Serving West Chicago & NEARBY Areas
Picking the right furnace for heating your home is essential for physical comfort, energy efficiency, and long-term savings. Two of the most common options are electric and gas furnaces; each has its own pros and cons. The choice comes down to specific factors, including your available budget, local climate, energy preferences, and the household’s long-term goals. Comparing gas versus electric furnaces through multiple categories can help you make an educated decision.
How They Work
Gas furnaces burn propane or natural gas to generate heat. That heat is transferred to the surrounding air and circulates through ductwork. Electric furnaces generate heat using electrical resistance. Heating elements or coils warm up air that a blower distributes. Both systems provide heat to a home, but their production methods differ in maintenance, cost, and efficiency.
Cost Considerations
Gas furnaces usually require higher initial investments than electric furnaces. You must install the stove, proper ventilation, and a gas line. In many cases, this can cost $2,000 to $4,000, but an average electric furnace installation might only cost $1,500 to $3,000 since venting and a gas line aren’t necessary.
Operating costs are the other budget factor to consider. Gas furnaces may have lower utility costs in regions where natural gas prices are cheaper than electricity. However, furnace efficiency and local gas prices can change this. The difference can be substantial, particularly in colder climates requiring more frequent heating.
Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact
Gas furnaces usually have efficiency ratings between 80% and 98%, and some heat gets lost through combustion and venting. Using natural gas does produce emissions, including carbon dioxide. Electric furnaces are almost 100% efficient in turning electricity into heat, but inefficiencies in the generation and transmission of electricity can offset this. There are no on-site emissions from an electric furnace, but it can have an environmental impact depending on how the local grid produces power.
The cost of running an electric furnace can drop if paired with a heat pump. You can also use other efficiency-boosting technologies like zoned HVAC and smart thermostats to further lower the cost of operation. These additional features come with a higher up-front cost but will pay for themselves over time.
Cold Climate Performance
Gas furnaces succeed in colder climates because they produce high heat levels faster than electric furnaces. Electric furnaces can struggle to keep up with harsh weather, so they work better in milder climates.
Maintenance and Lifespan
With proper upkeep, a gas furnace can last 15 to 20 years. However, the maintenance requirements can be higher because the combustion process produces debris and soot that might clog components. An adequately maintained electric furnace might last two to three decades due to the lack of combustion and because they feature a more straightforward design; maintenance requirements are lower, but routine inspections are crucial to keeping optimal performance levels.
Safety Matters
A gas furnace involves risks ranging from gas explosions to carbon monoxide leaks. Fortunately, modern models have safety features, including automatic shut-off mechanisms and carbon monoxide detectors. Annual inspections are crucial to maintaining safe operations. Carbon monoxide detectors are required in many jurisdictions when there is a gas-burning appliance in the home.
Electric furnaces have fewer safety risks because they lack gas lines or a combustion process. The big concern is the risk of an electrical fire. Proper heating installation, followed by regular maintenance, minimizes this risk.
Which One Should You Get?
Your particular circumstances and needs should decide your choice. If you live somewhere with cold winters, lean toward a gas furnace. Natural gas is affordable and available, you must be willing to keep up with the routine maintenance, and long-term cost savings are essential to you. An electric furnace might be a better fit if you have a milder climate that doesn’t need extreme heating, prioritize low maintenance and initial affordability, and want a cleaner heating option or can access renewable energy.
Consider multiple factors, including local utility costs and climate, and see what your available budget can do. An HVAC technician can help you assess your home’s needs and find the best options.
Air Choice Heating & Cooling provides HVAC services in West Chicago and the nearby Illinois areas, including indoor air quality and commercial options. Contact Air Choice Heating & Cooling for all your home’s heating needs.
