With few exceptions, all modern homes use electricity. But when it comes to home heating, electricity isn’t always the top choice. Natural gas, piped in through municipal lines, provides power to gas furnaces that are fast and effective at heating up a home during the winter. However, the option always exists to have an electric furnace instead. Furnaces are a flexible type of heating system, with different models using a range of energy sources. That’s why it’s easy for furnace installation experts to find a furnace to match almost any house.
Gas furnace and electric furnaces remain the two most common choices. Is there one that’s automatically a better option than the other? Let’s take a closer look at them to provide an answer to that question—but we’ll tell you upfront that the answer is “it depends on your home’s needs.” Trust to HVAC professionals to ensure you have the best possible heating system installation.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Gas Furnaces
- Benefits: Gas furnaces are among the most powerful residential heating systems, putting out levels of heat few other systems can match. No matter how cold it may be outside, a gas furnace can keep a house toasty warm. This is especially beneficial in older homes that suffer from drafts due to poor insulation. Natural gas is an inexpensive fuel source, and it burns cleanly, making it a good option for saving money and helping the environment. Natural gas is also convenient, coming directly to a house through municipal piping, unlike other heating oils such as propane.
- Drawbacks: There are potential health hazards from using natural gas in a house, although modern gas furnaces are built with safety as a priority. Gas furnaces also wear down faster than other types of heaters and may need a replacement early. Finally, not every home has access to natural gas.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Electric Furnaces
- Benefits: Pretty much any home can use an electric furnace, since it doesn’t require a natural gas line. An electric furnace is reliable and needs fewer repairs over its lifetime—and that lifetime is frequently longer than a gas furnace’s. An electric furnace generally costs less to install upfront, and it doesn’t create hazards from possible toxic gas emissions.
- Drawbacks: An electric furnace doesn’t have the raw heating power of a gas model. It also costs more to operate than a gas furnace because electricity is a costlier energy source—and an electric furnace uses an immense amount of electricity to run. This is somewhat offset by the lower installation cost and smaller number of repairs, but a household can expect high electrical bills over the winter.
Professional Furnace Installation and Replacement
Choosing the right heating system, either as an initial installation or a replacement, can be tricky. You have to find an excellent HVAC contractor to see you are matched with the ideal new furnace or other type of heater.
If you’re looking for that great HVAC company in Florence, OR to help with a furnace installation or replacement, you’ve already found the right people for the job! We’ve been in business offering service throughout Florence and the surrounding areas for more than 50 years.
Comfort Flow Heating offers service to all of Oregon. We have 24-hour assistance available.
