It’s that time of year again, and we’re in full-blown fall mode. Lots of things are really great about this season: cool mornings, pumpkin-spice everything, sweater weather, beautiful fall leaves. But you know what we don’t love? Coming home from work and it’s already dark outside. Ugh! And it might be time to reevaluate your heating needs. Show Thinking about turning on your heating for the first time each year can be complicated. It’s more than just arguing with your family about the perfect temperature, which gets even more complicated when it feels like a comfortable 70°F in the afternoon but a -30°F in the early morning. (OK, that might be a slight exaggeration. Maybe.) Turning on your heating for the first time might also spark some discussion about a new heating solution altogether. We’re here to make your life a little easier. Here’s an ultimate gas vs. electric heating guide to help you decide what’s best for you and your family. How Furnaces Work: A Quick OverviewWhether you have a gas or electric heating system, your home is likely heated with a forced-air heating system. When the temperature falls below your thermostat setting, a signal gets sent to your furnace to kick on and start heating your home. Then, the heated air is forced through your vents with a blower. In a gas unit, the signal from your thermostat causes a pilot light to ignite the main burner in your furnace. This burner heats the air that will circulate throughout your home. An electric furnace does the same thing, but instead of using gas to ignite a pilot light, the main burner is heated using an electrical ignition system. That’s pretty much where the similarities between gas and electric heating end. After that, they’re very different when it comes to cost, efficiency, and overall comfort. Gas Furnace Pros
Gas Furnace Cons
Electric Furnace Pros
Electric Furnace Cons
The Bottom Line – Which System Should You ChooseDollar for dollar, the gas furnace is probably your best bet. But it’s also important to consider the size needed, what fuel types you have access to, and what heating system you currently have. It’s probably better to stick with gas if:
Electric might be the way to go if:
Every situation is unique. As your Northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith River Valley & Southwest Missouri HVAC pros, we can help you decide the best product for you and your family. Give us a call!
What is the best furnace gas or electric?Gas furnaces heat your home more quickly. The heat produced by your gas system is generally hotter than electric furnaces. This means your home gets warmer in a shorter amount of time, making gas heating better for colder climates. Gas furnaces are more efficient.
Is a gas heater more efficient than electric?Efficiency and Cost
However, electric heat is far less efficient than gas heat. By the time the energy is transmitted to an electric furnace from the generator, efficiency can be down to 30 percent. By contrast, the efficiency of a gas furnace is between 80 to 95 percent.
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