Cold winters in Pennsylvania can put a strain on your heating bill. With unstable energy markets it’s important to make a practical choice that suits your home and the climate in which you live. There are a number of options when it comes to choosing the right home heating units.
The two most popular options when it comes to heating units are gas and electric furnaces. Electric furnaces contain a blower that moves air over a series of coils that are heated by electricity. The heated air is then distributed throughout the home through the ductwork. Gas furnaces produce heat with combustion of gas in a heat exchanger, and a blower is used to force air through the heat and ductwork.
Efficiency and Operating Costs
The AFUE rating for an all-electric furnace is between 95 and 100 percent. AFUE is a thermal efficiency measure of combustion for equipment like furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. Despite their high efficiency, the higher cost of electricity in most parts of the country makes all-electric home heating units more expensive to operate in the long run.
Most gas furnaces have AFUE ratings anywhere from 55 to 97 percent. With gas furnaces, a larger percentage of the energy in the fuel used is lost through the chimney or elsewhere, but because natural gas is a cheaper energy source, gas home heating energy units keep utility costs lower.
Safety considerations
Because they are fuel-burning appliances, gas furnaces run a slight risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is small and can be easily mitigated with regular maintenance and CO detectors.
Pros & Cons of Electric Furnaces
Lower initial investment: The purchase price of an electric furnace is generally lower than a gas-powered system, but costs more to operate.
Longer Lifespan: Electric furnaces usually last between 20 and 30 years. They also require less maintenance and repair, which can mitigate the higher energy costs of operation.
Safety: An electric furnace uses no harmful gases of any kind to operate.
Convenience: An electric furnace is often the choice for many homeowners because of lack of gas lines in the area.
Pros & Cons of Gas Furnaces
More affordable to operate: Natural gas is a cheaper form of energy than electricity and a gas furnace is less expensive to operate than an electric unit.
Faster heating: Gas heating systems typically heat the home faster than electric units. Gas systems tend to be more effective and efficient in very cold temperatures because they reach higher temperatures in extreme temperatures.
Shorter lifespan: The lifespan of a gas furnace is generally between 10 and 20 years.
Maintenance and upkeep: It is essential to provide regular maintenance for gas-powered furnace by an HVAC professional.
Which Is The Best Option For Your Home?
When you consider long term cost-effectiveness, gas home heating units are usually a better option for Pennsylvania homeowners. However, there many factors to take into consideration and electric may be best for your home. If you have any questions about choosing a new furnace, please contact a trusted heating repair company like H & H Heating and Air Conditioning to find out more.
The two most popular options when it comes to heating units are gas and electric furnaces. Electric furnaces contain a blower that moves air over a series of coils that are heated by electricity. The heated air is then distributed throughout the home through the ductwork. Gas furnaces produce heat with combustion of gas in a heat exchanger, and a blower is used to force air through the heat and ductwork.
Efficiency and Operating Costs
The AFUE rating for an all-electric furnace is between 95 and 100 percent. AFUE is a thermal efficiency measure of combustion for equipment like furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. Despite their high efficiency, the higher cost of electricity in most parts of the country makes all-electric home heating units more expensive to operate in the long run.
Most gas furnaces have AFUE ratings anywhere from 55 to 97 percent. With gas furnaces, a larger percentage of the energy in the fuel used is lost through the chimney or elsewhere, but because natural gas is a cheaper energy source, gas home heating energy units keep utility costs lower.
Safety considerations
Because they are fuel-burning appliances, gas furnaces run a slight risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is small and can be easily mitigated with regular maintenance and CO detectors.
Pros & Cons of Electric Furnaces
Lower initial investment: The purchase price of an electric furnace is generally lower than a gas-powered system, but costs more to operate.
Longer Lifespan: Electric furnaces usually last between 20 and 30 years. They also require less maintenance and repair, which can mitigate the higher energy costs of operation.
Safety: An electric furnace uses no harmful gases of any kind to operate.
Convenience: An electric furnace is often the choice for many homeowners because of lack of gas lines in the area.
Pros & Cons of Gas Furnaces
More affordable to operate: Natural gas is a cheaper form of energy than electricity and a gas furnace is less expensive to operate than an electric unit.
Faster heating: Gas heating systems typically heat the home faster than electric units. Gas systems tend to be more effective and efficient in very cold temperatures because they reach higher temperatures in extreme temperatures.
Shorter lifespan: The lifespan of a gas furnace is generally between 10 and 20 years.
Maintenance and upkeep: It is essential to provide regular maintenance for gas-powered furnace by an HVAC professional.
Which Is The Best Option For Your Home?
When you consider long term cost-effectiveness, gas home heating units are usually a better option for Pennsylvania homeowners. However, there many factors to take into consideration and electric may be best for your home. If you have any questions about choosing a new furnace, please contact a trusted heating repair company like H & H Heating and Air Conditioning to find out more.
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