’ll never have to worry about noxious gases escaping, and because of that, you won’t need to install flues or chimneys.
When it comes to drawbacks, electric heating systems are costly to run because of the amount of electricity they require to keep your rooms warm. They also take longer to heat your house, and if there’s a power outage, they can’t heat your home at all. Because of this, an electric model may not be ideal in a very cold climate. People also complain that an electric furnace tends to dry out the air.
Choosing how to heat your home during the brutal winter months is crucial. If you’re wondering what’s the best furnace for your home, call our HVAC professionals at Hardy Heating in Wasilla, AK today.
